Teetering on the farthest brink of India’s Map on the east lie the ‘Seven Sisters’ States resting within them the most mysterious, least explored and arguably the most beautiful natural landscape in India. With the rest of India conveniently turning a blind eye to the region, it has worked as a ‘blessing in disguise,’ for keeping the natural beauty of the region unscathed.
Unlike other places in India that are known for their tourism, the region may not welcome you with glee and will throw obstacles in the form bad roads, social unrest and poor infrastructure to name a few. Despite all this, if you have a taste for raw adventure, you would surely return feeling rewarded. The seven wonders that you must visit and explore are:
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When you think of Assam, what comes to your mind, the unending slopes of tea gardens or the renowned one-horned rhinoceros or both? If I have to answer the question, for my eternal love for everything wild and natural, I wouldn’t blink an eye to say, Rhinoceros. We have always been told, Beauty and the Beast are different, visit Kaziranga and you would realize ‘Beast is the Beauty’ here.
What better sight it could be than watching the beautiful beast roaming around freely and grazing on the grasslands, feeding its baby and playfully rolling over the mud. The Kaziranga National Park lets you get up-close and personal with rhinos and watch their antics. The National Park, declared as a world heritage site is also a Tiger Reserve and boats of having the highest density of tigers among the protected in the world.
“Kaziranga excites the senses, arrests the soul. It beckons a visit”
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Shrouded in rain and clouds and amidst the dense tropical forest of Meghalaya, lies the mind-boggling man-made natural wonder of the world, the living roots bridge. The local tribesmen have trained the rubber trees in the forest to grow in a way that they form a bridge for the locals to walk on. There are plenty of root bridges around but the most famous among them is the ‘double decker’ bridge located in the wettest place on earth, Cherrapunji. The mesmerizing beauty of this bridge is a sight to behold and to walk on it will be an experience of a lifetime.
They say, we will cross the bridge, when we reach it; we say, reach there and cross the bridge
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Lakes are dime a dozen in India, there is even a city known as ‘city of lakes’ but none more beautiful than the Loktak Lake, which has the distinction of being the only floating lake in the world. Located just about an hour’s drive from Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the northeast India. Covering an area of 312 Square Kilometers it nests within it some of the rarest and endangered flora and fauna.
Loktak is not just a lake; it is a means of livelihood for the locals, a national treasure, a source of economic sustenance and a major tourist attraction in Meghalaya. If you are visiting Manipur, make sure you spend a day at the lake and you would surely be left gasping in awe of the beauty of place, we bet!
Talking about lakes, my ears are buzzing with Jarod Kintz’s words – “Moral codes are like the ocean. Some people live by them, while others, such as myself would rather live by a lake.”
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The Scenic beauty of the Dzoukou Valley comes straight out of the fairy tales book we all loved to read in our childhood. Didn’t we all feel amazed or rather just jealous imagining the life of the little princess who lived up the hills with stunning panoramic beauty of the valley below greeting her good morning every day? Well, then you can experience that life in reality if you visit the Dzoukou Valley in Nagaland. The valley better known as the ‘Valley of flowers of the North-East,’ is perhaps one of the most hidden gems of India.
Walking through the beautiful plains amidst the lush greenery and the loveliest flowers growing on them you may feel hypnotized by the nature. The serenity of the surrounding, the complete silence and unending calmness will make you feel you have reached the abode of God because heaven can’t be more beautiful than this.
Visit the place once and you will realize the significance of what G.K. Chesterton famously said, “One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.”
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If you have ever imagined of a place that is isolated from the outside world, smiling people around, Buddhist chants reverberating in the air, monks engaged in prayers then Tawang Monastery is the answer to that mystical place. Located at a height of about 10,000 ft above sea level, the picturesque Monastery is one of the oldest and the largest monasteries in India. Being the birthplace of sixth Dalai Lama, it is one of the most holy sites for the Buddhists from India and Tibet.
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Legend has it that a celestial horse chose Tawang as the site for the monastery when the Merak Lama was finding it difficult to locate a place for building the Monastery. From a distance, this colossal structure appears like a fort that is guarding the Buddhist patrons residing in the valley below.
Visit the Monastery once and you will understand the real meaning of Dalai Lama’s words of wisdom, ‘The purpose of our lives is to be happy.’
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The sanctuary is one of the oldest and the largest sanctuaries in Mizoram and is located on the tri-junction of Mizoram, Tripura and Bangladesh. Sprawling over an area of over 650 Square Kms, it is home to the virgin forests that inhabits the most unique flora and fauna. Dampa is one of the last few safe havens for the tigers and host of other wildlife species.
Although it is difficult to spot a tiger here due to the dense trees and greenery, you can feel their presence around with the pug marks, their kills and territorial marks.
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Tripura’s most iconic building, Neermahal, a water palace built in 1930 by the late Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. The building is the best example that amplifies the beauty of the Hindu and Muslim architecture. This spectacular monument reflects the splendor of its past glory and is sure to leave you spellbound.
