Hello
Readers!
Well,
today I will be posting a travelogue from my journey to Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh and Meghalaya over the summer vacations of my final year! I have also
put in some of the pictures that I clicked while visiting these beautiful
states of North East India. (29/5/13 – 8/6/13)
TRAVELOGUE
Day 1 (New Delhi -
Guwahati)
It was a sunny Wednesday morning in Delhi when my
parents and I boarded a flight from the New Delhi airport to Guwahati. It was a
beautiful plane journey with long trails of clouds to look at, out of the plane
window. Guwahati airport welcomed us with an overcast sky and drenching rain.
But the love of rain and the little drops falling in our hands lifted up our
mood and prepared us for a fun filled journey. Our first stop was the Kamakhya
Devi Temple, in Guwahati. It was an auspicious start to our trip. We then
returned to our hotel. After freshening up, my parents and I went on an our
hour long cruise over the Brahmaputra river, stretching for miles and miles,
the beauty was a treat to the eyes. With Honey Singh, and old as well as new
bollywood songs playing for us to tap our feet on, and sites that were
mesmerizing, the cruise got my definite thumbs up!
DAY 2 (Guwahati – Bhalukpong)
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| A coconut water stall on the way! |
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| Jaybharoli river |
On day two we continued our journey towards Tawang
(Arunachal Pradesh) and headed for our destination for the day – Bhalukpong. Bhalukpong
lies at Assam – Arunachal Pradesh border, and we stayed in Assam, and it took
us about four hours for us to reach Bhalukpong from Guwahati. Heavy rains accompanied
our journey, and it was difficult for us to see the road further ahead of us.
On our way we had free nucleus, coconut water. It was really refreshing! On the
way, we also crossed the Brahmaputra Bridge which was 3kms long! It boggles my
mind to think just how much time and effort it would have taken to construct
the bridge and towers for power supply.
On our way we took a small detour and went to a
small village called Nameri. Through broken and rain clogged roads, we visited
an Eco Camp set up in the heart of the village. There was a pigmy conservation
program being run there by the government. We then went and saw a river –
Jaybharoli (which changes its name in Arunachal Pradesh). It was a beautiful
stream of clear running water. It felt like heaven’s manifestation on earth. We
then finally arrived at our hotel where we had booked a cottage with a
beautiful scenic view.
We went down trekking over pebbles to the stream
that flowed just behind our cottage. It was then time for us to have dinner (Chiken Butter masala and naan – yumm!)
and take rest, for we had another journey in
the morning.
DAY 3 (Bhalukpong – Dirang)
After a filling breakfast of puri bhaji and clicking a few (a lot!) snaps, we headed for a seven
and a half hour long journey to Dirang (even though the distance is just about 133kms).
The weather was pleasant and by the evening everything turned chilly and cold. For those travelling via the same route, I
advise you to please carry with yourselves some sweaters and jackets. On
our way we stopped at a beautiful monastery in Bomdila, a small town in
Arunachal Pradesh. With not much to eat and after travelling on bumpy roads for
so long, we were too tired and went straight up to sleep. The next day demanded
our full attention as we were to leave for Tawang (finally) in the morning.
DAY 4 (Dirang – Tawang)
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| Sela Pass |
On this day, my
parents and I woke up at five in the morning to leave for Tawang. Tawang is a
city that lies on the Indo – China border in Arunachal Pradesh. It is maintained
by the Indian Army. We hopped from one mountain to another crossing streams and
falls throughout our journey. We had a few stops on the way. The first was Sela
Pass, which is the peak of a mountain, and we were 13700 feet high! It had a
beautiful lake and rocks all along. The scenery was a treat to all our senses.
We decided to have tea and momos in the small hut set up by a woman out there.
Over there, I met a young eight year old girl,
Sancho. She was home from her boarding school in Tawang on
vacation. She in many ways is an inspiration to young children, to many of
those kids who come from poor backgrounds and cannot go to school.
It is the place of birth that is not under
our control, however, where life takes us as we grow lies in our hands.
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| Sela Pass |
So, after the yummiest momos ever, we continued our journey.
The next stop was a place called Jaswantgarh. It had an army memorial for the
Indian army leader, Jaswant Singh, during the 1962 Indo –China war. It is
believed that his soul protects the people inhabiting that area. As a souvenir,
I bought an Indian Army cap. After having samosas and tea, we sat back on a
hired Tata Sumo and continued on the path. About 22 kms before Tawang, we saw
the Tawang falls, which were beautiful with clear water flowing off rocks and
striking pebbles on its way. Then we finally arrived in Tawang in chilly
weather after a late lunch (
at 6pm - go
figure). It was night time then, and we settled in our hotel for a good
night’s sleep.
DAY 5 (Tawang)
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| Tawang Falls |
This
was the day we spent in Tawang. Our first stop was the PTSO Lake. It was a
beautiful lake surrounded by colourful flowers and had the most attractive
scenery. Then we went to a
gumpha
which is a prayer area away from the main monastery. It was an extremely
different experience. The people who had come there to pray spoke to my parents
and I about their culture. They had also begun their prayers by then, and so
they included us and made us join the prayer as well. We left the
gumpha with happy smiles and went over
to our next stop which was a nunnery for Buddhist women by the name – Tashi
Delek, Tukje Choeling Nunnery.
We then
moved on to see the main Tawang Monastery. It was really huge and a stark
difference to all the other monasteries I had been to. It also had a museum
which we had the opportunity to visit. Our next stop was Urgyelling, which is
the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. It was a small place, but had a
completely different and spiritual aura to it. At this point, it had also
started to drizzle!
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| PTSO Lake |
Our
next stop was the war memorial of the Indo – China war of 1962. At that point
of time, it was undergoing some construction and repair work, nevertheless, the
information in the memorial brought about a good feeling of patriotism and a
new respect for all the people that work together, away from their homes, to
protect a country (not just mine, but yours too!).
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| Main Monastery - Tawang |
Our
next stop was the trade fare of Tawang, which for a Delhi girl like me, felt
really little and we ended up walking in and out of the door within ten
minutes, empty handed. We then went to meet The DC, Mr Abhishek Dev and his
wife at their house in Tawang. They were really nice people and also gifted us
with traditional souvenirs of Tawang. Thank you so much for the warm welcome!
After
the yummiest meal of Paneer Butter Masala,
my parents and I went for a peaceful sleep.
DAY 6 (Tawang -
Bombdila)
Today
we started early in the morning for a ten hour journey from Tawang to Bombdila.
It was an interesting journey over non-existent roads, more like muddy trails.
At a great height we were within the clouds. In fact, one could easily see
water droplets around themselves! Now I know what it is like to look at clouds
from below, from above, through the aeroplane and what it is like to be amongst
them!
Other than
dancing amongst the clouds, nothing eventful happened, and in about ten hours,
we were in our
hotel and off to sleep.
DAY 7 (Bombdila – Bhalukpong
Kaziranga)
Hello
there! Let’s continue our journey forward. I hope I’ve kept you with me till
now, because this is where the twist in the tail happens!
 |
| Baathban, where we tried traditional Assamese food |
As
planned, we started from Bombdila to go on a four hour journey to Bhalukpong.
However, like any great mind works, our minds started wandering much farther
than Bhalukpong. So, betraying our pre-decided plan, we decided to go much
ahead and instead stay in Kaziranga National Park. Since the national park was
closed it was a faint possibility for us to see the Rhino;
But guess what? We were in luck! On our way to our resort, we
spotted Rhinos. And not just one or two, we saw four! Kaziranga National Park
is the only place in the world where one can see these magnificent animals!
The
resort was a beautiful place for us to relax and enjoy the evening. They had
set up a ‘Baathban’ which was a restaurant where they served traditional
assamese food. They also had a traditional seating area! We tried the assamese
food, eating the traditional way. Want to
know what was the best? If you are
going to try one food in Assam, the dish made with banana flowers and eaten
with rice is a must!
It was
then time for us to sit, relax and go to bed!
DAY 8 (Kaziranga -
Guwahati)
My
parents and I woke up in Iora Resort Kaziranga and went out for a healthy
morning stroll. After refreshing ourselves with good oxygen and freshening up,
we went up yo the restaurant for a buffet breakfast. Now that we had filled
ourselves with certain amounts of yummy calories, my father and I decided to
burn them. We went upto the badminton court and had a good long game of
badminton. We then went to the table tennis room and tried our hand at TT
(However, I was really bad at that – I got to learn).
It was
then time for us to freshen up and leave for our next destination – Guwahati.
We
started from Kaziranga at about noon. On our way back, we saw another group of
four Rhinos. We then reached Guwahati and decided to see Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.
It was really beautiful. There was a museum, an art gallery and another museum
for Bhupen Hazarika, the singer of dil
hum hum kare. The main museum was nice and has the traditional elements of
Assam that included masks, utensils, musical instruments and dresses.
It was
then time for us to buy a new suitcase because we had shopped ourselves short
of one!
DAY 9 (Guwahati -
Shillong)
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| Seven Sister Falls |
Our
driver changed today and we then went on our trip to Shillong, in the beautiful
state of Maghalaya. Shillong is a big city on the mountains with an equally
huge amount of traffic. We reached Shilllong, a town thriving in the hills of
Meghalaya by one in the afternoon and spent about two hours working our way
through the traffic to find a good place to have lunch. After lunch, we went to
visit Shillong Peak, the highest point from where the whole town of Shillong
was visible.
We then
went to Elephant Falls and Shillong Falls. The elephant falls were beautiful
and a must see! However, I must say that the beauty of Tawang cannot be
compared to anything I have ever seen. We gen went to shop at the bazaarof
Shillong, from where my mother and I bought Jainsems – the traditional dress of
Meghalaya for ourselves.
DAY 10 (Shillong – Cherrapunji
- Shillong)
It was the
day we saw the city with the highest amount of rainfall in the world. We
started early in the morning to leave for Cherrapunji. Our first stop was the seven sister falls! It was a beauty to withhold.
We could see seven falls from one point! Then we travelled further to see the
Hidden Falls, which magically appeared from underneath the ground and travelled
forward. The beginning of these falls is not yet known.
The
next point Ka Khoh Ramhah was a huge inverted stone that had developed over
time in the place. As is custom, a story was made to support the presence of a
giant rock, the story is as follows :
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| Ka Koh Ramhah Stone |
Once upon a time there was a giant who used to torture the
villagers. One day the villagers conspired to kill the giant and served him a
meal with nails hidden inside. The giant died and the basket which he left on
the ground became a big stone. People in Meghalaya use a cone-sized basket made
of bamboo / cane to carry goods / vegetables etc. The shape of this stone is
just like a cone-sized basket upside-down.
We then
went to have a fun adventure in the Mawsmai Cave in Cherrapunji. The cave was
huge with small bends and trenches, but travelling through it was one of the
best experiences ever!
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| Mawsmai Cave! |
DAY
11 (Shillong - Guwahati)
It was
the final day of our trip. My parents and I started early in the morning to
leave for Guwahati. On reaching Guwahati, we visited the Tirupati Balaji Temple.
With blessings, we then proceeded to the airport to once again, reach back
home, and into the daily routine of life.
It was one of the most beautiful and amazing trips of my life! To
all those who really wish to visit, I advise you to do it quick! Life is too
short to make plans, and not act on them.
For all those visiting, please take your doctor’s advice before you
leave if you are suffering from respiratory or heart diseases. Health and safety are necessary for a fun
life, after all.
I would like to end this eleven day long travelogue by saying that this
trip is for people who love an adventure!
