NORTH EAST INDIA TOUR: BOORI BOOT FESTIVAL
Delhi - Guwahati - Tezpur - Itanagar - Ziro - Daporiji - Along - Pasighat - Dibrugarh - Mon - Dibrugarh - Delhi

Tucked away in the far north-east of India, wedged between the borders of Bhutan, Burma and Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh is India’s lesser known state. Before the region was elevated to statehood in 1986, Arunachal Pradesh, along with Assam, Nagaland and 4 other states was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Except for occasional forays by administrators and anthropologists during the time of the British, nothing much was known about this area for most of the 20th century. The isolation of the North East Frontier Agency was legally safeguarded by India's own government; before laws permitting limited tourism were passed in 1995, even Indian citizens were not allowed to visit. The North East Frontier Agency lands never belonged to ancient India. They were, and still are, peopled by Mongoloid and Mon-Khmer austere stock, far removed from Aryan-Dravidian blood of the mainstream. The people here are animists (except the area of Tawang where they accepted Buddhism); in the Highlands, wild Burmese tribes enthusiastically practiced indiscriminate headhunting until as late as the fifties. To the north, Mongoloid tribals, bare-bodied in breech-clouts, are today still encountering “civilization". Nagaland is almost entirely inhabited by 16 groups of Tibeto-Burmese tribes. Among them are Angamis, Aos, Konyaks, Kukis, Lothas, Semas and Wanchus. The Nagas, who were once head hunters, have been known for their fierceness and the regular raids they made on Assam and Burma. The hilltop villages are protected by stone walls. The morung, a meeting house, acts as a boy’s dormitory, and is used for storing weapons and once displayed the prizes of war i.e. the enemy heads. The huge sacred drum, which stands by each morung is hallowed out tree trunk carved to resemble a buffalo head.

HIGHLIGHTS, ITINERARY & PRICES

Highlights of this tour;
Participate in the great Bori Boot Festival: Every tribe of Arunachal Pradesh celebrates number of festivals. They are generally - agricultural, religious and socio-cultural, which give them plentiful opportunity to enjoy and entertain freely. The festivals are the occasions for people to relax, to enjoy, dancing and eating and drinking. Among all the festivals of the State, the Bori Boot Festival is one of the major traditional festivals which are exclusively celebrated by the Hill-Miris tribe.

Day 1: Feb 1, 2021 (Monday): Arrive Delhi
Arrive in Delhi. On arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative at International Airport and transferred to Lemon Tree Aerocity or similar. (Room available from 2pm). Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 2: Feb 2 Feb, 2021(Tuesday): Delhi - Guwahati - Tezpur (By flight) / drive 5 Hrs) (BLD)
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Guwahati. (Baggage allowance on this flight is 33 lbs and 15 lbs hand luggage). Upon arrival, visit Kamakhya temple. The Kamakhya Temple is a shakti temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess that include Bhubaneshwari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta, Tara, etc. It is an important pilgrimage destination for general Hindu and Tantric worshipers. It used be a place of human sacrifices in the past, but now a day’s only animal sacrifices are conducted.  Later drive to Tezpur. On arrival, check-in at Highway View HOTEL. Overnight at the Hotel. 

Day 3: Feb 3, 2021 (Wednesday): Tezpur–Itanagar (drive 04-05 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast proceed to Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. On arrival, check-in at HOTEL PYBSS or SC CONTINENTAL HOTEL or similar. Afternoon visit the local market, where local men and women come to sell their local product in their local attire. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Feb 4, 2021 (Thursday): Itanagar - Ziro (drive 05 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast visits the Buddhist Gompa of Itanagar (This is a new but beautiful yellow-roofed shrine. It rises from well-maintained grounds behind a stupo tree planted by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Later drive to Jiro (usually spelled and pronounced as Ziro by outsiders) in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, the plateau of Apatani tribe (There are currently no known written records of the history of the Apatani tribe, although it is speculated that, throughout their history, the Apatani had a democratic system of running the society. The village council was known as the Bulyang. They are of Tibetan origin, their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. Most Apatanis are loyal followers of the Donyi-Polo faith, who pray to an array of spirits and souls for blessing. Arrive and check in at HOTEL ZIRO or similar. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Feb 5, 2021(Friday): Ziro (BLD)
Full day visit Apatani villages and interact with the local villagers. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Feb 6, 2021 (Saturday): Ziro - Bori Boot Festival-Daporijo (drive 06-07 Hrs) (BLD)
After early breakfast, drive to Daporijo en-route we will visit Raga village of Hill Miri tribes to witness and participate in the Bori Boot festival of the Hill Miris. Bori Boot means to get together to hail the spring and successful harvest. The festival also invokes the spirit of Bori Boot to bless them with prosperity and free from diseases of any kind. The Hill-Miris society celebrates this festival on a community basis   for three consecutive days.  During this festival everyone plays with etting (a maximum of apong and rice powder) which symbolizes the sign of purification and festivity. ‘Etting’ is copiously applied on one and all. All the functions of this festival have been organized by the elder’s members of Hill-Miris tribe. The young members do all the work under the elder’s guidance.  There is animal sacrifices, drinking, dancing and merry making. Continue drive to Daporijo. On arrival, check-in at SINGHIK HOTEL or similar.     

Day 7: Feb 7, 2021(Sunday): Daporijo (BLD)
Full day visit more Hill Miri, Tagin and Galo tribal villages. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Feb 8, 2021 (Monday): Daporijo - Along (drive 06-07 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Along. En-route visit Lida and Tajipara villages of Adi-Gallong tribes. Overnight at P&P RESORT or similar. 

Day 09: 09 Feb’21 (Tuesday): Along (BLD)
Morning drive out to visit Jamlo Monko village of the Adi-Minyong tribes. Afternoon drive to visit Lower and Upper Bari village.  On the way cross the river Yamgo.  Overnight at the Hotel. 

Day 10: Feb 10 (Wednesday): Along - Pasighat (drive 04-05 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Pasighat. Across the road, we can see the villages which were the scene of the murder of British Political agent as well as the subsequent punitive British expedition in 1911. Upon arrival, check-in at SERENE ABODE HOTEL or similar. Afternoon visit Mebo village of the Padum tribes. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 11: Feb 11, 2021 (Thursday): Pasighat - Dibrugarh (drive 04 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Dibrugarh.  Cross the Brahmaputra over Bogibeel Bridge. On arrival in Dibrugarh, transfer to LITTLE PALACE HOTEL or similar. Afternoon visit the Tea plantation around Dibrugarh. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: Feb 12, 2021 (Friday): Dibrugarh - Mon (drive 06-07 Hrs) (BLD)
Early morning start your drive to Mon for 06-07 hours.  If lucky we may see tea workers working on the numerous tea gardens. After going through checking formalities at the border of Nagaland, we enter the state. We will enter the first Naga village on the way to Mon to pay a visit to the Village King and Morung. On arrival, check-in at HELSA MORUNG LODGE. Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 13: Feb 13, 2021 (Saturday): Mon (BLD)
Full day to explore this colorful tribal area of Konyak tribes who have been head hunters in the recent past. Visit Longwa and Hongpoi villages and to interact with some of the most awesome tattooed Konyak warriors. A head hunting tribe, display of enemy heads in Morungs was considered a matter of pride in not so distant past and men got   tattoos depending upon how many heads they were able to collect.  Longwa village has the distinction of being half in India and half in Myanmar! Overnight at the Lodge. 

Day 14: Feb 14, 2021 (Sunday): Mon - Sibsagar (drive 05-06 Hrs) (B)
After breakfast drive to Sibsagar. The Tai-speaking Ahoms came to the area from Yunnan, China, in the 13th century AD. Sibsagar was the capital of the Ahom kingdom in the 18th century, when it was called Rangpur; several temples remain from that period. The town is now a tea-processing town.   The most remarkable landscape of the town is the 200 year old Sibsagar tank. On arrival, visit the Ahom kingdom monument,  Kareng Ghar. Check in at BRHAMAPUTRA HOTEL or similar. Evening visit Shiva temple (Shivadhol), The Shivadol is believed to be the highest Siva Temple in India, having a height of 104 feet and the perimeter 195 feet. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 15: Feb 15, 2021 (Monday): Sibsagar - Dibrugarh (drive 03 Hrs) - Delhi (By flight) (BLD)
Morning drive to Dibrugarh airport to board the flight for Delhi. (Baggage allowance on this flight is 33 lbs and 15 lbs hand luggage). Upon arrival, transfer to Lemon Tree Aerocity or similar. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 16: Feb, 2021 (Tuesday): Depart Delhi (B)
Today transfer to the Delhi international terminal to board the flight for onward journey.

INCLUSIONS

• Double room on sharing basis.

• Meals as mentioned above. (Start with the breakfast on day 02 and end with the dinner on day 15)

• All transfers and sightseeing by air-conditioned vehicles (03 Person in 01 Car) in North East India sector and we will provide transfers in Delhi by air-conditioned SUV type vehicle for 02-03 person, Mini van for 5 person.

• Service of English speaking local guide with excellent knowledge from Guwahati to Dibrugarh drop. 

• Entrances to the monuments as per the program.

• Bottled water in the vehicle during sightseeing and drives.

• Restricted area permit for Arunachal Pradesh.

  
  EXCLUSIONS
  • Any accompanying tour escort (quoted separately),
  • Any airfare (quoted separately), Personal expenses, International airfare, Visa fees
  • Customary gratitude to your guide and driver