Periplus Northeast

UPDATE

For all the followers of this page...
I have not been posting lately due to various issues and also because FB has gradually killed off oraganic page reach.

Anyway, in case you are not connected to me through my other SM accounts, I'd like to re-announce that I've been mostly busy with thee publication of this Arunachal Guidebook in collaboration with Holiday Scout Tour and Travel

Hoping to be more active from now on.

Ebook
https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09NHNR8TK/

Paperback

https://notionpress.com/read/immersive-arunachal

"In the olden days, only locals and hardened adventurers crossed Mandala Top. As per the accounts of F Kingdon Ward, the plant-hunter, they hiked over Manda La to reach Dirang Dzong from Sheragaon through colourful rhododendron forests. A few years ago, the area achieved fame suddenly as it started attracting birdwatchers. Around the same time, a new project was conceived to construct the 108 Manes at the top."

https://travellingslacker.com/mandala-top/

Geshela: A Photogenic Detour

A dhort detour but great views. If you have a vehicle, you should try this route while in

https://travellingslacker.com/geshela-peak-tawang/

Ricebowl of

Unexpected near

Could never find out the name of this village!!!

Tea in NE has a fascinating history. While Assam is the hub of tea trade, more or less every state in the Northeast has tea gardens although not every place has realized the potential for tea tourism.

Tea Tourism in Northeast India - Periplus Northeast Most of the tea gardens, especially in Assam, came up during the British era. Tea planters built their own mansions in the middle of lush green tea gardens.

4 pics are not enough to capture even 4% of the diversity of
Nevertheless, wishing them on the Statehood Day.

So, Majuli got famous because it was among the largest river islands in the world. But what exactly are the things to do in Majuli? What are the main attractions to see here? Is it worth the effort?

Top 12 Things to Do in Majuli: How to Make the Most of Your Trip? - Periplus Northeast So, Majuli got famous because it was among the largest river islands in the world. But what exactly are the things to do in Majuli? What are the main

What to do in Tawang beyond the Monastery, Madhuri Lake, And Bum La?

What about the papermakers of Mokto or the nomadic Brokpa yak herders, or the 600 year old suspension bridge, or the unnamed lakes on the Geshila route?

Here are 12 offbeat attractions from Tawang

https://periplusnortheast.com/offbeat-tawang/

Offbeat Tawang: 12 Things That Nobody Told You To See & Do - Periplus Northeast Tawang is easily the most famous tourist destination in Arunachal, and in fact, in the entire Northeast. Yet, most people do not get to know much about the

district of is the primary habitat of the and it is centered around the town of Mon. However, the name actually derives from the village of Mon, which is located near the town. It is a major village and the people of this village initially donated land to build the town. There are several other Konyak villages out here and some of them like and are regularly frequented by tourists for a more authentic Konyak experience as Mon has become more modern.

With Holiday Scout Tour and Travel

Mon Travel Guide (With Longwa & Hongphoi): Tattooed Headhunters Demistified - Periplus Northeast Well, to begin with, just don't get alarmed by the term "headhunter". The Nagas were fierce warriors that mostly remained independent with minimal connection

It looks pink but it is actually an government aporoved orange in . Easy cycle rental is one of the best things to have happened here in the recent times to encourage healthy travelling with minimal carbon footprint.

So, Meghalaya is going to open on 21st Dec with some SOPs

Here is the updated post on different states in NE

Post-COVID Travel in Northeast India: Guidelines, Status & Regulations - Periplus Northeast Like most other places, Northeast India also shut down back in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and related issues. Over the last few months, various activities

Everyone is posting snow pics... TBH I love the freedom and carefreeness of summer backpacking in the hills.

Nevertheless, here are some chilling images from last January since that's the current demand.

Arunachal Tourism

I’d never heard of Pfutsero till November 2017. However, the highlight of my early December Nagaland trip still turned out to be Pfutsero while I failed in achieving most of my original objectives. I will someday write a longer account of the journey and about the place and its people but as of now I am making a quick post with photographs.

Dec 2017

https://travellingslacker.com/pfutsero-phek-nagaland/

Guardians of Kangleipak
Nongshaba or Kanglasha is a lion-like Dragon God in Sanamahism, the original religion of Manipur. He is worshipped as the greatest of the Umang Lais (Deities associated with the sacred groves) in Kangleipak (present day Manipur) since time immemorial.

The most famous structure of the same can be seen in the Kangla Palace in the geart of . However, the originals were destroyed during the battle with the British and the ones we see now are the restored ones.

Manipur Incredible India

Tawang is much more beyond the monastery and Madhuri Lake. To explore it extensively, you need to consider the entire circuit covering Bomdila, Shergaon, Dirang, and Tawang.

So, this guide explains the entire circuit covering West Kameng and Tawang districts.

Tawang Travel Guide: (Including Dirang, Bomdila, Shergaon & More) - Periplus Northeast Tawang does not really need much of an introduction. It is one of the places in Arunachal that was always on the tourist map, while people had no clue about

New vs Old

Early 20th century pics from Garo Hills

Source: A Garo Jungle Book (1919), Rev Wliliam Carey

Spartan breakfast at a secret spot. You have to do this if you waje at 3 am for birding.

How many of you have gone birding in ?

Details soon...

Holiday Scout Tour and Travel

Many NE states are yet to reopen but some have taken the first steps. I just made a visit to Arunachal myself.

I have compiled this post with regulatory details for every state. I'll keep updating this post as an when a new development takes place.

Post-COVID Travel in Northeast India: Guidelines, Status & Regulations - Periplus Northeast Like most other places, Northeast India also shut down back in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and related issues. Over the last few months, various activities

Last night's jungle abode with Holiday Scout Tour and Travel

This is how Unlock Arunachal looks like...
Following all the rules & regulations, we've started our first serious exploration post-covid in collaboration with Holiday Scout Tour and Travel and we have been enjoying clear & sunny weather along with other seasonal delights of Eastern Himalayas.

More details about the visit as well as the situation and regulations will be posted here as well as in The Travelling Slacker over the next few weeks.

Joydol on the bank of Joysagar Tank, is yet another beautiful manmade lake. Both of these were constructed by Rudra Singha (1696-1714) in memory of his mother Joymati, who sacrificed her life to save her husband and his father. For those who care about unrelated trivia, Joymati was also the subject of the first ever Assamese feature film Joymati (1935).

The temple again follows the same structure of Shivadol although it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The most interesting part of the temple are the sculptures on the walls. It surely had the devi sculptures and floral motifs that I saw in the other monuments too. But it also had scenes, most probably depicting warfare. One slab even had people riding on camels, the last animal I expected to see anywhere in Assam. Probably these are depiction of the invading armies from the west.

Incredible India MyGov Assam Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India

Yess...

Manas National Park Welcomes You!

Visit us to experience the beauty of Himalayan Foothills and wonder among the untethered wildlife. Breathe in the freshness of the evergreen grassland or taste the sweetness of Manas River.

We are awaiting your arrival!

Dear Arunachal Tourism,

It's great that you have decided to reopen the border for tourists & restore normalcy keeping the interest of local entrepreneurs in mind but I'd request you to come up with clearer regulations. For example, I am having the following doubts…

1. You are not giving online ILP for tourists (it's allowed for business purposes). Isn't it safer to do online than going to office?

2. Test report of max 72 Hrs is needed but we also need to provide copy of test report to apply for ILP by going to office (not online). So, we get test report, go to ILP office & get it, & then travel from our respective places, which may not be possible for many.

A lot of officials on the ground also seem to be unaware of the exact rules. So, my humble suggestion as someone who really wants to explore various parts of the state,

1. Allow online Tourist ILP
2. Don't ask for test report while applying for ILP stage to avoid the 72 hr problem. One can do it the day before travel, you can check during entry and just refuse entry in case one is not carrying the report.

Regards
The Travelling Slacker

Yes...

Dini lake....some picture that inspires trekkers.

A somewhere enroute to Dzukou Valley

It is a species of swallowtail butterfly, which is found in Bhutan, parts of NortheasternIndia and of Southeast Asia. The species epithet is after Dr R. Lidderdale, from whose collection the butterfly was first described by William Stephen Atkinson in 1873.

What a brilliant camouflage of a indian oakleaf butterfly... just when I was tired after a long day of trekking and was about to keep the camera inside the bag.

Upper side of the wings are really colourful, completely in contrast to what you are seeing here... but nearly impossible to capture the same as they barely stand still.

Only if it was a brighter day and I had a better lens.

NE never disappoints when it comes to if you time it right.

Arunachal os restarting tourist ILP from 15th Oct.

So, I am putting together this list that will be updated everytime there is some new development in this regard.

Post-COVID Travel in Northeast India: Guidelines, Status & Regulations - Periplus Northeast Like most other places, Northeast India also shut down back in March 2020 due to COVID-19 and related issues. Over the last few months, various activities

is not only about the jungle but is also a great opportunity to get acquainted with varied indigenous cultures of the region. As a matter of fact, the entire eastern corner of Assam and Arunachal is an ethnographic treasure trove with numerous small tribes with their own language, rituals, and culture.

The areas around Namdapha are generally inhabited by , , and people, each having their own unique cultures and language. The Lisus (also called Yobin), have their roots in the Yunnan province of China. The Singphos on the other hand are the original tea planters of the region. Records have it that the Briitish explorers first tasted the Assam tea at the home of a Singpho chieftain.

Lisus nowadays have mostly adopted Christianity while the rest are Buddhists.

Wish I had better pics. Nevertheless, In this series of old pics from 2013 you can see...

1. An interesting shrine showcasing oriental roots with dragons on the roof. It's most probably a Singpho one. It's near a popular eatery called Singpho Dhaba where we stopped.
2. While millet fields near Deban... Ecozone of Namdapha
3. Closer look at the crops being dried.
4. Local woman weaving... Most probably Chakma.
5. Local kids

Incredible India. MyGov Arunachal Pradesh

Moments before obscurity...

Just after a few seconds this thick veil engulfed everything. It remained just that... An unsuccessful adventure. I returned from and never reached

Hopefully I'll sort this out in the next few months.

In case you did not know, this Anini circuit is also the that is in news for the power project that is attracting criticism for various reasons. There are a lot of stories hidden in those forests.

Nupi Lan (loosely meaning Women’s War) is an important even in the colonial history of , when Manipuri women led two major confrontations in 1904 and 1939 against mass exploitation and artificial famine triggered by the colonial forces.

This evocative monument at the heart of commemorates those events.

Manipur

What to buy in Bomdila and Dirang?

Monpa weaving, bamboo works and paintings, paper making, incense making, pottery, etc are popular among tourists. Buddhist Thanka paintings and masks are also in demand. Do visit the emporiums in Bomdila and Tawang.

Also worth buying are agro products including local beans, dry fruits, and many other unexpected things that you will find if you explore.

Yet another rainy day... Yet another backyard frame...

Kans Grass is found all over India. They are heavily romanticised in Eastern India, in Bengal and Assam, as their blooming signals the onset of which basically means festive season after harsh summer as well as monsoon floods. Are they romanticised in other states too?

Nevertheless, today I got another decent frame with the phone as I suddenly woke up at 5 and went for a morning walk after a decade.

Is sustainable tourism a mere fancy buzzword to cover up for millennial guilt? How often people actually do something meaningful and “give back to society”? Is sustainable tourism in Northeast India any different from other places?

I will explore more of this topic in the near future...
Holiday Scout Tour and Travel

Sustainable Tourism in Northeast India: Some Primary Thoughts - Periplus Northeast To do any of the above, it will require manpower and that is why volunteering in Northeast Indian needs to pick up. I know volunteering is more prevalent in

Periplus Northeast (Periplus NE) is an attempt to provide genuine and comprehensive information about North East India. It wants to be helpful, yet factual, unbiased, and unemotional.

Periplus Northeast - The Most Comprehensive Northeast India Travel Blog The Most Comprehensive Northeast India Travel Blog