|
Embarking on a journey of India's
eight states of the North East is
a tumultuous but rewarding and unique
one. The history of its people and
various ethnic communities, their
rich heritage of ancient traditions
and lifestyles, its festivals and
crafts, and the infinite variety of
its geographical settings, its topography
and its varied flora and fauna and
avian life, makes it a wonderland,
waiting to be discovered afresh.
Journey through the North East states
is a challenge, yet a romantic adventure
in the best traditions of travel and
discovery.
North Eastern States of Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Nagaland and Tripura offers a kaleidoscopic
fiesta that lures you with its rawness
and varieties.
The very rare orchids , its natural
beauty and challenging rivers mesmerizes
the traveler by its dazzling variety
and compelling appeal.
Arunachal Pradesh, the land of the
rising sun, is the most scantily populated
states in the entire north east. Its
very isolation has a mysterious magical
charm that lures the traveler to imbibe
of its natural beauty, tribal culture,
craft traditions and splendid wildlife.
Arunachal shares its border with
China (Tibet) in the north, Myanmar(
Burma) in the east, Bhutan in the
west and the states of Nagaland and
Assam in the south.
Arunachal covers an area of 83,743
sq km . Almost 80% of the state is
under forest cover, which varies from
the sub-tropical to the alpine in
the upper regions of the north west.
This vast canopy of rainforest with
its dynamic blend of an amazing plethora
of flora and fauna is one of the world,s
17 bio-diversity heritage sites.
This land of the rising sun has 24
major tribes with its unique dialects,
customs and traditions.
The home of the Brahmaputra River
is a land of vast alluvial plains
rich in forests, vast tracts of paddy
and tea, and oil from the vast depths
of the earth.
Her tea estates established by the
British, produce over half of India,s
tea. Digboi has India,s oldest and
Asia,s first oil refinery.
Assam is cocooned between Himalayan
foothills in north and the plateau
and hilly terrain of Meghalaya in
the south.
For six hundred years, the Ahoms
ruled Assam, from their state capital
of Charaideo before the arrival of
British. The Ahoms were conquerors
belonging to the Shan tribe of Burma,
through the patkai range , who settled
in the Brahmaputra valley and have
consolidated their hold over the entire
valley.
Visitors pour into her world renowned
Kaziranga wildlife Sanctuary, one
of the last frontiers for the pre-historic,
one-horned rhino. The Project Tiger
Reserve Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is
a world heritage site. Assam is also
home to the world,s largest inhabited
riverine island, Majuli.
This is the land of colourful people
and dazzling rituals, myths and legends,
lively festivals and evocative classical
dance form, martial arts and indigenous
games, it offers a comprehensive diversity
of tourists delights.
The Meiteis, inhabit the fertile
Imphal valley whose eastern periphery
lies in the Chindwin- Irrawaddy basin.
The Nagas reside in the surrounding
hills of the north and kuki-Chin Mizo
reside in the south.
Almost 70% of the land is under forest
cover. Host of rare and endemic plant
and animal life grow and inhabit in
those stunning combination of wet
forests, temperate forests and pine
forests. The forest is home to the
rare hoolock gibbon, the snow leopard
and slow loris amongst a galaxy of
other rare fauna. Indigenous to Manipur
natural heritage is the sangai-the
dancing deer that is facing extinction.
The sports loving community of Manipur
is reputed for its indigenous version
of Sagol Kangjei or Polo, it was the
first place in India to have evolved
this sport of Kings, the Mukna Kangjei(
wrestling- hockey) and Yubi-Lakpi,
a form of rugby played with a greased
coconut.
Manipur,s martial arts are recognized
for their rich traditions. The fluid
movements of the spear dance( Ta khousarol)
and sword fight(Thang Yannaba) have
a sinuous beauty.
Its artistic leanings are visible
in its graceful Ras Leela dance form.
Long Known as the Scotland of the
east, as the scenic khasi hills reminded
the British the Scottish Highlands,
just perfect to escape from the heat
and dust of the summers.
Inhabited by the Khasis, Jaintia
and Garos, it is best known for the
pretty hill station Shillong. Meghalaya
borderlines with Bangladesh and Assam.
Meghalaya, known as the abode of
clouds, are interspersed with rich
meadows and pine forests. The traditional
Sacred Forests are steeped in spiritual
belief and held in great veneration.
Meghalaya is also known for its unique
matrilineal society, which governs
lineage and ancestral inheritance
through the female line.
Christian missions were established
among the Khasis and in the Garo hills.
Shillong became an important educational
centre, a summer resort and a garrison
centre.
Mizoram, land of hilly blue mountains,
which are criss- crossed by gushing
rivers and their tributaries, lies
in the southernmost outpost of the
north eastern states. Manipur and
Assam are situated to its north, Tripura
to its west and part of it slips down
between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The Mizo hills are famous for their
thick bamboo jungles, thereby resulting
in beautiful mizo crafts in bamboo
and cane which are ingeniously varied
to meet modern needs but remain rooted
to its traditions.
Highest amongst its several peaks
is the Phawngpui- the Blue mountain.
Mizoram provides galaxy of festivals
and dances, natural beauty and ancient
traditions.
From the 19th century, Christianity
has played an important role in the
state and is greatly embedded in its
social life.
Nagaland is a land of tribal richness,
brave warriors, myths and festivals.
Nagaland shares borders with Assam,
Myanmar, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Three great mountain ranges, the patkai,Barail
and naga ranges run parallel to each
other from which flows numerous rivers.
The mountain terrain is the highest
in Saramati in the Tuensang district,
which is 3840 m above sea level. Japfu
Peak(3014m) is the highest peak in
Kohima district.
There are 16 major tribes and numerous
sub-tribes spread over Nagaland,s
several districts, primary amongst
them are the Angamis, the Sema, Konyak,
Aos and the Rengmas, each with their
own distinct culture and lifestyle.
|
