North East of India

(Credits : The Greener Pastures)

India’s North East, called the land of the seven sisters, is a region which can be best described as virgin, wild and untouched from the modernisations taking elsewhere in the world. It is a region guarded by mountains, the only passage being a narrow stretch of land some 40 km wide, called the Siliguri Corridor. Beyond this corridor lies the seven sister states of North-Eastern India, each state more beautiful than the other, each with its own cultures and beliefs, each having its own charm. Because of the regions inaccessibility from the rest of world, it has been lucky enough to maintain most of its natural diversity.

There is great religious and ethnic diversity within the seven states. The people of the North-East live a very simple life, all the various tribes and cultures still live in accordance to the environment, and nature plays a very big role in their survival. Around 60 – 70 percent of the population is predominantly tribal, and they carry a lot of resemblance to many Tibeto-Burman, Mongolian and Austro-Asiatic cultures. Christianity and Hinduism are the other dominant beliefs. A trip to North-East remains incomplete if one doesn’t witnesses these many distinct tribes.

The sub-tropical climate along with a lot of monsoon rains has helped create one of the last remaining great wildernesses of India in this region. The forests of Northeast are a treasure trove bio-diversity and is one of the most important ecological hotspot of the world. The flora and fauna count is astounding, with a list of hundreds of mammals, thousand of birds, thousands of plant species. And yet, there are many species that are waiting to be discovered from the very unexplored region.

The great valleys of the mighty Brahmaputra River never fails to mesmerize a passing soul, taking a person back in time, allowing him to shed all his burdens and instead just relax and connect with nature. The rapids of this mighty river upstream in the Himalayan Landscape are supposedly one of the very best spots in the world to test your mettle in white water rafting. The Tea-Gardens of Assam gives the region a certain laid back Colonial-era charm, where one can sip on one of the best tea’s of the world, and do nothing else but gaze out at all the surrounding greenery.

Assam-Dibrugarh-Tea-GardensRapids and rivers, Himalayan mountains on 3 sides, forests echoing with the voices of the creatures that live inside, tribal people living in perfect harmony with nature, hunting and fishing, sweet aroma of tea in the air, Golden Mahseer to river Dolphins – North East is indeed a paradise waiting to be explored.where to begin from. And then, there is always a chance of discovering a new species of mammal, or a plant or insect, and getting a chance to name them according to your wishes.