North East India

The small hill state of Nagaland is where the sub-Himalayan ranges melt with the Burma arc and wherein live the awe-inspiring ‘Nagas’. Far off locked between two of its northeastern sisters and Myanmar (Burma), shrouded in the dense jungle and wilderness and realities and myths of the animist rituals and people, this ‘Land of Serpents’ (naga – snake or king of snake), kept many a tourists at bay, cagey yet curious for many years. Of late, Nagaland has caught on with discerning visitors and is creating the much-sought difference to itineraries, the attraction being its diversity of tribal ways, held by the 16 tribes and 4 sub-tribes, which for ease are collectively called as Naga by outsiders. Naga people, Naga village, Naga Festivals, Naga shawl, Naga artifacts, Naga folklores et al have all become souvenir or subject of discussion amongst the travelers’ tribe but nothing as much as the Naga food. The highlights of the menu – bees’ larvae, pork with bamboo shoot and dog’s meat – make even the non-vegetarians swallow the idea of their Nagaland vacations. Liberal foodies love it though for ‘when in Nagaland they do as the Nagas do’!

Areas open for interantional visitors: Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha, Mokokchung

The ‘Land of Jewels’, literally, is the treasure-trove of rich culture of dance, theatre, martial arts, sports, cuisine and nature’s bounties. Braided by hills on all sides and 64% forests cover along with a salubrious climate make Manipur a pleasant home to the exotic flora, fauna and Vaishnavite Meiteis, the primary ethnic people also called as the Manipuri.

Manipur  is the last natural refuge of the endemic Brow-antlerd Deer, Sangai, nearing extinction. Also for the flora Siroy Lily (Lilium macklineae) and Dzuko Lily (Lilium chitragade)  alongwith many  rare orchids and ferns that have abandoned the other parts of planet earth. The floating islands of Loktak lake, the life line of Manipur, is yet another marvel of ancient natural culture and civilization.

The honeymoonic Manipur borders Assam,  Mizoram, Nagaland and Myanmar (Burma). The serene pleasant landscape, however, had to bear the wrath of time during the World War II with other states of Northeast. Like Nagaland, here too, the War Cemeteries are the crude and proud reminder of a Burma Campaign that shaped the Indian northeast.

Areas Open for International Visitors: Imphal city, Loktak lake, INA Memorial (Moirang), Sendra, Waithou Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park and Khongjom War Memorial. Permits

Chibai, that’s how a Mizo smilingly greets you and for no apparent reason or rather a reason because of ethics deeply ingrained in their lifestyle. Mizo code of ethics Tlawmngaihna – meaning be unselfish, hospitable and helpful to each other – seems to be the push behind them being so cheerful and friendly. And perhaps it is this same unrestraint attitude which shows in their  love for joyous dance, (there are 10 main dances), music, songs, colorful attires and being cool and hip. Mizos meaning the highlanders are the native of this state who migrated here some 300 years back from Chin hills of Myanmar and made this land their own and hence the name Mizoram, the land of the Mizos. They took to Christianity in the late 19th century, courtesy missionaries whose works after some initial identity dilemma and confusions let these tribal people express themselves to the outer world in an educated and refined way. Today, India has some of the finest choir singers and also the second most literate state in Mizoram.

Mizoram is the southermost state of the northeastern India and is huddled by her three sisters – Manipur, Assam and Tripura and neighbouring countries Myanmar and Bangladesh. Deep gorges, hills, bamboo green, gushing rivers and wilderness dominates Mizoram’s terra firma which is at an average altitude of 900 m. Among its many peaks the highest is Phawngpui, the blue mountain, which is revered as the abode of gods.

The third smallest state of India Tripura is a former independent princely state, like Manipur. Landlocked almost entirely by Bangladesh the ancient Kingdom  is a tourists and travelers curio with its own cultural past and charming folklore of 3000 years and around 200 rulers and as varied as its name’s etymology which itself goes as far as the Hindu religious mythos go. Tripura finds mention in Mahabharata, the longest and one of the two important Sanskrit epics of Ancient India; in the Puranas, ancient Hindu religious text; and on the inscriptions of Ashoka Pillar, the 3rd century BC pillars erected throughout northern India by one of the greatest emperors of India, Ashoka.

Tripura, simply put ‘Three Loks or Three Worlds’, however, the roots of this simple meaning is a blend of facts and folklores and of interest to historians. The name ‘Tripura’ is believed to have originated from ‘Tripura Sundari’, the supreme deity of  the state of Tripura which has one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, holiest Hindu shrine and center of Shakti worship, at Udaipur, like the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam. It may be legendary king Tirpur of Mahabharta whose name inspired Tirpura or it may be the fusion of two Kokborok words (kokborok alongwith Bengali is the official language of Tripura) Twi meaning water and pra meaning near, that is, the land adjoining water from the fact that the ancient kingdom of Tripura was well spread till the Bay of Bengal and there  is a lot in the name.

Besides the nomenclature the ancient and medieval heritage of Tripura is expressed in its Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, rock cut reliquary of age-old idols of gods and goddesses, terracotta plaques and sealing, the animist-like Shakti Bhakti and temples, ethnic diversity of around 19 major tribes or clans, their dances, music, festivals, indigenous instruments like sarinda (Indian folk music lute) and sumui (flute); the Hojagiri dance of the Reang clan that’s done standing upon pitcher; folklores, customs, arts, handicrafts et al. The modern historical heritage lie in Tripura’s many palaces, bungalows and new temples and churches especially dotting the state capital Agartala.