NORTH EAST INDIA TOUR: HORNBILL FESTIVAL 16 DAYS
Delhi - Guwahati - Tezpur - Itanagar - Ziro - Majuli Island Dimapur - Kohima - Jorhat - Mon - Sibsagar - Bibrugarh - Guwahati - Delhi

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 Hornbill Festival in Kohima; This Festival is named after the hornbill, the globally respected bird and which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes. The festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima. All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival. The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions. Organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, Hornbill Festival showcases a mélange of cultural displays under one roof. This festival takes place in the first 10 days of December every year in Kohima.

Day 1: Nov 23, 2021 (Tuesday): 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: Nov 24, 2021(Wednesday): 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: Nov 25, 2021 (Thurdsay): Tezpur – Itanagar (drive 4-5 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: Nov 26, 2021 (Friday): Itanagar - Ziro (drive 5 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: Nov 27, 2021(Saturday): Ziro (BLD)
Full day visit Apatani villages and interact with the local villagers. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Nov 28, 2021 (Sunday): Ziro - Majuli Island (drive 5 - 6 Hrs + 1 Hrs ferry ride) (BLD)
Early morning drive to Majuli Island. As we descend through the mountains to the plains of Assam, we will cross the local tributaries of Brahmaputra River by local made ferry. On arrival in Majuli, check in at AYAN OKUM BAMBOO HUTS. Overnight in the Lodge.

Day 7: Nov 29, 2021 (Monday): Majuli Island (BLD)
Day to explore the Majuli Island and its various satras.  We will also explore the villages of Mishing tribes who live on this island. The world’s largest River Island, Majuli is famous for its twenty-two 15th Century "satras". These are Hindu vaishnev (followers of Lord Vishnu) monasteries functioning as centers of Assamese arts. The worship of Lord Vishnu is through dance, music and poetry.  The satras take in young boys and groom them. The daily routine includes working in the fields, tending cattle, prayer, discussion and study. The satras have also nurtured certain art and craft traditions, which can now be found only here. In Natun Samugrisatra for instance, one can still find the craft of mask-making; Kamlabarisatra still makes the finest boats. Overnight in the Lodge.

Day 08: 30 Nov’21 (Tuesday): Majuli Island - Dimapur (ferry ride 1-2 Hrs + drive 5 Hrs) (BLD)
Morning take a public ferry for one to two hours, depending upon the water level to NeematiGhat then drive out to Dimapur. On arrival, check-in at ACCACIA HOTEL. Later visit the 13th-century Kachari ruins, some of the only surviving relics of the Kachari civilization, which held sway in these parts prior to the Ahom conquests. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 9: Dec 1, 2021 (Wednesday): Dimapur - Kohima (drive 3 Hrs) (BLD)
After early breakfast, drive to Kohima for 03 hours. Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland in the north eastern part of India is a picturesque town, situated amidst lush green wealth of the nature. The home of the brave and daring, yet simple and innocent, Naga tribes, Kohima is also famous for the resistance the Allied forced put up against the advancing Japanese army. On arrival in Kohima, we will continue drive to the festival ground to witness the opening ceremony of the Hornbill festival. We will wander around the festival ground and enjoy the colourful dance performances of the Naga tribes. Evening, drive to 2K HOTEL or similar for check-in. Overnight in the Hotel. 

Day 10: Dec 2, 2021(Thursday): Kohima - Hornbill Festival (BLD)
We have full day to witness Hornbill Festival. The Festival is named after the Indian Hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes. The 10 day long festival unites one and all in Nagaland and people enjoy the colorful performances, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies. Traditional arts which include paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on display. Festival highlights include the Traditional Naga Morungs Exhibition and sale of Arts and Crafts, Food Stalls, Herbal Medicine Stalls, Flower shows and sales, Cultural Medley - songs and dances, Fashion shows, Beauty Contest, Traditional Archery, Naga wrestling, Indigenous Games, and Musical concert. The Hornbill Festival provides a colorful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies. The festival both exposes the culture and tradition of tribal peoples, and reinforces Nagaland’s identity as a unique state in India’s federal union. The hotel is about 15 km from the dance venue and due heavy traffic, it could take upto 2 hours to reach the venue from our hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 11: Dec 3, 2021 (Friday): Kohima - Jorhat (drive 6 Hrs) (BLD)
After breakfast, drive to Jorhat. On arrival, check-in at THE MANOR HOTEL or similar. Jorhat is the land of tea plantations—Assam’s world-famous tea originates here. While the city of Jorhat is the main center of production, plantations dot the surrounding landscape and make for lovely views along our route. A tea research center has been established at Chinnamara, a few miles from Jorhat. We will walk around the bazaars of this interesting town. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 12: Dec 4, 2021 (Saturday): Jorhat - 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: Dec 5, 2021 (Sunday): 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: Dec 6, 2021 (Monday): Mon - Sibsagar (drive 5-6 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: Dec 7, 2021 (Tuesday): Sibsagar - Dibrugarh (drive 3 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: Dec 8, 2021 (Wednesday): 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 including public ferry crossing to/ from Majuli Island.

• 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