Why is North East India so special for Tourists
The northeastern region of India or North East India which is made up of eight states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura – is surrounded by the lofty Himalayas which lend it a breathtaking landscape consisting of majestic mountains and hills, verdant forests, green valleys, and the bluest skies. North East India has a culture all of its own too that is unique in its diverse ethnicity and tribal nature. With so much to offer, North East India truly is a great land for a pleasant holiday spent in the mountains. Here is a list of the best places to visit when on a Holiday in North East India for Tourists.
Sikkim
Sikkim is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North East India and is famous for its magnificent and often snow-capped mountains, especially the Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, which is visible from all vantage points in Sikkim, for its lush and thick forests and meadows, for the adventurous and challenging treks that it offers to travelers, and for the monasteries and shrines that are a manifestation of the mingling of Nepalese, Buddhist, and Hindu cultures. Some of the best places to visit in Sikkim are Rumtek Monastery, which is the largest and most significant of all monasteries in Sikkim and is located on top of a hill a little distance from Gangtok, which also offers a stunning panoramic view of Sikkim; MG Road, which is a boulevard that functions as the shopping hub of Gangtok; Nathu La Pass, which is a mountain pass that tourists go to for trekking the valley; and Tsomgo Lake, which is one of the unique high altitude lakes in India that flows in between the mountains at 12400 ft above sea level.
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang is a scenic and picturesque town in Arunachal Pradesh that is situated at the height of 3048m and is famous for being the birth town of 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. It is also full of quite significant and popular monasteries, some of which are quite sacred to Buddhists, and the town was historically a part of Tibet, which influences its culture greatly. Since it is a sensitive area claimed both by India and China you need to obtain a permit to visit it, but visiting it is worth it for its serenely beautiful landscape. Some of the must visit places in Tawang are Sela Pass, which connects Tawang to the rest of the country and is also the most mystical and enchanting place, overlooking the imposing Himalayas and also the beautiful Sela Lake; Tawang Monastery, which is the second largest monastery in the world and is one of the most sacred monasteries in India; Nuranang Falls, which is to be found deep in Tawang’s forest and is an offbeat tourist destination in Tawang, not known to many; and Tawang War Memorial, which pays homage to the martyrs of 1962’s Sino-India War.
Shillong, Meghalaya
Shillong is one of the most popular hill stations of North East India and is located in the state of Meghalaya which is famous for being the one of the places that receives the most rainfall in the world. Named after Lei Shyllong, a local deity worshipped at the Shillong Peak, this hill station always has a pleasant weather, with the sounds of the drizzle and the breezes making for the perfect atmosphere for a pleasing little holiday in the mountains. Known as the Scotland of the East, Shillong is both a place where you can witness the quiet beauty of nature and quite a westernized city. The top places to visit in Shillong are Mawlynnong, a small village that is known as God’s Own Garden as a green valley full of orchids and which is said to be the cleanest village in India; Umiam Lake, which is a beautiful man made reservoir which is a popular picnic as well as sunrise spot; Elephant Falls, which is the most popular waterfall in the North East and was named by the British for the elephant-like stone found at the bottom of the fall; Shillong Peak, from where you can view the entire city as well as the plains of Bangladesh; Laitlum Canyons, meaning End of the Hills, where you’ll get an exotic view of the landscape; and Don Bosco Museum which has 16 galleries showcasing the North Eastern culture and is known as the Largest Museum of Indigenous Cultures in Asia.
Manipur
Manipur is not the most famous tourist destination in India because it hasn’t been discovered by most tourists yet and perhaps for that very reason its pristine, unspoiled beauty is a gem to get to witness. Some of the best places to visit in Manipur are Kangla Fort or Palace of Kangla near the Imphal river, which is historically significant for being the royal palace of one of the kings who ruled over the place; INA Memorial, which is a place honouring freedom fighters, especially the ones that Subhash Chandra Bose had led from right here; Zeilad Lake, which is full of such water animals as pythons, fish, water birds, tortoises, ducks, cranes, and teals, for which reason it is now known as a wildlife sanctuary; and Tharon Cave, which is a long, mysterious cave that is archeologically and historically significant.
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