Showcase of tribal life and meandering rivers of the east
Cruising through the eastern edge of India
- India
- 14 Days
- Dibrugarh | Pashighat | Along | Daporijo | Ziro | Tezpur | Guwahati
- Kamakhya Devi Temple of Guwahati
- Meeting the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh
- Cruising on the Brahmaputra, the largest river of India
- Orang National Park
Overview
One of the least explored states of India, Arunachal Pradesh lies in the far east, sharing its border with China. The state is a cultural hot-spot with over 26 tribes in the region, with many local festivals and traditions that are far removed from mainland India. The region also shares its border with Assam, where the mighty Brahmaputra River flows through to the plains, crossing dense forests, villages teeming with life and landscapes that leave one awe-struck. The sunsets from the river cruise are unforgettable. The transboundary river that passes through China, India and Bangladesh is one of the most fascinating parts of the journey. This trip allows you to see two distinct parts of India, though in the same region.
Itinerary
1
Delhi – Dibrugarh : Fly from Delhi to Dibrugarh this morning. You will be met on arrival and be transferred to your hotel, where the remainder of the afternoon can be spent at leisure, followed by an evening walk through the local market. Overnight in Dibrugarh.
2
Dibrugarh – Pashighat : This morning, drive to Pashighat, a distance of 100 km and an hour’s ferry ride. En route, you will cross the mighty Brahmaputra River and see life at close quarters on its edges. At Pashighat, you will be able to walk through the town and see the markets stir with action. Overnight in Pashighat.
3
Pashighat – Along : Today, you will drive to Along for 160 km, visiting en route the tribal villages. Here, stops for photography, interaction with locals and wandering the villages to experience their lifestyle will be essential. Local market and the museum will be part of the plan. Overnight in Along.
4
Along : Today we spend the day exploring the region around Along. After breakfast, drive a short distance to the Kabu village on a river bank. Apart from interacting with the locals, we see an interesting bridge made of cane and bamboo supported by iron cable across the nearby Siyom River. Villagers crossing this swinging and swaying bridge for their livelihood, as most of their cultivation lands is across the river, is the most interesting part of the day. You can give this a try. We also make our way to the village of Paya and come back to the hotel for lunch. Continue your explorations, visiting the Miniyong Adi tribe later in the day. Overnight at Along.
5
Along – Daporijo : This morning we drive to Daporijo for 140 km, en route visiting villages of the main tribe of this region. These are called Adi Gallong. Overnight at Daparijo.
6
Daporijo – Ziro : Today we drive to Ziro and visit the Hill Miri and Tagin villages on the way. There is ample time for photography and meeting local people. We also make a stop to visit the Apatani villages before reaching Ziro. Overnight at Ziro.
7
Ziro : This day is spent exploring Ziro and the Boori-Boot, a community festival of the Hill Miris of Subansiri. This is celebrated in the last week of the month Lake Polo for three or more days. At Ziro and Daporijo, it is performed in a grand scale for the entire Hill Miri community. A little while before the festival, a committee works out the whole programme and requisite materials are collected from all over the area. The Tagin, Adi Gallongs, and Nishis inhabiting the area also join in enthusiastically. It is a great way to see most of the tribes of the region. Overnight at Ziro.
8
Ziro – Tezpur (Eco Camp) : This morning we drive to Eco Camp, a permanent camp near Tezpur, which lies 350 km away. This will take up the Change to whole day, so we reach at night to break the journey. Long drives in the hills of the region allow for great sights of the villages, vegetation and local life. Overnight at Tezpur.
9
Tezpur – Guwahati : We continue driving to Guwahati this morning for another 200km and reach the hotel in the afternoon so you can spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Guwahati.
10
Guwahati – Assam Bengal Cruise : Today holds in store a tour of the city. We drive up to the Nilachal Hill to see the holy Kamakhya temple, with its tantric rites and animal sacrifice. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War Graves cemetery later in the afternoon. Finally, there is a walk through the local market, before embarking on your cruise vessel. Set sail and cruise for about an hour and a half upstream to Kurua on the north bank.
11
Assam Bengal Cruise : A day is spent cruising upstream, with hills rising on either side. Battling against strong currents, we reach an idyllic stop at Ganesh Pahar, where we can explore a delightfully serene hinterland lying under jungle-covered slopes.
12
Assam Bengal Cruise : Leaving the hills behind, we enjoy our first taste of the wilderness experience, sand banks like icebergs on either side. We may make a short stop to visit a bank side village. We moor for the night in a lunar landscape of sand islands, with hopefully the Himalayas in view and providing a contrasting backdrop in the distance.
13
Assam Bengal Cruise : Rising early, we take a country boat for another cruise up a side stream, this time into the Orang National Park. Here, in this rarely visited park, we take jeeps and ride through forests and grasslands looking for rhinos, deer and other wildlife. Return to the ship, head downstream again, and moor for the night close to Ganesh Pahar.
14
Assam Bengal Cruise / Guwahati – Delhi : We make the scenic approach to Guwahati, with jungle-covered hills rising on either side. We dock at around 1000 hrs, and are transferred to the airport for an afternoon onward flight.
| October – March: | Winter months, recommended to travel |
| Mid April – June: | Summer months, when it is moderately hot in April, but May and June are avoidable. |
| July – September: | Monsoon months where trips are doable. |
