Ranging from the shores of the Bay of Bengal to the peak of the Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world and the highest in India, the region offers a spectacular variation in landscapes. Darjeeling is one of the most beautiful hill stations in the East with its beautiful tea plantations and going on to Sikkim, the capital Gangtok is like a fairy-tale place, where pretty houses perch precariously on steep mountain slopes above incredible scenic panoramas. Tiny Sikkim has 194 monasteries of which the 50-year-old Rumtek Monastery is the most famous – an excellent replica of the original in Tibet. Devoted lamas robed in crimson chant ancient mantras to the rhythm of drums and trumpets while soft light flickers from decorative lamps and, if you sneak a look over your shoulder, you might catch sight of the universe smiling in response.
Orissa, Kalinga of ancient times, was where one of the bloodiest battles in ancient India was fought. It was here that, revolted by the destruction and heedless loss of life he had wrecked in the battle, the victorious king Ashok converted to Buddhism. Orissa is home to the exquisite Sun Temple at Konark, a beacon for sailors for centuries. Pilgrims and tourists throng each year at festival time to the architecturally unique temples of Puri and Bhubaneshwar, while the sun swept beaches of Puri and Gopalpur draw people from near and far. Its vast interiors still relatively untouched by consumerism are home to a large and fascinating tribal population. The Bengali culture is warm and inviting at Kolkata, a beautiful city situated around the Bay of Bengal, is rich in colonial architecture, art galleries and food that is famous across India. Spread across the forests near the Brahmaputra river, the Kaziranga National Park hosts the largest population of one-horned rhinos in the world.
Here in the north-eastern region of India lie some of the densest forests of the country interspersed with high Alpine meadows. Rolling hills, and lush greenery make the region a naturalists’ paradise. Especially exotic are the orchids and other brilliant flowers that thrive in the high humidity of the region. Guwahati, the name translates lyrically as ‘Eastern City of Lights’ is the capital of the state of Assam which covers the plains of the Brahmaputra River along its whole course south of Arunachal Pradesh and the kingdom of Bhutan, till it turns south into Bangladesh. Since the days of the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang Assam has drawn travellers with her aura of myth and mystery, history and folklore, arts, textiles, music and dances, nature and wildlife. The state is also home to many tribal people, and one of the highlights of the tour is a visit to Tawang Monastery, focal point of the Mopnas, gentle and courteous people who follow Buddhism. Meghalaya, another of the North Eastern states, literally translates as the ‘abode of the clouds’ an apt evocative discretion of a beautiful state. The capital at Shillong is surrounded by many tribal villages including those of the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes, all of whom have their own distinctive culture and lifestyles and, until annexed by the British were independent kingdoms. The Nagas represent the isolated tribes in the north eastern part of India. Rich in culture and tradition, the Naga tribes have expert hunters, food gatherers, farmers and warriors.