NORTH EAST INDIA
The UNESCO Heritage Tour
JORHAT – MAJULI – SIVSAGAR – KAZIRANGA
6 Days 5 Nights
Day 1: A bud and two
Our team will welcome you at the Lokarpiya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati. We’ll straightway proceed to Tezpur on the northern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. It’ll be a 3 hours drive. Tezpur, the cultural hub of Assam, is the perfect agglomeration of history and modernization. While its history goes back beyond the days of Aniruddh (the grandson of Lord Krishna), places of learning like the magnificent Tezpur University and the Tezpur Medical College & Hospital speaks volume of the city’s modernisation. Monabari TE, Asia’s largest tea estate is also located within Tezpur. We’ll spend the night in Tezpur. Early to bed is advisable, in anticipation of long drive in the hilly terrain on the morrow.
P.S : Inner Line permit can be obtained in Tezpur
Welcome to Jorhat, the hub of tea industry in India. Jorhat has its own place in the tourism map of India. It was not only the capital of the Ahom dynasty (one of the longest ruling dynasties in the world) but also the proud possessor of two UNESCO heritage sites –Kaziranga and Majuli.
Our team will greet you at the airport and take you to your designated Hotel/ Home stay, nestled in the midst of a tea estate. This will be our base camp for the next three days.
Day 2: The Island of Culture
Today we’ll drive into the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, the land of rising sun. Our destination today will be the stone village of Dirang (1560m), a 6 hours drive. About an hour’s drive from Tezpur we’ll reach Tipi Orchidarium, a one of its kind in India. The Orchidarium offers a visual treat of over 7500 orchids from around 3000 species. Next in our travel path will be Bomdila, the land of apple orchards and Gompas. Dirang, wherein we’re going to put up for the night, is an hour’s drive from Bomdila.
Majuli, the world’s largest river island will be our first UNESCO heritage site. After a traditional Assamese breakfast we’ll head towards Neematighat on the banks of river Brahmaputra, from whereon we’ll board the ferry to Majuli. In the 16th century Srimanta Sankardev, a pioneer of medieval neo-Vaishnavite movement established a number of satras (monasteries) in the island, many of which have survived the ravages of time and are still functioning. Since the time of Srimanta Sankardev, Majuli has been considered as the cultural capital Assamese society. Today, the island is famous for its avifauna (especially the migratory ones), the satras and the handcrafted masks.
Day 3: The Good Old Days
After an early breakfast we’ll hit the road to Tawang (3000 m), the land of the Monpa. Enroute to Tawang we’ll come across such lodestones as the Jung/Nuranang Waterfalls, the Jasawantgarh War Memorial and the famed Sella pass (4170 m). Keeping in account time for photography/selfie and magi (noodles), we’ll be on the road for six hours before we check in at our designated accommodation in Tawang. The evening can be spent by a visit to the local market and/or enjoying the light and sound show.
For the major duration of Ahom dynasty, Sivasagar was their capital city before being shifted to Jorhat in 1788. The numerous forts (viz. Talatal ghar, Kareng ghar), temples (viz. Shiva doul, Vishnu doul, Devi doul), maidams (burial grounds) and lakes (Joysagar, Sivasagar, Gourisagar) in Sivasagar reflects the sublime architectural, archaeological, engineering skills of the Ahoms. Charaideo or Che-Rai-doi established by Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha in 1253 CE was the first capital of the Ahoms. It’s famous for the royal maidams which are often compared to the Egyptian pyramids of Pharaoh. Recently in July 2024, Charaideo has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’ll start our day a bit early today as Sivasagar is around 2 hours by road from Jorhat. First on our itinerary will be Charaideo as it’s farthest from Jorhat followed by other monuments like Kareng Ghar (royal palace), Rang ghar(entertainment place) etc, Sivasagar lake, etc. We should be returning to our base camp by twilight.
Day 4: The Big Fives
Let’s start the day by paying obeisance to Lord Buddha at the Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery, the second oldest and largest monastery in Asia. Thereafter we’ll move to the Indo-China border (two and half hours drive) to have a firsthand experience of the lofty Bumla Pass (5000 m) and enjoy the beauty of the resplendent Sangestar Lake aka Madhuri lake. One has to take special permission from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Tawang for the Indo-China border drive. The evening is dedicated to the local Monpa cuisine and drinks.
A visit to Assam is never complete without a visit to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP)-the last but not the least of the UNESCO Heritage sites in out itinerary. After breakfast we’ll check out from our base camp in Jorhat and head towards the Agoratoli Range of KNP. It’ll be a drive of around two hours. We’ll put up for the night in a facility on the outskirts of the park. The park is divided into four ranges namely, Agoratoli, Kohora, Bagori and Burhapahar from east to west. Other than the famous one horned rhinoceros, KNP is also known for its royal Bengal tiger, elephants, water buffaloes, and the Barasingha (swamp deer) and the migratory birds. Because of the presence of Sohola wetland in Agoratoli, the largest of the wetlands in the park, the Agoratoli range is the best for a jeep safari. We’ll have an incursion into the interiors of the range in the afternoon.
PS: We’ll have an early dinner since we need to wake up early next day; before the call of the rooster.
After two days of exhilaration in Tawang, today we’ll move downhill to Bomdila. We’ll take a small detour to Sangti Valley – an unadulterated beauty of nature. After the soaring snow capped heights of Tawang the limitless green meadows and rolling hills of the Sangti Valley is a welcome treat to the eye. Afterwards we’ll take a soul and body rejuvenating bath in the Hot Spring near Dirang. Thereafter we’ll check in at our designated hotel in Bomdila. We’ll retire for the night early tonight, in anticipation for our long drive tomorrow.
Day 5: A walk in the grass
Before dawn we need to move to Bagori range for availing the one of its kind odyssey –the elephant safari. The jumbos carrying the tourists move in a procession and cut across the tall elephant grassland of the park – this gives the tourists a chance to see the inhabitants of the park in their natural habitats and from a close quarter.
After the exhilarating safari we’ll head back to our resort/hotel for our breakfast and thence check-out. We’ll then head towards Guwahati (a six hour drive) – the commercial hub of the North East India.
Post breakfast we’ll take the newly built and less congested road from Bomdila to Guwahati via Kalaktang, by passing Bhalukpong and Tezpur. Today’s drive will be a long one – approximately 8 hours. After reaching Guwahati, we’ll check in, refresh and take a leisurely dinner.
Day 6: Au revoir.
Early morning we’ll visit Maa Kamakhya Temple- to express our gratitude to Maa for an uneventful sojourn. Thereafter we’ll head to either Guwahati Railway Station or Airport, according to the requirement.
According to the flight timings we’ll check out from our hotel and head towards the Guwahati Airport in order to catch our flight back home.
PS: On request we can arrange an early morning darshan of Maa Kamakhya temple.
TARIFF INCLUDES
- All accommodation will be on twin sharing basis
- Transportations (land and water)
- Breakfast
- All tolls and taxes
- Mineral water bottles during travel
TARIFF EXCLUDES
- Jeep and elephant safaris in Kaziranga national park
- All entry tickets
- All rides
- Fees in kamakhya temple
POINTS TO REMENBER
- There may be mobile and data connection issues in the hills and interiors.
- The weather may change without warning.
- Better to carry binoculars, sunscreens, lip balms, and raincoats.
- Star accommodations in the interiors are a rarity.
- Food served in the hills is simple and healthy.