Wild Orchards & Jungles Northeast India Itinerary

Namaste!

Welcome to India!

Our representative will meet you in the arrival area of the airport after you clear all immigration and custom formalities. Depart for your hotel where you will check in for your stay. 

After breakfast proceed for a full day city tour. Visit the Flower Market, drive pass Howrah Bridge and proceed for an excursion to Belur Math, Dakshineswar and Kali Temple. On your way back to Kolkata visit College Street Book Market, Indian Coffee House andKumortuli, the idol market.

Morning assisted departure transfer to the airport to board the flight to Guwahati (9W 7022 – 1035/1135 hours)

Upon arrival at Guwahati airport, you will be met and driven to Cherrapunjee (190 kms / approximate 5 hrs).  Enroute visit Mawphlang Sacred Forest that is one of Meghalaya’s most celebrated sacred forests and is steeped in spiritual belief and held in great veneration. This is a dense forest where the Lyngdoh (chief) used to offer sacrifices and prayers. Not a branch should be broken or else a curse may befall on that person. A lush green valley surrounds this grove where a great variety of plants like orchids including carnivorous varieties and ferns grow.

Meghalaya, swaddled amidst wraith-like mists, is aptly called “the abode of clouds”. It is one of India’s prettiest states inhabited by the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. It is known for its matrilineal society, which governs lineage and ancestral inheritance through the female line. It stands out for its traditional and natural beauty among the other states. Its historical strengths have been irreversibly linked with its superlative natural setting. 

In the morning hike down from the resort to see a living root bridge and natural swimming pools in the riverbed. Before reaching the double decker root bridge you will come across more living root ridges and steel rope bridges. The valley scenery is very impressive. Beyond the double decker root bridge you walk on level ground another 2 km (say 20 minutes) to reach Mawsaw Steel Rope Bridge. From here you access famous natural swimming pools.

Some of the other sites to visit are Mawsmai Cave, Nohkalikai Falls and Khoh Ramhah,Nohsngithiang Falls.Eco Park has many hybrid and indigenous orchids in the green house and Thangkharang Park has many rare and exotic orchids and some rare species of plants endemic to the area. A panoramic view of the plains of Bangladesh is clearly visible on a clear day from the park.

Today post breakfast you drive to Mawlynnong close to the Bangladesh border (2 ½ hrs). Mawlynnong has been voted the cleanest village in India by Discover India’s travel writer and photographer, Anshuman Sen. Situated on the Southern ridges overlooking the plains of Bangladesh, this little hamlet has around seventy houses. The inhabitants belong to the War group, i.e. a sub-tribe of the Khasi people. They have their own dialect.

Later drive to Shillong (3 hrs).

Today you will visit Elephant falls, Shillong Peak, DBCIC Museum, Ward’s Lake, local market and archery competition.

Archery in Shillong is an age-old tribal skill in a new guise. The archery contest takes place every day (except Sunday) in the Polo Grounds, about 3 km from the city center. It is quite a commercialized activity with betting booths lining one side of the field.

DBCIC (Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture) is the largest of its kind in Asia. It is a center where you can see, learn and experience the diverse culture of all the states of North East India under one roof.

Post breakfast drive to Kaziranga National Park (270 kms/ 7 hrs).

Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian one horned rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic water buffalo, elephants, tigers, swamp deer, barking deer and hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park: swamp francolin, great hornbill, pallas’s fish eagle, pied falconets, greater adjutant stork and the long billed vulture are the names of a few.

Early morning go for an elephant safari followed by an afternoon jeep safari.

After breakfast drive to Neematighat (80 kms / 2 hrs) for the ferry crossing (1 hr downstream boat cruise – the time depends upon the water level of the river) to Majuli Island, the largest inhabited river island in the world, and famous for the Vaishnavite Satras or monasteries (Kamalabari Satra, Auniati Satra, Benganti satra, and many more) and culture. It is nestled between the confluence of the Subansiri and the Brahmaputra Rivers.

On arrival, you will be transferred by road to a monastery, enroute pass through bothAssamese and Mishing Villages. The Mishing houses are built on stilts and have a ‘long house’ style of design. At the monastery you will be given an orientation tour by one of the monks of the monastic cells and temple.  (Please note that you will be expected to remove your shoes when entering the Vaishnavite monasteries). These monasteries are active and nurture the traditional dance form ‘Satriya’ (which is the 5th nationally recognized dance form other than Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Manipuri), music and crafts (mask- making), besides religious teachings.

In the morning continue to explore Majuli Island. Later in the afternoon ferry across to the mainland and check into Thengal Manor, a 72year old colonial style mansion.

The first daily newspaper in the Assamese Language ‘Dainik Batori’ was launched from here. Thengal offers a feel of ambience of the colonial days as one relaxes in   period furniture and décor.

Early morning visit Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary (22 kms/ 40 mins). Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, famed for its Hoolock gibbon population. It is an isolated wildlife forest surrounded by tea plantations. With an area of around 20 sq km, it is in the south bank of theBrahmaputra River in Jorhat District, Assam. This sanctuary was established with the aim to protect the Hoolock gibbon. There are about 40 species of mammals that live in the sanctuary. Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary protects Capped Langur, Stump-tailed macaque, Pigtail macaque, Assamese macaque and the Rhesus macaque.

Later drive to Dibrugarh (140 kms / 3 hrs). Enroute you will visit the Ahom monuments and temples at Sivasagar that encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty. The Shans who came from Thailand through Northern Myanmar to this area in early 13th century ruled for 600 years. The Shiva Temple, built by the Ahoms, situated here is believed to be the tallest of all existing Hindu temples. The ruins of the Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historical town. Centuries, before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chieftains.

Post breakfast, take a tea tour of the 157 year old heritage tea estate known for producing high quality CTC teas. Learn about how tea is grown, tea tasting and its quality.

Later drive to the river and take a boat ride on the mighty Brahmaputra River. (Subject to weather conditions). You may sight flocks of migratory water birds and the elusive Gangetic River Dolphin.

Enjoy the view of the Eastern Himalayas and take a nature walk in the vast expanse of grasslands surrounding the island. Enjoy your picnic lunch and the view of the Eastern Himalayas. You have the option to take a nature walk in the vast expanse of grasslands surrounding the island or go kayaking. Return to the mainland.

In the evening enjoy a Bihu dance performance, a popular Assam folk dance on the bungalow lawn of Mancotta Heritage Chang Bungalow. ‘Bihu’ is performed by young men and women and reflects the youthful passion and joy of the rejuvenating life during the spring season accompanied by songs woven around the theme of love and physical yearning.

Note: Visit to tea factory is subject to being operational on the day of the visit. There is no tea plucking from December until mid-March. The actual manufacturing process of tea cannot be demonstrated when one visits the factory during this period. Factory also remains closed on Monday’s of the week.

Enjoy a full day excursion to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Magori Bheel (1 hr drive). You will take a boat rides on the Dibru River, go for a jungle walk and sight birds and Gangetic dolphins.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is known for its pristine scenic beauty. The forest in this park ranges from semi-evergreen to deciduous to littoral to swampy marshes with patches of wet evergreen jungles. Dibru-Saikhowa is a haven for many rare and endangered species of over 350 birds and is a must visit site for target-list birders. The big four here are Jerdon’s Bushchat, the Black breasted parrotbilla and the Marsh babbler. Several other rarely observed species can be found in the extensive grasslands, wetlands, and riverine forests.

Today assisted departure to the Dibrugarh airport in time to board the flight for Kolkata. (6E 206 – 1435/1610 hours)

On arrival at Kolkata airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. (Room blocked until final departure)

Late night assisted departure transfer to the International airport in time to board flight for home.