The North East dream

From May onwards I will be traveling all around North East India for approximately a year. It has been my long time dream to see this remote land and it is finally coming true. But I would like to feel and experience the place and not just see it like a tourist, hence I will be working on ecology/sustainable development projects along the way. So I am looking for suggestions for small and remote places I could visit in Arunachhal, Mizoram , Meghalaya and Nagaland

In May I will go to Lachen in North Sikkim where I will work for around 2-3 months on an eco-tourism project. From there will move to Eagle Nest in Arunachal and volunteer there for some time . In Arunachal want to go to Vijoynagar village and Stellwell road in Changlang, Anjaw and Lohit Valley , Mehao Sanctuary and hopefully to some places in Upper siang. If anybody has been to these places or has idea of other places would appreciate the same.

In Nagaland want to go to Kohima and Mon. I am also looking at going to smaller villages where hopefully some tribal culture in unadulterated form still lives on. If anybody has idea of such places then do let me know. For Meghalaya and Mizoram still have to do more reading , but I want to do some caving and trekking in the Khasi hills .

Does anybody have experience in navigating any of the rivers or tributaries which are abundant in the North East as I would like to do a short trip in a boat. Would really love to see the Gangatic dolphins and stay on the boat for a few days, ever since I’ve read ‘The Hungry Tide’ that bit has caught my imagination.

Would appreciate any tips and suggestions from you guys in this respect.

There was a recent caution about Nagaland by someone who is from and knows the area quite well I believe: North-East , Bhutan Bike Trip - March/April 08

You could check that member's post history, he has a bunch that are worth reading.

Hi Jyotinarayan,

Would appreciate if you could provide more specific details about Majuli Island and about which places I can stay in boats, cause I am not looking at anything commercial . The idea of this trip is to see and understand the place through the eyes of the locals.

@ Machadinha - have PMed some members .

Folks,

Sorry about keeping everyone waiting so long - but I am EXTREMELY tied for time. Have just managed to upload some photo's on my recent trip to Mizoram. Am still working on a trip report...Gawd alone knows when I will get the time to complete it...
anyways, please enjoy the pics for the moment...(you can access these on my gallery)

cheers

Beesakopie.

Beesakopie,

Hi!!

Nice pics of Mizoram..........

Piran_e,

You may PM me for suggestions on the sustainable projects you intend to work on in Mizoram.

Hey Matei,

Good to hear from you!!! Would you believe that I landed up in Lengpui without a permit!!! Lucky I know some people working in the secretariat who were there to receive me!!! There was this one mainland guy (who I'm quite sure was an undercover IB fellow) who wanted to see my passport and all...When he saw a resident visa for France, he literally blanched...and I was thinking that there surely would be some trouble. Thats when my friends walked in and he calmed down and allowed me to enter MZ!!!

Anyways, I had an absolutely GREAT time there. We were put up in the State Guest House...did a picnic at Coconut Grove where we got to taste authentic Mizo food. Zongthra, Bai etc Even the Mizo chutney was EXCELLENT. We picked up tinned bamboo shoots from the MIFCO set up...

The highpoint was a trip to Reiek where we got to see the traditional mizo village...We saw the cave where the MNF people used to hide and I even went right up to the tip of the cliff overlooking the chasm 1000 Metres below..

It was nice to see that Aizawl is developing a little. Great to see the Adidas shop (We met the owner, who is part of my extended friend circle)...the millenium Mall...We bought a mizo shawl, a puanchei for my wife, mizo hats etc etc. Saw a lot of horticulture, Zarkawt was great...

I will definitely be visiting again...and this time its going to be for a much longer trip. Probably Lunglei / Palak Lake / Dampa etc etc Am really really looking forward to it.

PS: Hopefully Cyclone Nargis did not touch you all...

Sorry folks, I've not been able to write that road trip despite my best efforts...perhaps later

I am from Panitola near Tinsukia... Amazing place this north east.

I remember playing golf at the Kanjikhowa Golf Club...we used to live in the tea estates near Doom Dooma...Excellent and very happy memories of childhood...

North-east indeed is a dream and a virgin paradise. It is very difficult to describe the unique beauty and the customs of the place in a few words. You can visit my blog to have some glimpse of the beauty of the places, cultures, customs & the traditions here.

Browsed through your blog and it sure is very interesting, but my main interest is not only to travel . I am more intersted in working with local communities, staying with them and developing them and seeing the world through their eyes. And that is what I am exactly doing right now in Sikkim . Will stay here for a few months before moving to theremore eastern districts of Arunachal to work over there.

Am trying to maintain my own blog on the same:
http://piran.wordpress.com

I travelled in the North East in 2005 , amzingly nice & friendly people .
I started in Bhutan & then to Sikkkim ( Lachen ) in May ..Meghalaya I went to the Khasi Hills & was a guest with a Local .
Avoid travelling on a Sunday in Meghalaya , Mizoram ..( Church Holiday & the Church is very influential ).
Just to tell Alcohol is banned in Mizoram.
I trekked in the Dirang Valley in Arunachal ..amzingly beautiful..had plenty of Chang .... Keep Drinking .
This year I Trekked in the Blue Mounatins ..trekked the Phwangpui peak ( extremely friendly people).I went To Palak Dil Lake which borders Mayanamar ..wonderful xpereinece ..still very very Virgin and nice

There is a lady in Aizwal who arranges for Home Stays in her Farm in Aizwal . .You need permits for Mizoram though .
Cheers & Have Fun

I have just discovered this thread, and am wondering if piran e has made it yet to the Siang province of Arunachal Pradesh, an area which I hope to visit next spring?

Hey Piran , Are you doing this as a volunteer service or are you working with any NGO ? Is there a career where i can meet and explore different communities and stay in these beautiful places ? If yes , could you help me with some information? Am not really sure if i am allowed to ask these questions in this forum. If am not supposed to , am really sorry. However i have this knack of going around oplaces and what better if am getting paid for it ...