India is blessed with innumerable kinds of landscapes and natural resources that we are lucky to witness and experience. North-eastern states of India, particularly, are known for their mesmerising scenic beauty of nature that will certainly leave you spellbound. These places have a certain charm that makes you want for more.
The pristine nature of north-eastern states is not completely explored by travellers. While we are familiar with popular tourist places, like Shillong, Darjeeling, etc., there is much more potential to this region of India. Here are the 5 offbeat places of Northeast India that you must explore.
Khonoma, Nagaland
PC: Mike Prince
Khonoma is an eco-friendly village that is home to one of the largest tribes of Nagaland. Historically dependent on nature and hunting for sustainability, the village has now stopped this practise in an attempt to make the village eco-friendly. Hence, it is fondly known as Khonoma Green Village.
Travel to this offbeat village that is located 20 km from the capital city of Kohima. You can also witness brilliant craftsmanship of the stone structures and carvings made in this village.
Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
PC: Ashwin Kumar
This quaint village in Meghalaya was declared as the cleanest village in all of Asia in 2003. Since 2007 the village has been having functional toilets in all households and you can expect to see a bamboo basket outside each house where all the trash goes.
This spotless village in Mawlynnong will be a pleasant break from the city hustle-bustle since the village is beautiful and people are warm. Mawlynnong is located 78 km from Shillong, the capital city.
Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh
PC: Radhe Tangu
Ziro is a picturesque town in Arunachal Pradesh that is an offbeat location and a beautiful escape into the arms of nature. In the recent years, Ziro has gained recognition because of the Ziro Music Festival that welcomes tourists and musicians from all over the world.
Head to Ziro towards the end of September to attend the festival. Try the local rice beer at Ziro and their unique cuisine to get the essence of this beautiful secluded town.
Majuli, Assam
PC: Dhrubazaan Photography
Majuli is the largest river island in the world that is located in Assam. However, due to erosion, the island has shrunk in size. This beautiful island is nestled in the majestic river Brahmaputra. Observe stunning sunsets, stay in stilted cottages or just revel in the pristine beauty of the island.
You can also indulge in birdwatching, take ferries though the river or try your hand at fishing when at Majuli. The island is located 337 km from the capital, Dispur.
Zuluk, Sikkim
PC: Surajit Roy
Perched at a height of 10,000 ft, Zuluk, sometimes spelled as Dzuluk, is a small village in the beautiful state of Sikkim. It used to be a significant place in the past since it used to be the transit point to Silk Route which connected Tibet to India.
However, you can still take your bike out and go for an exciting road trip through this route because Zuluk has 32 hairpin bends, which finally lead to Lungthung. Here you can see a cave and a Nag temple.