Darjeeling and India’s North East

Darjeeling and the northeastern states of India are one of the least explored regions in the Subcontinent. The northern part of this region boasts a mesmerising landscape characterised by majestic snow-capped mountains, verdant valleys, frigid blue rivers, and quaint Buddhist monasteries nestled in the Himalayan foothills. Cradled between Bhutan and Nepal, Darjeeling is famed for its tea and offers beautiful mountain vistas as well as the chance to re-live the gracious colonial lifestyle of planters and an opportunity to ride on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – one of India’s great rail journeys.

Further north, in the former princely state of Sikkim, it is possible to enjoy spectacular village walks through terraced rice fields, rhododendron and magnolia forests and attend early morning prayers at the sacred Rinchenpong monastery whilst staying in charming village houses. To the southeast, Assam occupies the low-lying Brahmaputra valley and acts as a gateway to the other northeastern states. Here, enjoy an elephant-back ride inside Kaziranga National Park and search for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros before embarking on a relaxing Brahmaputra cruise to discover ancient temples and ruined palaces of Ahom Kings.

Bordering Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh is known as the land of the rising sun locally. It is famous for its picturesque unexplored valleys, indigenous tribes, including the Apatani Tribal women, and the magnificent 17th-century Tawang monastery. On India’s border with Burma, Nagaland is home to 16 distinct tribal groups. A visit to the colourful annual Hornbill festival offers a fascinating window into the region’s rich culture and unique traditions and the chance to meet with the Konyak tribal warriors, the last surviving headhunters of North East India. Kohima, Nagaland’s state capital and nearby Imphal in Manipur were sites of fierce battles during WWII.