Details
10 NIGHTS / 11 DAYS
ROUTING: GUWAHATI - SHILLONG - BHALUKPONG - DIRANG - TAWANG - GUWAHATI
Transfer from Guwahati airport/railway station to Shillong; en route visit Umium Lake. Shillong became the first capital of the state of Meghalaya. Located in undulating pine-covered hills, the city has a milder climate than tropical India. The city centre is 1496 m above sea level and currently has a population of around 270,000. Home to several waterfalls, it is also known as the Scotland of the East. The British legacy is still visible in the architecture and food habits of the population. Overnight at Shillong.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Cherrapunjee. Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on the planet and the only place in India to receive rain throughout the year. The town of Cherrapunji is nestled in the East Khasi Hills, about 50 km southwest of the state’s capital, Shillong. Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra or Churra, means ‘the land of oranges’. The cliffs of Cherrapunji also offer stunning views of the plains of Bangladesh. Visit Arwah Cave, Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Cave, Seven Sisters Falls, Dainthlen Waterfalls, Eco Park, and Ramakrishna Mission Museum. Return to Shillong; en route visit Shillong Peak and Elephant Falls. Overnight at Shillong.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bhalukpong. Bhalukpong is a small town located along the southern reaches of the Himalayas in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. Fish angling and river rafting are the principal tourist activities here. Attractions include the Tipi Orchidarium, which hosts over 2600 cultivated orchids from 80 different species. Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, drive to Dirang. Dirang is an almost picture-perfect Tibetan-Monpa stone village, with picturesque stone houses set against a steep rocky hill topped by Old Dirang’s Gompa and several walls. Overnight at Dirang.
After breakfast, drive to Tawang. En route, witness the snow-capped Sela Pass at 14,000 ft and visit Jaswant Garh War Memorial (dedicated to Jaswant Singh, Mahavir Chakra awardee (Posthumous) of the 4th Battalion Garhwal Rifles, who fought bravely during the 1962 war). Tawang is situated at an altitude of 3500 m. The natural beauty and solitude of the Gudpi and Chong-Chugmi ranges, Tawang Chu River, and Tawang Valley are mesmerizing. The inhabitants of the district are mainly Monpa tribes, except Shyo village, which is dominated by people of Tibetan origin. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of the 400-year-old (17th century) Tawang Monastery, the second largest monastery in the world after Potala Palace in Tibet. The building is about 113 feet long and 80 feet wide and houses valuable antiquities, books, and manuscripts (handwritten and printed). Later visit Tawang War Memorial, a 40-foot-high multi-hued structure built in stupa design, dedicated to the martyrs of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The memorial overlooks the Tawang Chu Valley. The rest of the day is free to explore the town. Overnight at Tawang.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bomdila. Bomdila, the headquarters of West Kameng district, is located at an altitude of 8500 ft above sea level. It offers attractions such as cool climate, apple orchards, artistic people, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and Buddhist gompas. The Bomdila Monastery is a repository of local culture. Explore the town in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, drive from Bomdila to Tezpur, known as the “City of Tales” and the cultural capital of Assam. On arrival, check in to the hotel for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, drive from Tezpur to Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast India and the largest city in the region. While it is a modern city, it also has several interesting temples and old quarters reflecting local culture, with ponds, palm trees, traditional houses, and colonial-era mansions. Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, visit Kamakhya Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, an incarnation of Sati, located on Nilachal Hill. According to the Shiva Purana, the yoni (creative organ) of Sati fell here when Vishnu cut her body into 51 pieces using his Sudarshan Chakra to stop Shiva’s tandava (dance of destruction). Also visit Navagraha Temple, Umananda Temple, Balaji Temple, and the State Zoo. Overnight in Guwahati.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport/railway station for your onward journey.
