Sublime North East

Today have an early Breakfast to leave for Bomdila! It takes nearly 8-9 hours to reach Bomdila from Guwahati. After reaching Bomdila, check into your designated hotel and take plenty of rest! Bomdila is the headquarters of West Kameng district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The place is inhabited by tribes like Aka (Hrusso), Miji (Sajalong), Monpa, Sherdukpen and Khawas. Being an attractive tourist destination, Bomdila is nestled in the lap of snow-capped Himalayan mountain-ranges and lush greenery. This little quaint town exudes Tibetan heritage all through. Apart from a Craft Centre and Ethnographic Museum and Bomdila Monastery and Lower Gompa Monastery, apple orchards in systematic plantations add profusely to the natural beauty of the place. Later in the evening, visit Bomdila Monastery! Located nearby Tipi Orchid Research Centre, Bomdila Monastery was set up in 1965. Believed as the pilgrimage for the Mahayana-followers, the monastery was built by the 12th reincarnate of Tsong Gontse Rinpoche. It is also known as the Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Lling Monastery. Within its premises, you’ve an imposing prayer hall, built by the 13th reincarnate of Tsona Gontse Rinpoche, a temple dedicated to Buddha, residential quarters for monks and numerous artefacts, preserving and depicting spiritual essence of Buddhism. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Bomdila

Today after an early Breakfast, go to Dirang River! It takes nearly 1.30 hours to reach Dirang River from Bomdila. Dirang offers a good opportunity of river-rafting for both, beginners and seasoned rafters, as while flowing through the picturesque valley, it provides various grades of rapids. Get down to river-rafting and enjoy the thrill! One should stay away from river-rafting during monsoons, as water-level in these rivers increases dangerously in the season. After coming back from river-rafting, take a little bit of rest and later, get going to Tawang! After checking into your designated hotel in Tawang, take a good rest and indulge yourself in leisurely activities! Overnight Stay at Tawang

Today get ready to transport yourself in the lap of nature! Go to Pankang Teng Tso Lake, which is located 17 kms away from Tawang! When you reach the lake, you get mesmerized by calm water, curvy clouds, snow-topped forests and enjoyable twittering of birds. Next you visit Sangetsar Lake, also known as Madhuri Lake. Ensconced at the height of 12,500 ft. above the sea-level, Sangetsar Lake is located about 30 kms from Tawang. The lake was formed due to the earthquake of 1973. The road to the lake starts from Zemithang and has 52 hairpin bends! The natural beauty of the area just blows you away. Now you go to Bumla Pass. Located about 37 kms away from Tawang, Bumla Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass at 15,200 ft. above sea-level. The terrain to Bumla Pass is full of twists and turns, with hairpin bends and rough roads. The pass remains covered in snow for most of the year. But once you reach there, you get lost in the scenic ambiance of the eastern Himalayas and many scattered lakes. The pass falls in the border-area with the proximity to the LAC. This had been one of the battle-sites of the 1962 Indo-China war. Due to its sensitive location, you need a special permit from the local administration and the Indian Army to visit the area. Later, go to visit the Tawang War Memorial, which is located about 25 kms from Tawang. The memorial, designed in the form of a Buddhist Stupa, has become the identity of Tawang. Situated 2800 meters above sea-level, it was built in 1997, in recognition and memory of the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The central part of the memorial is a 40-foot-high structure, made of concrete and adorned with intricate designs and murals. It has a golden dome with four entrances, signifying the four directions. You find a museum also inside the premises, having a collection of photographs, documents and artefacts that enlighten the visitors with the history of the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the valour of the soldiers. The area presents a spectacular sight of the snow-capped mountains and the scenic valley below. You also get to see the Light and Sound Show at the Tawang War Memorial. The event presents captivating tales of patriotism and enchanting history of Tawang and its culture. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Tawang

Today get started after an early morning Breakfast! Go to Tawang Monastery! Tawang Monastery was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyamtso during 1860-61. Situated on a mountain in Tawang at an altitude of over 3000 metres, the monastery offers a panoramic view of the Tawang-Chu valley. Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in India and second largest and oldest in Asia. Constructed in 3 storeys, the premises have an 8-metre-high statue of Lord Buddha. The main temple, Dukhang, has splendid interiors with attractive artwork while the inner walls are carved with sketches and paintings of Bodhisattvas. The monastery’s library houses treasured old scriptures like Kangyur and Tengyur. Later, brace yourself to return to Bomdila! Take a detour and stop by on your way to Bomdila to see Nuranang Waterfalls, also known as Bong Bong Falls or Jang Falls! The area is around 2 kms away from the town of Jang on the road connecting Tawang and Bomdila. Situated 40 kms from Tawang on the height of about 6000 ft. above sea-level within the verdant landscape of the eastern Himalayas, Nuranang Waterfalls are about 100 meters high and play a significant role in generating hydroelectricity for the local area. The falls take their shape along the course of the Nuranang River, which originates from the northern slopes of the Sela Pass. As per local legends, the waterfall was discovered during the 1962 Sino-Indian War by Indian soldiers. Check into the hotel at Bomdila! Overnight Stay at Bomdila

Today early in the morning, you get transported to Kaziranga. On the way, nearly 40 kms from Bomdila, you stop by at Nag Mandir, situated on the scenic banks of the Tenga River. You’ve to climb a sizable number of steps to reach the temple, dedicated to the Snake God, located on the hillock. You also stop by Agnigarh Hill, a picturesque place in Tezpur in the state of Assam. The hill derives its name from the fortress 'Agnigarh' which means 'residence amidst fire'. As per the legend, this was the place where King Banasura kept his daughter Usha secluded from the people and society. The hill provides a bird's-eye view of the Brahmaputra River and Tezpur. Later, check into your designated hotel in Kaziranga! Overnight Stay at Kaziranga

Today dedicate entire day to sightseeing at Kaziranga! Go to the amazing Kaziranga National Park! Spread over an area of 430 sq. kms along the river Brahmaputra on the north and the Karbi Anglong hills on the south, Kaziranga became the first national park in the state of Assam and a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site in 1985. Evergreen forests, verdant tea gardens, picturesque villages and gorgeous Patkai mountain-range grasp your attention instantly. You’ve the world’s largest population of the great Indian one-horned Rhinos here with Tigers, Eastern Swamp Deer (Barahsingha), numerous species of vultures and snakes, a good number of migratory birds and picturesque wetlands. You can visit Kaziranga National Orchid & Diversity Park, that has around 600 varieties of Orchids, garnered from all across the beautiful north-east India. Located 35 kms away from Nellie junction of Guwahati-Kaziranga Highway, you’ve the Ethnic Village, wherein you get to see the quaint tribal lifestyle, innumerable varieties of flora and fauna and beautiful hills and flat lands. Picturesque rivers make Karbi Anglong District the most beautiful travel-destination of Kaziranga. You can go to Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, which has Hoolock Gibbon apes, the only ape species found in India. You can visit Hathikuli Tea Estate, where you get to see gardens of different varieties of tea and wild elephants roaming without any hesitation in the lap of nature. You can have Jeep Safari in all the 4 zones of Kaziranga, namely Kohora, Bagori, Agaratoli and Ghorakati. You can enjoy Elephant Safari as well. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Kaziranga

Today you start early from Kaziranga for Shillong, the capital of the state of Meghalaya. On the way, you can stop by Umiam Lake or Barapani Lake. Spread over 220 sq. kms, Umiam Lake is a beautiful sight. You can go to Lumpongdeng Island, a secluded piece of land in the lake. The area also has a water-sports complex, namely Orchid Tourist Home and an attractive garden, namely Lum Nehru Park at its shore. You can enjoy water-sports and other adventure-packed activities like boating, yachting, water cycling, cruising, kayaking etc. You can also stop by at Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated near Lailad village in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Stretching over an area of 29 sq. kms and prominent as a valued tourist destination, it is one of the most popular and striking wildlife sanctuaries of the north-east India. It. The sanctuary boasts of a varied wildlife, holding mammals, avians, rodents, reptiles and many more species. Many endangered and rare species can also be found in this Sanctuary. As per your time-availability, you can spend a quality-time here. Once you reach Shillong, take rest in your designated hotel! The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong is a place of picturesque valleys, enigmatic caves, imposing waterfalls and splendid landscapes. Frequently called Scotland of The East and The Rock Capital of India, Shillong is situated at a height of 1500 metres from the sea-level between the hills of Jaintia and Khasi. Overnight Stay at Shillong

Today after Breakfast head for Mawlynnong, called as God’s Own Garden! In 2003, Mawlynnong was awarded the title of the cleanest Village in Asia by Discover India. Cleanliness is ingrained in daily life here. All houses have functional toilets right from 2007. There are bamboo dustbins all over the village, even the dry leaves fallen from the trees go straight into the dustbins. Plastic bags are banned and smoking is prohibited. The village is replete with the fruit orchards, rushing streams, evergreen environs and oscillating palms. At a distance of 3 kms from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, Riwai Living Root Bridge is a natural root bridge situated in Riwai village. Also known as Jingmaham Living Root Bridge, this single-decker bridge in Riwai is a 300 years-old man-made bridge built across a stream by interlacing the aerial roots of Rubber trees around a Betel tree trunk. The bridge is further strengthened with stones, sticks, leaves, bamboos and other fastening materials. Jingmaham Living Root Bridge forms the only way for the villagers to cross the streams to reach the other side. Merely 2 kms from Mawlynnong Bus Stop, you’ve Sky Walk, a viewpoint located in East Khasi Hills. Also known as Nohwet Viewpoint, the Sky Walk is an 85-ft. high eco-friendly ladder-like structure, made up of bamboo poles tied to branches of six trees using jute and bamboo-ropes. When you climb four circular layers of bamboo-ladders, you find yourself on a square platform on the top. You get a truly panoramic view of Mawlynnong village and plains of Bangladesh. Then you visit The Balancing Rock, a huge boulder that stands at a peculiar angle on another rock! Enclosed by a wired fence, the huge rock has remained like that in balance on a smaller rock for ages. At a distance of 30 kms from Mawlynnong, Dawki or Dauki is a small town in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Situated on the banks of Umngot River, this beautiful place is crammed between India and Bangladesh. Lose yourself in the crystal-clear water of Umngot River, that is the natural separation between the Khasi and Jaintia Hills! Umngot River, Umngot Bridge, Jaflong Zero Point and Burhill Falls are the major places to visit in Dawki. Dawki is also a perfect spot for camping and adventure-packed water-sports. Dawki is flooded with thousands of tourists during March-April, when an annual boat-race is organized on the Umngot River. Come back to Shillong! Overnight Stay at Shillong

After an early Breakfast, hit the road for Cherrapunjee! Located at around 12 kms from Shillong, you get to see Elephant Falls. This is the waterfall that has been named after a rock resembling elephant, which got ruined in the earthquake of 1897. Three mountain streams descend through Elephant Falls, that consist of three layers of falls at three different points, reachable for the tourists. You can even touch the flowing water of the falls and enjoy its coolness. Verdant surroundings make the area even more captivating. Enroute Cherrapunji and situated near to Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak is the highest point of Shillong. Often engulfed by heavy fog, the peak is a vantage location to have a panoramic view of Shillong, the Himalayas, waterfalls and even the plains of Bangladesh. Located in Khasi Hill & Jayanti hills, Duwan Sing Syiem Viewpoint is a spot which gives astonishing sights of picturesque valleys, lush green greenery, misty clouds, clusters of mountains and cloud-touching hills. Duwan Sing Syiem Viewpoint is located on the Duwan Singh Syiem Bridge on the road that connects Shillong to Cherrapunji. Once you cross the bridge coming from Shillong, you enter to Cherrapunji tourist circuit. When you reach Cherrapunji, you find yourself amidst lush greenery, magnificent mountains and quiet lakes. First you see Double Decker Living Root Bridges! Khasi people living in the forests have been making the roots of the Rubber trees into bridges for years. These bridges are around 200 years old and can only endure the weight of about 50 people at a time. Located just 4 kms away from Cherrapunjee, Nohsngithiang Falls are one of the tallest waterfalls in India. Situated in the Mawsmai village of the East Khasi Hills district, the waterfall falls from a height of about 1033 ft. and gets split into seven different parts, which is why it is called Seven Sister Waterfalls also. Then go to see Nohkalikai Falls! Situated at about 7 kms away from Cherrapunjee and counted among the tallest waterfalls in India, Nohkalikai Falls are amazingly scenic. Located at a distance of about 10.8 kms from Cherrapunji, Dainthlen Falls are popular for their enormous dimensions and thundering sound. Located just 6 kms away from Cherrapunjee, Mawsmai Cave is a spectacular labyrinth of caves in the East Khasi Hills. Lights inside the cave create myriad hues and patterns when they fall on the lime-stones. At the end of the day before going back to Shillong, you go to visit Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Cherrapunjee. Set up in 1931, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram is known for peaceful and tranquil environment. The Ashram houses a museum, school, temple, showroom, library, weaving room and much more. You get to know here more than you know about Swami Vivekananda. Come back to Shillong! Overnight Stay at Shillong

After having an early Breakfast, hit the road for Guwahati! Check into your designated hotel in Guwahati! Take ample rest and later, visit Maa Kamakhya Temple! Maa Kamakhya Temple is a 16th-century temple situated on the Nilachal Hills in the western part of the city of Guwahati. This religious sacred site is dedicated to the Tantric Goddess, Kamakhya Devi and is believed to be one of the oldest Shakti Peethas. Kamakhya Devi is another form of the Goddess Kali. The premises of the temple have many other temples, dedicated to many other deities like Bhairavi, Kali, Tara, Bagala and Bhuvanesvari. The temple houses 10 Mahavidyas, 4 Garbhagrihas and 3 Mandapas. Its walls are decorated with several sculptures. There is no idol of the Goddess inside the temple, rather there is an image of the Yoni of the deity, which is worshipped here. Devotees offer sacrifices at this temple. The shrine has undergone a lot of renovations. You mustn’t miss the evening Aarti here. Later, if you wish, you can again regale yourself with a cruise on Brahmaputra! Brahmaputra offers a compelling and calming cruise experience for visitors. Bharalu Ghat and the Kachari Ghat in the city are the main places from where you can book a cruise. Usually operated in the afternoon, these cruises last for two to three hours and take you along the sublime waters of Brahmaputra. The ferries have sitting area for the guests and one can have the food and beverage services onboard. On the cruise, you can count dolphins, watch fishing boats that bring up tonnes of fish, click pictures of the stunning landscapes or observe the migratory birds swooping down to grab a fish out of the sea. It would definitely be a fascinating and immersive experience for you. You can optionally go to local markets as well. You can buy for yourself handloom products, jute collections, fragrances and organic aroma products, glazed pottery crafts, paper-made earrings, exquisite handmade paintings and many more things. You can go to the Maati Centre, Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, Pan Bazaar, Pragjyoti Assam Emporium on GNB Road or Silkalaya, popular for silk sarees. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Guwahati

Today after Breakfast, you're transferred to Guwahati Airport/Railway Station for your onward journey. North-east India is now indelibly etched in your memory.