North East India - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Ranjan Chetry gets talking to Vijaya Das Panicker and narrates about his recent trip to the mountainous terrain of Arunachal, Meghalaya & Assam. It was all business but got peppered with a twist of leisure covered on the way.

“A prayer in my heart and a luggage full of woolens and thermals (must items to combat the impending harsh weather), I am all set for the eight day spree, which takes off from Delhi Airport and lands me straight to the city of Guwahati, the ‘Gateway’ of the North-East Region. I didn’t waste any of my time out here and immediately proceeded to the first destination in my itinerary, which is Shillong – ‘SCOTLAND of the EAST’.

Shillong is where the clouds reside and is just two and half to three hours journey by road from Guwahati. The surrounding hills have been categorically cut to give way to roads wide enough for my cab driver to safely maneuver his vehicle through the misty land, giving me a better feel of things. The open, topsy-turvy roads mingled with tall pine trees and the wind in my hair was just the teaser for the imminent wonder called Barapani Lake, whose beauty is captivating enough to quench the artistic desire. Here, the senses are engulfed with the freshness and chill in the air. It is believed that if you have to experience the true essence of a place, then you got to book yourself into a good hotel, and that’s exactly what I did – a room with a hill view in Polo Towers, the only 4 star hotel in the vicinity and my abode for the next two days. Belting a contract with the hotel and hungry for more, I thought of celebrating the moment by checking out the market for some steamed chicken MOMOS, which were served in plantain leaves. Fully satiated, it was time to hit the bed for an early morning trip to Cherapunjee.

‘All work and no play makes Ranjan a dull boy’, so I took some time-off from my hectic schedule to catch the beauty of the land of the Cherapunjee, the wettest place in the World and only 60 kms away from Shillong. The bald plateau, bereft of all vegetation, the wayside waterfalls and the view of the plains of Bangladesh a few thousand feet below was worth every boost of my energy. Then there was the animated Living Bridge of the World, (resembling a digitalized bridge straight from the Oscar winning movie - AVATAR) for which I had to go 2015 steps down, making me breathless, all the way. Due, to time-constraint I had to return back to Shillong, but en-route I made it sure to visit the fabulous Elephanta falls and Shillong peak, the highest point of Meghalaya for some breathtaking views and some Kodak moments. But if time is what you have in hand then do visit the main attraction of Shillong - The Gambling Archery Sport, which is a socializing pub with a dart competition, frequented mostly by the localities.

In midst of marathon meets with hoteliers, my tryst with Nature continued at Kaziranga National Park on the third and fourth day of my sojourn. The park, the home of the ‘One Horned Rhinoceros’ and sanctuary to a variety of wild lives was explored on the back of an elephant (children and adults alike would love this outing). The thick foliage in this jungle ambiance made me apprehensive, but my day was made when I encountered Rhino and other endangered species, including the Hog Deer, Swamp Deer, wild Buffalo, and Elephants. The wilderness had made my stomach grumble and didn’t want to be an appetizer for the Tiger, who had not kept up with our safari appointment. So, I returned to the GL Resort, my abode for the moment and enjoyed a yummy breakfast. There is an interesting, afternoon jeep safari organized by the Central Zone of the National Park, for the exploratory soul amongst us.

Bomdila was the next town in my itinerary and I wished I had my Harley Davidson bike and a friend to cruise along with in the surrounding picturesque valley. But, alas I had to do with the loyal cab, which drove me to the most romantic destination – the Tipi, located on the banks of the Bharali River at an elevation of 190 meters. Tipi is a Nature’s paradise; an Orchid Research Center spread over 112.8 acres with over 50,600 orchids under cultivation. The Tower Point in the mountains was another must-see on my bucket list, which I visited in the evening. The point presented a bird’s eye view of the entire city, mesmerizing my senses with its sheer magnitude.

My entire business visit to the North-East was getting interesting with every passing moment and I didn’t want the sun to go down on me. I wanted to explore new horizons. So, after a hearty breakfast I depart to Tawang, the land of the Monpa tribe, for whom life is a song and dance. En-route, I visit the Sela Pass, the high altitude mountain pass that connects the Buddhist city of Tawang with the rest of the country. The pass with an altitude of 13700 ft. is famous for its unparalleled view of the Himalayas, and is an ideal setting for ice skating during winters. Not one with nimble feet, I do a rain-check on the Bangajung Gonpa, the main Buddhist cultural centre where one can indulge in some serious soul searching exercise, and get enlightened.

I wrap up my official trip with a spiritual visit to the ancient city of Tezpur, a must for the religious-minded. Tezpur houses the legendary Mahabhairav Temple, where king Bana worshipped Mahabhairav for his blessings. And, I for one needed the blessings for a rocking year ahead.

There is more to Arunachal than meets the eye. And, through this trip my soul touched base with my childhood in matters more than one… when running in the playground was akin to life. Such were the joys of childhood, which one can relive in the rugged and untouched terrain of Arunachal.”

All those who plan a trip to this dream destination can check out the best hotels in Guwahati and hotels in Shillong. One can even book exciting holiday packages like Shillong - Cherapunjee - Guwahati starting Rs. 7,699/- and Guwahati - Kaziranga National Park - Shillong starting Rs. 12,635/-