Doors to Nature: Wanderlust in NORTH-EAST

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.