Away from the hustle and bustle of city life and tucked in the midst of cloud touching hills and mountains which is carpeted by dense tract of forestry and inhabited by tribes dwelling on the forest resources, is the “Land of the Seven Sisters”, comprising the North-Eastern state of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and the Himalayan state of Sikkim.
North-East is connected with the rest of India by a narrow “Siliguri corridor” and shares about 90% of the international boundary with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. The official languages of the region are Assamese, Manipuri, Bengali, Bodo, English, Garo, Khasi and Kokborok. Given below are the 10 reasons for visiting North-East India.
To get close to the native of the land:
A land or a region is known by the people living in it. North-East being extensively covered by sheet of lush green hills is habited by nature loving tribal people. Among the numerous tribes, the prominent tribes having a substantial population are the Nagas and their many sub-tribes, Apatanis, Bodos, Karbis, Mizos, Khasis, Garos, Hmars, Dimasas, Bhutias. Besides the tribal of the hills, there are also people dwelling in the plains, like the Manipuri, Assamese, Nepali and Bengali.
To know the roots of the enriching tradition:
The rich culture of numerous indigenous ethnic groups is sustained by its diverse tradition. One can witness the traditional art of tattoo making among the Apatani tribesmen. There is also the tradition of martial arts, practiced by many ethnic groups, most famous being the world renowned “Thang-ta”. Matriarchal lineage is common among the Khasi people of Meghalaya.
To live in the traditional values of North-East:
A true confluence of culture, North-East has a very rich heterogeneous socio-cultural history. Harmony with the environment; and tranquillity between the tribes are the two founding pillar of North-Eastern culture. As diverse as it can get, one has to make an objective study to get to the roots of its socio-cultural background. The people of North-East practice religion in the form of Hinduism (Bodo, Dimasa, Tripuri, Assamese, Manipuri), Animism (Apatani, Karbi), Buddhism (Chakma, Lepcha), Christianity (Khasi, Garo, Hmar, Mizo, Naga) and Islam (Assamese, Bengali and Manipuri Muslim).
To taste the delicacies of the region:
Food enthusiast, get your tummy empty because North-east is going to stuff your tummy until it explodes. Just Kidding! Well, honestly speaking, North-eastern cuisine is among the lesser known cuisines of India. So, it will definitely open a new window to your taste buds which is also a healthy option. Momos of Sikkim, Iromba of Manipur, Thukpa of Arunachal Pradesh, Smoked Pork of Nagaland, Tenga Fish of Assam, Awan Bangwi of Tripura, Bai of Mizoram, Jadoh of Meghalaya are one of the best delicacies of its respective states.
To witness the diverse fauna of North-East:
About 60% of each of the states of Northeast India is covered by forest resource, and the region boast over having a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Kaziranga National Park is renowned all over the world for its Rhino, Manas National Park have well established itself as one of the best Tiger Reserve. National Parks (Of Manipur) has the most precious Sangai. Sepahijala have a considerable population of clouded leopard. Red Panda, Western Hoolock Gibbon, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey are the endangered species of the region.
To unleash the beast of adventure:
Designated as the hub or paradise for adventure sports. Northeast have over the years proved beyond excellence that is one of the best destinations for adventure junkies. North-East can offer all that you demand, be it paragliding, river rafting, etc.
To listen to the music that’ll touch your soul:
The music of North-East is quite refined and can be divided into Folk music and Urban music. Both are in sharp contrast with each other while maintaining the equilibrium of melody. The presence of folk music with traditional bamboo instrument is felt in the countryside where as the urban music of genres like Rock, Pop, Jazz and Hip-Hop have always remain in the urban scene. North-East in the recent years have become a rising platform for indigenous and international bands.
To get a panoramic view of the raw natural beauty:
God’s own creation North-East is blessed with raw natural beauty. From the calmness of the Gurudongmar Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, in Sikkim to the ferocity of Krang Suri Waterfall in Shillong, from the emerald island of Loktak of Manipur to the living root bridge in Meghalaya, North-East is renowned for its raw natural beauty.
To spend some days in the high altitude:
Planning for a romantic holiday with your loved one, then you have reached the right destination as North-East being surrounded by verdant hills, is bestowed with romance evoking hill-stations. Shillong, Haflong, Tawang, Gangtok and many other hill-stations with breathtaking views are scattered across the region.
To get indulged in the festivities of North-East:
Festivals are an integral part of our life. It reflects the culture, tradition and folk music of the Native people of North-East. In short, all the seven colours of the North-East is reflected by its festivals. So get along with your family and indulge yourself in the most colourful festivals of the region like the Hornbill festival of Nagaland, Bihu festival of Assam, Wangala Festival of Meghalaya, Torgya Monastery Festival of Arunachal Pradesh, Laiharaoba Festival of Manipur, Kharchi Puja of Tripura and Anthurium festival of Mizoram.
North- East is a land of diversity and in this diversity one can find simplicity of livelihood. But North-East has more to offer than just that. So I advice you to keep your eyes open and get prepared to be mesmerised by the dazzling natural beauty and warmth of the people.
