North east India - Best Places of Interest

‘North East India’ popularly known as ‘seven sisters state’ is a treasure trove for travellers, with lush green mountains, mystifying viewpoints, lavish tea estates and quirky tourist spots. This part of the subcontinent is extremely underrated but has a lot to offer for people looking for some peace of mind and to get away from the teeming city crowd.

Sikkim Darjeeling travel enthusiasts will definitely be encapsulated in North East India’s splendid rolling slopes of the mighty hills along with the unparalleled tranquillity and its rich ethnic diversity.

Here are some destinations in North East India which cannot be missed out on:

Pelling, Sikkim

Pelling, West Sikkim, Northeast India- Namaste India — Pelling, West Sikkim

Also known as the ‘jewel of Sikkim’, this small hill town of Pelling is nestled comfortably at an elevation of 2,150 metres. Set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and surrounded by impressive and colourful plants Pelling is the ideal tourist spot for families and people looking for some peaceful time. Tourist spots include spiritual local monasteries, cascading waterfalls, shimmering lakes and compelling trekking routes. One can witness the Mighty Himalayas and the majestic Kanchenjunga closely from this impressive hill station which is home to the traditional North Eastern tribes.

Places to Visit in Pelling – Khecheopalri Lake, Kanchenjunga falls, Pemayangtse monastery, Rimbi falls, Darap village.

Bes Time to Visit – September to May

Shillong, Meghalaya

Popularly nicknamed as the ‘Scotland of East’ Shillong is home to some of the most picturesque and mesmerizing tourist spots in India overall. This city is slowly yet steadily attracting a huge number of tourists from not just other parts of India but across the globe as well. One can visit various intriguing canyons, colourful blossoming parks, impressive lakes and towering peaks, on their visit to Shillong. With the temperature remaining constantly cool throughout the year, Shillong is an oasis for people looking to beat the harsh heat.

Places to visit in Shillong – Elephant Falls, Umiam Lake, Don Bosco Museum, Phan Nonglait Park, Wards Lake.

Best time to visit – all year round

Kohima, Nagaland

This second largest city in the state of Nagaland was founded by the British’s in the year 1878. Currently, it is one of the most vibrant cultural North Eastern centres in India, with the organization of the unique Hornbill festival Kohima is not only a paradise for nature and adventure lovers but is also a haven for fashionistas. Still known for being one of the most offbeat travel locations Kohima has managed to stay close to its traditional roots. The primary occupation for the people of Kohima still remains agriculture and farming while their humbleness has started to attract a lot of tourism.

View of Kohima City, Northeast India- Namaste India — View of Kohima City

Places to Visit in Kohima – Kohima war cemetery, Nagaland state museum, Sakhrie Park, Naga heritage village.

Best time to Visit – October to May

Haflong, Assam

Haflong is the one and only hill station in Assam, which attracts a number of tourists from across the subcontinent and the map throughout the year. Haflong boasts of a rich cultural heritage which remains untouched. Often referred to as the White Ant Hillock Haflong consists of mesmerizing lakes where one can have some quality time with their family and enjoy a picnic, picturesque green rolling hills and numerous other viewpoint sites where you can witness the sheer grandness and purity of nature in all its forms and vigour. This tiny hill town is a prime and one of the pristine spots for getting away from the busy city life.

Beautiful view of Haflong, North East India, Namaste India — Beautiful view of Haflong

Places to visit in Haflong – Haflong hill, Jatinga, Maibong, Haflong Lake

Best Time to Visit – October to April

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

This enchanting valley town is located at an elevation of 3,048 metres and has always been inhabited by the Monpa people. This town is extremely religious in its Buddhist pursuits hence it is home to numerous calming and beautiful monasteries. Tawang is comfortably nestled on the lush green mountains and is increasingly becoming a safe haven for individuals looking for some adventure as well as for families looking to spend a memorable vacation. It is the perfect combination of rich tradition, a hub for Buddhist religion and of course, mesmerizing surroundings.

Places to visit in Tawang – Tawang monastery, Shonga – Tser Lake, Nuranang Waterfalls, Pankang Teng Tso Lake

Best Time to Visit – March to October

The book Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in Northeast India written by Nandita Haksar is a fascinating read. The author travels to different places and narrates in detail about their culture, and their past. The information given here is not available in history books that are part of our education. It is a comprehensive study of the understanding of people’s life in this region. It makes you contemplate and gives a voice to struggles of the people living in the Northeast region.

A travelogue with one of the best political writing. She uses mythology, history, sociology and anecdote to create an exhaustive portrait of Northeast India.

Travel writing is among my favorite forms of non-fiction. In the beginning, it appears to be simple but there is much depth as she progresses and you get drawn into this region which she knows so well. Her narrative is simple. Haksar was first exposed to the Northeast in 1974 when she visited as a journalist.

Nandita in her words and I quote:

This is the story of my journey, an Indian traveling through a part of the country where so many people share a citizenship but dream of different nations.”

In her chapter Through Nepal, she mentions about a place called Lumbini:

Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha. But over the years, Lumbini had been forgotten and Maya Devi, Buddha’s mother, had been absorbed into Hindu fold. Even the name Lumbini disappeared from the memories of people. They called the village Rummindei which in time became Rupandehi.

The above is just one example of Buddhism. You come across many other descriptions about Buddhism which make this book, fascinating to read.

The book Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in Northeast India by Nandita Haksar (Unabridged, 1 Nov 2013) Hardcover is a narration of exciting, at times tiring, chilling experiences of the lone couple journey from Delhi traversing up and down the Eastern Himalayan mountains and back to Delhi.

The cover design is attractive and showcases her travel a journey in the Northeast region. There is an absence of good roadmap which is important for readers to connect with the author on her journey.

Nandita Haskar is a human rights lawyer, teacher, activist, and writer. Her other works include Demystification of Law for Women (1986); Framing Geelani, Hanging Afzal: Patriotism in the Time of Terror (2009); Rogue Agent: How India’s Military Intelligence Betrayed the Burmese Resistance (2010); The Judgement That Never Came: Army Rule in North East India (with Sebastian Hongray, 2011); ABC of Naga Culture and Civilization (2011) and Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in North East India (2013). Her books have been translated into several languages, including Burmese, Tamil and Tangkhul.