ASSAM AND NAGALAND
To the wild east
Highlights: Kaziranga National Park | Hornbill Festival | Dzoku Valley Hike | The first green village of Nagaland
No.of Days: 14
Overview: Assam and Nagaland on the eastern edge of the country, hold sway in offering a peek into a unique wildlife terrain and culturally rich tribal life. Enter the region through Assam, exploring Kaziranga and then head to Nagaland where 16 major tribes are firmly rooted in their traditions. Living with them is one of the highlights of this trip. Amazing natural beauty of countless hills and valleys between them, and tribal villages segregated by their distinct heritage, make for an intriguing adventure for the offbeat traveller. The state is wedged between Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, and even Burma across the border – in fact, a couple of villages lie on both sides of the Indian and Burmese sides. Nagaland offers an insight into animism, where head-hunting was practiced till the late 60s. Finding tribals dressed in feathered, beaded and horned headgears is not uncommon. Proud locals inhabit hilltop villages that might have looked the same many hundreds of years ago. Such is the intrigue of this destination.
To make the trip more culturally enriching, one can club it with the biggest festival – the annual Hornbill Festival. Here, all tribes congregate to showcase their dance, music and fighting prowess, and even outrageous skills of who can eat the most number of bhut jalokias – the deadliest chilly of the nation.
What to Expect: Wildlife spotting, hikes, village stays and photo ops in festivals sum up a trip to Assam and Nagaland. The days on the road are long, but the drive is well worth the time for taking in the magnificent views and village life of the countryside. Share your evenings with locals in family kitchens, where a central fire is the most practical bond at that time. See some of the cleanest parts of the country, where eco-consciousness is beyond jargons and people are content and happy. Maybe a fulfilling trip will lead to a fulfilling life.
Get in touch: +91 9303048400; holiday@icecubes.in
