To,
Fellow travellers
and people consumed by wanderlust and the spell of nature,
Too much of
anything is bad, right? But, when it comes to natural beauty and greenery on
our planet, it is never enough. So if you're looking for a getaway to lift your
spirits up then North-East India is one such exceptionally exquisite and scenic
place to explore. To be honest, 'Seven-Sister-States' makes the backpackers
from across the world magnetically spellbound. And to finally get the chance to
meet one of the sisters, the feeling is almost adrenaline-like. A sudden plan
to breathe the Assamese air is nothing less than blissful.
Yes, the air feels
so pure and fresh in ASSAM. In the months of June-July, the rain gods shower their love
in abundance making the pretty place even prettier. On the way to Shillong
from Guwahati airport, grassland on all sides can be seen topped with the
greenest of green hilly plants.
The small shops scattered throughout the
place have juiciest pineapples that the shopkeepers serve well-cut with a
spicy masala. How lucky must these
people be to breathe fresh air, eat fresh veggies and drink fresh water!
Considering the fact that this was an impromptu
trip, Shillong's Police bazaar happened to have all the hotels packed as the
weekend is the favorite time for the travelers to unwind and enjoy the
culture there. Hence, lesson to learn is to get your pre-bookings done. People are genuinely warm, peaceful (and, for sure, love their
betel nuts and leaves). They manage to look stylish with almost anything that
they choose to wear. The staple food is mainly non-vegetarian and Pork is loved
by all. Small paan and chai corners offer refreshment for all as
the breeze get you mesmerized and dreamy. If you like bamboo goods, then
Shillong is a paradise for you. Public transport is average though you do see Black
and yellow taxis all over the place.
To my luck, the story from Shillong went
ahead to meet another sister-state, MEGHALAYA. You see numerous falls with ice-cold
water, caves sheltering sedimentary rocks, roads covered with white serene
clouds as every uncovered part of your face feels the wind blowing. As I walked
in and through loaded with clouds, I could see my hair and eyelashes enveloped
by small droplets of mist which looked like diamonds. Being a Delhi-prone
person, my lungs thanked me for the air that gushed inside my lungs.
Saw a very amicable and calm Indo-Bangladesh
border at Dawki as well. But apart from this political tag, Dawki can be
described as a quaint, beautiful, green village. Something that any nature-lover would agree with. This clean part of Meghalaya had bamboo dustbins consciously put around and the locals seemed responsible to keep their
city clean.
Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati being the last
official tourist spot over there did not come across as a great spiritual place
to us. ArtyManav feels that the animal sacrifice that devotees practice there
for tantric reasons is appalling, despite being a religious procession.
To wrap the trip up and give our readers a
consolidated feeling, we’d say, it's an unforgettable and luckily one of those
few places that has not been adulterated with establishments. Would love to
visit the rest of the sisters and bring their stories to you.
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| Woman selling pineapples and pickles in Assam. |
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| A huge variety of pickle including Fish and Bamboo. |
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| Fauna is rich in the North-East. People love to grow plants in their yards. |
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| Cloud and mist covering the roads. |
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| Indo-Bangladesh border near Dawki. |
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| Dawki and associated villages are peaceful and green. |
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| River Valley Eco-Park |
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| You meet good and charming people everywhere, right? |
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| These bamboo dustbins look so artistic and tells us how hard work looks like! |
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| A living roots bridge in the River Valley Eco Park. |
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| Hydrangea sp. |
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| A tea stall at the Police Bazaar, Shillong. The tea is always hot! |
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| A woman selling bamboo products. |
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| A traditional lightweight Veg Thali. Fluffy rice with vegetables, mashed potato, daal, aalu fry and garlic chutney. |
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| Little girl selling spices. |
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| Because everything has a story behind it. |
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| Even the Prime Minister loved this place. |
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| Mushroom soup while it's pouring outside. Heaven! |
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| Kamakhya temple. Because even Gods need protection. |
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| A self balancing rock. |
Meanwhile, just enjoy the sound of the wind in the clouds and the mountains. (Meghalaya)
From,
A travel loving ArtyManav
