HIMALAYA ADVENTURE TOUR

"The tribal people are bound to their land by many and intimate ties. Their feeling for it is more than mere possessiveness. It is connected with their sense of history, for their legends tell of the great journeys, they made over the wild and lonely hills and of the heroic pioneers who made the first clearings in the forest. It is part of their reverence for the dead, whose spirits still haunt the countryside. The land is the mother who provides for them in response to the labours of the hands and who, when supplies run short , feeds them with a hundred natural gifts. It is the setting of adventure, in love, in hunting and in war, which can never be forgotten."

(ELWIN).

A journey of discovery to explore the hidden tribal frontier of India, bordering Myanmar & China (Tibet). This indeed is an exploratory travel that discovers the secrets of hidden tribal treasures through enchanting nature. The region of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam are the most unspoilt tourism spots of India therefore the culture, traditions and nature are very authentic and well preserved. The overall infrastructure (especially accommodation) at most of interior places are very simple and basic. The tribal people are very friendly and they show keen interest in knowing their visitors. They pride in their heritage and customs and are self guardians of their natural surroundings.

NAGALAND - The Land of Head Hunters
Area : 16,579 sq km.
Capital: Kohima.
Altitude: 900-1,200 m.
Population: 1.8 million.

The state of Nagaland, covering an area of 16,579 sq. km. is encircled by Assam in the north and west, by Burma and Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and Manipur in the South. The state is predominantly dominated by Naga communities and hence, it forms a single cultural region generally definable by common cultural and linguistic traditions. The variations in the altitude, latitude, climate and soil have given rise to a diversity of forest types, ranging from tropical evergreen to temperate evergreen and the coniferous.Nagaland constitutes a meeting ground for the sub-Himalayan, Indian, Chinese and Burmese type of fauna. Elephants, tigers, barking deer and sambar are found in different places through the state. Monkeys, jackals, wild buffaloes, wild pigs, bear and wild dogs are sparsely distributed through the Naga Hills. Among the ritually most valued species is Mithun. Other common species are lizards, toads, monitors.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH - Frontier Kingdom
Area: 84000 sq. km.
Capital: Itanagar.
Principle languages: Monpa, Miji, Aka, Sherdukpen.

This is Northeast India's largest and remotest state with a population of just over one million. Along with the state's rich Tribal heritage and its wonderful variety of orchids. The climate of the foothills is subtropical; in the mountains, temperatures decrease rapidly with altitude. Rainfall averages between 2000 to 4000 mm (80 and 160) in a year.


ASSAM - The Land of Tea Gardens
Area: 78438 sq. km.
Capital: Dispur.
Principle languages: Assamese.

The lush valley of the Brahmaputra, one of the world's great river, provide the setting for Assam's culturally rich and diverse communities. Although it is tea that has given the state a world fame, the fertile river valley has been the home to generations of rice farmers and tribal populations continue to have a significant presence in parts of the state.

NORTH EAST ADVENTURE
Duration: 18 days.
Best time: November to March.
Focus: Tribal life, virgin nature, river Brahmaputra, wildlife and monuments.
Destination: Kolkata-Dimapur-Mon-Longwa-Dibrugarh-Passighat-Along- Daporijo-Ziro--Itanagar-Tezpur- Kaziranga national park-Guwahati-Kolkata.

Day 01 : Kolkata.Arrive Kolkata, pick-up with assistance and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour to city through WHITE TOWN heritage zone, visit Eden Garden, nicely laid-out in green expanse having pools within, this is an attractive spot in the city. A superb wooden pagoda may be seen here. The renowned Ranji Stadium and the Neta Ji indoor stadium are within the garden campus. Dalhousie square or BBD Bagh-is in the heart of the city. Many historical buildings surround the square. On the southern side of the square is the Raj Bhavan, besides that are the Assembly House and Calcutta High Court (1872). On the western side of the square stands the imposing General Post Office beside which is the tall building of the Reserve Bank of India / Writers building/ Marble Palace (story of Babu Culture)-the 'Palace' is in Chor Bagan at 46 Muktaram Babu street and Millennium park.
Evening a cultural song and dance programme O/n Hotel .

Day 02 : Kolkata-Dimapur, fly.Morning after breakfast transfer to airport to board flight to Dimapur. Arrive Dimapur and transfer to hotel.
Dimapur: The ancient Kachari capital Dimapur is one of the important sites of megalithic culture. Besides the monolithics, the ancient Kachari capital contains other ruins of temples, embarkment and tanks. After lunch visit to the ancient ruins of Kachari Kingdom which were established before the Ahoms invasions in the 13th century. O/n Hotel with all meals.

Day 03 : Dimapur-Mon, drive.Morning after breakfast a long drive about 290 kms/10 hrs to Mon. Mon, the headquarter of the Konyak tribe. Hereditary chiefs known as Anghs (Chief) rule the Konyaks and the institutions of Anghship prevailed only in Konyak Naga tribe. These Anghs control different areas of Mon district. Basically, the word of an Angh is law in these parts. Nobody questions his authority. Mon is the only district in Nagaland to have this unique institution of Anghship. His succession is hereditary in nature.

Here interesting thing to see, the tattooed face wearing feathered headgear and traditional dresses. Konyaks are adept artisan and skilled craftsman, here you can find excellent woodcarving, doas (machete) guns, gunpowder, head brushes neckless etc. Overnight Mon Circuit House with all meals.

Day 04 : Mon.Morning after breakfast proceed to visit Shangnyu village 23 km from Mon.

Shangnyu Village: One of the most prominent villages of Mon district is the Shangnyu village. Within the precincts of this village stands an 8-foot high and 12-foot wide wooden monument. Engravings of humans and other creatures have been intricately carved out. This monumental work of art stands testimony to the skills of the Konyak craftsmen. Folk belief has it that this monument had been created by angels. In front of the Angh's residence, there are several commemorative stones speaking out a history of the past. Historical records show that there were friendly relations between the Angh of Shangnyu village and the Ahom Kings of Assam.

On arrival, visit -village Morong, Shangnyu village museum, Shangnyu Ang house Rock memorials and visit to a local house. Also visit to Konyak murungs, where one can still see the collection of human skulls. O/n Mon Guest House with all meals.

Day 05 : Mon - Longwa. Longwa village is one the biggest village in Mon district, it is interesting for sight seeing. As the village straddles on the international boundary between India and Myanmar, half of the Anghs house falls within the Indian Territory whereas, the other half lies under Myanmar control. The jurisdiction of the Angh of Longwa extends upto some parts of Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh, India. However the Anghs still control the whole village. Back to Mon for overnight. O/n Circuit House with all meals.

Day 06 : Longwa Explore this frontier tribal village. O/n Circuit House with all meals.

Day 07 : Longwa- Mon-Dibrugarh.Morning after breakfast drive to Dibrugarh about 178 kms/06 hrs and transfer to hotel Little Palace. After lunch we take you for a tea tour around a tea estate to learn all about tea - it's origin, how it is grown and all about tea tasting and quality. O/n Hotel with all meals.

Day 08 : Dibrugarh-Pasighat. After breakfast drive to ferry ghat to take a boat, 7-8 hrs to Passighat & cross river Brahamaputra by country made ferry. The river Brahamaputra is the confluence of the Siang and Lohit river of Arunachal Pradesh. The ferry service betweem Dibrugarh to Passighat is a lifeline for the tribes of Passighat area. O/n Circuit House with all meals.

Pasighat- The oldest town of Arunachal Pradesh established in 1911 Pashighat has been often called the 'Gateway of the state of Arunachal Pradesh'. The town derives its name from the 'Pasis', a tribe in this area.

Day 09 : Passighat-Along.Morning after breakfast drive about 120 kms/05 hrs to Along. Along the headquarter of west Saing district of Arunachal Pradesh located at an altitude of 300 m inhabitants of Adi (Gallong) tribes. Along is a small town with beautiful villages.

Enroute visit Adi Minyong tribal villages to see village life of Passighat. Adi has different sub tribe which differ from each others like Adhi (Gallong, Miniyong, Pasi, Padam, Bori and Boker). If you visit far inside this places you will find all these tribes, but in Along you will find only Adi (Gallong) tribal peoples. You can have visit of Jirdin, Kabu, Kaying villages, other interesting to see is a hanging bridge on the Siang river, local made of cane and bamboo bridge around 60 to 70m long connecting to the others hill tribes, fishing are the sports for these tribe. O/n Circuit House with all meals.

Day 10 : Along-Daporijo.Morning after breakfast visit Adi Gallong tribal villages and then drive to Daporijo about 170 kms/06 hrs.

Daporijo, is a beautiful place on the right bank of Subansiri river with picturesque villages and also to see the caves (a few kms away) & located at an altitude of 600 m is an inhabitant of Tagin tribes. O/n Curcuit House with all meals.

Day 11 : Daporijo-Ziro. :Morning after breakfast drive to Ziro about 160 kms/06 hrs, enroute visit Hill Miri tribal villages. {The country of Hill Miris is covered with dense forest from the the high water lavel of the river Kamla to the top of the highest hills.The jungle is mainly high trees with masses of creepers and thick undergrowth . There is abundance of soft wood trees, but first class trees valued for their timber, such as nahor, sal, tita, poma, and fine toon trees are also there in sufficiently good number. The subansiri river divides the miri hills into two almost equal parts east and west, while its principal tributaries from the east and west, viz. the sidan and the kamla, divide the hills north and south, The Hill miri villages lie between the altitudes of 914 meters and 1219 meters. It is needless to say that with the ever increasing impact of the outside world, the dress, particularly among the young people, is yielding to new ideas and new fashion in consonance with the march of time. The old guards, however, still continue to dress much in the same fashion as their forefathers did. Women wear a small petticoat made of filaments of cane woven together. It is about a foot in breadth and fits so tightly round the loins that it compels them to move in short steps. The women wear their hair long. The women have bracelets of silver or copper and anklets of finely plaited cane or bamboo. Their hair is adjusted with neatness, parted in the centre and hanging down the back in two carefully plaited tails. In the ears they wear most fantastic ornaments of silver. The Hill Miris believe that, when a person dies his yalo or soul is carried away by the wiyu, responsible for the death, and is kept a slave by it for a certain period of time. Later on, the yalo passes on to the land of the dead called reli somewhere below the earth. All the Hill Miris agree that the yalo escapes through the shoulders, but there is difference of opinion as to the form in which it leaves the body.
Ariive Ziro and transfer to hotel. O/n Hotel Blue Pine with all meals.

Day 12 : Ziro. Full day visit Apatani Tribal villages. The Apatani's occupy a 26 sq. km streches of valley in the central region of subansiri at an altitude of (1524 meters). The valley lies roughly midway between the Panior and the Kamla rivers. Steep mountain ridges, gaining heights of (2438 meters), enclose the valley on all sides. It has been called 'the rice bowl) of Apatanis who practice wet whole region. The Apatanis now constitute a population of little over 10,000 souls, concentrated in few crowded villages. The Apatanis are distinguished by very regular features in marked contrast to other neighbouring tribe. 'They are tall, of slender build with delicate long hands ; their features are progressive, the face long, the nose narrow, and often elegantly curved, the light eyes are comparatively and deep set. The Apatani wear cane helmet of the same shape and tie up their hair in a knot just on the top of the forehead with a brass skewer stuck horizontally through it. The mark of distinction about the appearance of the Apatanis are the tatoos on the face of both male and female. The older women have wooden studs fixed in their nose, because in olden days they had to save their women from enemy tribes who were hunting for beautiful women. The concrete symbol of unity and cohesion among the Apatanis are the many seasonal ceremonies to which they look forward with expectant longings. The most important festivals are the Morong and Myoko ceremonies naturally connected with their agricultural activities.
We will arrange an authentic lunch in a Apatani Bamboo home and the host will be delighted to welcome us !!
Afternoon visit Myoko festival, later, return back to hotel. O/n Blue Pine with all meals.

Day 13 : Ziro. A day to see paddy-fish aulture, bazaar amd Myoko festival. O/n Blue Pine with all meals.

MYOKO FESTIVAL (21st to 23rd March, kindly re-check the exact festival date with us) :There is a big festival of Apatani Tribe of lower Subansiri District at Ziro in the month of March, called Myoko festival. Myoko is celebrated each year at beginning of the agricultural cycle corresponding to the months of March. The performance of Myoko, apart from its ritualistic character, also assumes the nature of a social obligation, following a fixed pattern of observance from time immemorial. Domestic animal such as Cow, chicken & Pig is sacrificed during the festival.

Day 14 : Ziro-Itanagar-Tezpur. Morning after breakfast drive about 210 kms/08 hrs to Tezpur via Itanagar.

Enroute visit Nyishi tribal village. The Nyishi are the largest group of people inhabitating the major part of Lower Subansiri district. Their menfolk wear their hair long and tie it in a knot just above the forehead. They wear cane bands around the waist. They believe that after death the spirit of a dead travels to the 'village of the ancestors'. The Sulungs or Puroik are considerated to be one of the oldest of the tribes in the area. Their dress and costumes are simple, and the religion is a form of the primitive ' spirit culture'.

Sonitpur as ancient Tezpur was known in the olden days is a city steeped in mythology legend and folklore. the city of blood conjures up images of the romantic legend of Usha and Aniruddha and of the fierce battle between hari and Hara. Arrive and transfer to hotel. O/n Hotel with all meals.

Day 15 : Tezpur-Kaziranga National Park. Morning after breakfast drive to Kaziranga national park about 135 kms/ 3-4 hrs. Arrive and transfer to jungle resort. Afternoon jungle safari, if time permits. O/n Jungle Resort with all meals.

Kaziranga National park : Is one of the most picturesque wildlife parks in India. The natural habitant of the one-horned rhino, Kaziranga lies on the southern banks of the Brahamaputra river. Originally established as a game reserve in 1908, which included specific portions of Assam's sibsagar district, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary in 1940 to counter excessive poaching. The park's original inhabitants-the rihno and the elephant being the most noticeable- now thrive in a serene environmenet to the sheer delight of nature lovers.

Day 16 : Kaziranga N.P. Morning game viewing in the park on elephant back. Afternoon visit Tea gardens. Evening one more game viewing in the park by Jeeps. O/n Jungle Resort with all meals.

Day 17 : Kaziranga-Guwahati. Morning after jungle safari drive about 215 kms/05 hrs to Guwahati. Arrive and transfer to hotel. O/n hotel Brahamaputra Ashok with breakfast.

Evening visit to Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Down the centuries, Kamrup Kamakhya has been the seat of the powerful tantrik cult in India. Situated atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, it is one of the 108 Shakti peethas of Country. The hill on which the temple stands, commands a magnificent view of the entire city. Several smaller shrines and temples dedicated to Kala Bhairava, Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities are also located in its vicinity. Later return back to Hotel for overnight.

Day 18 : Guwahati-Kolkata-Europe.Morning transfer to airport to board flight to Kolkata at 07.50 hrs. Arrive Kolkata at 09.30 hrs. Pick-up and transfer to hotel for wash & change only. Day free for the rest. Evening transfer to international airport for flight to home country.