Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura are the original Seven Sisters. Each state has its own unique history and culture, and for a traveller, the region is a repository of rare experiences. It’s fascinating that even many Indians from outside the north-east region know so little about the place. If you’ve travelled across India but have never visited the north-east, here are the reasons to do so.
Eco-friendly destinations
For the conscious traveller, north-east India offers many eco-friendly destinations to choose from. There’s Khonoma in Nagaland where the villagers banded together to stop unchecked deforestation by outsiders. Mawlynnong in Meghalaya was awarded the cleanest village in Asia and where all guesthouses are constructed of bamboo. The Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh have developed their own unique sustainable methods of farming. Then there’s the breathtaking Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim. If you believe in the concept of green travel, then this is an absolutely unmissable destination.
Sikkim, India’s first and only organic state
It was in 2004 that Sikkim embarked upon a journey to become a fully organic state. It managed to achieve this ambitious feat 12 years later. Since then, the least populous and second smallest state of India, has become a shining jewel in India’s crown. There are many rural villages in Sikkim where travellers are welcome to experience hands-on organic farming while living with the locals in their humble homestays. Lachung, Lachen, Denchung and Kaluk are some of the popular villages you can visit.
Rare gastronomic experience
The cuisines from the eight north-eastern states couldn’t be more different from that of mainland Indian food. For one, the use of spices is kept to a minimum. Instead ingredients like soy bean and bamboo shoot in their fermented forms, add flavour to the dishes. During his trip to Nagaland, even Gordon Ramsay couldn’t believe he was dining in India. But it would be wrong to classify the cuisine from this region as one entity because each state varies in their style of cooking. Sikkim, for instance, is largely influenced by Tibetan and Nepali cuisine. However, what can be said with certainty is that gastronomes will be fascinated with their finds when travelling in this part of the country.
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