Be amazed by the beauty of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India translates to the ‘land of dawn-lit mountains’, often called as the land of the rising sun. The lush green rolling hills, dense forests, rich culture, fresh water bodies and the least traveled places in Arunachal Pradesh attracts tourists from all around the world.

Ziro is an attractive quaint town in Lower Subaniri district of Arunachal Pradesh which is home to the Apatani tribe. Ziro is the cradle to this tribal group with warm and gentle climate famous for its pine trees and rice fields. Besides the astonishing scenic views, this quaint town Ziro is famous for Apatani tribal heritage which invokes curiosity among travelers. It is a popular tourist place in Arunachal Pradesh and was also shortlisted for inclusion in the tentative list for nomination to UNESCO for the inscription in World Heritage Site. The stunning valleys of Ziro are around 115km away from the capital Itanagar and might take approximately three and half hours to reach. On your way to Ziro, you can witness other beautiful sides of the state and be amazed by the views that it offers.

During summer from April-June the place becomes warm is a good time to experience the warmth of the hills. The winter between October-March is also an appropriate time to visit Ziro and enjoy the views of the nature. It is not recommended to visit Ziro in monsoon from July-September to avoid any kind of difficulties during your trip like heavy rainfall, flood etc.

Travelers seeking for tranquility may visit Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh and wander in this charming little town to be found in between the epitomic scenic beauty. If you are nature lover, an adventure seeker, looking for camping site or soul captivating experience, Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh is for you and this place will not disappoint you.

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Diversity of North East: Take a north east India tour

Taking a tour of northeast India is like going on a trip which is an emotionally turbulent yet worthwhile. Home to more than 220 ethnic communities with more than 25% of land covered with forest with a wide variation of altitude, northeast India comprises of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura Meghalaya and Sikkim.

The northeast India tour for any travel enthusiast should be a must have place on their travel wish list. These regions are extremely diverse in many fields. People living in these states may have similar facial features but the languages they speak are totally different. Northeast India is equally varied as far as festivals are concerned, with so many tribes and each having their own festivals almost every second day there is some festival. Planning northeast India tour around these festivals is a good option. They also have wide variety of food and each place has something to offer. Usually the foods in these regions are not as spicy as rest of the country; they are generally less spicy, boiled or steamed. Though they do not use many spices but hot chili, ‘king chilies’ or ‘cherry peppers’ are really popular here and are found in most of the dishes. Northeast India is also culturally diverse and different ethnic groups have different customs and traditions. The culture resides in the hearts of the people and they see it with utmost respect.

Northeast India does not just have tribal people and jungles but has it fare share of modern cities which are at par with any modern city of India. Its vast cultural diversity topped with abundance of natural areas, wildlife, makes it an ideal place for holiday.

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Fun Excursions: Things to do in Shillong

The ‘Scotland of the East’ in India is no less than a paradise and offers so many things to do. The capital city of Meghalaya Shillong is a base for adventure activities. There are numerous things to do in Shillong and places to explore. Some of the best things to do in Shillong are a mix of sightseeing, excursions involving adventure activities and more.

Shillong has quite a few places with varied activities, one of the most common activities being hopping in car and visiting the usual places like The Don Bosco Museum for indigenous cultures, Butterfly Museum or Wankhar Entomology Museum, Shillong’s Lady Hydari Park, Wards Lake, The Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Spread Eagle Falls and Golf Course to name a few. The picturesque views, rolling valleys, beautiful Shillong city, waterfalls everything seems so mesmerizing in Meghalaya. While visiting these popular places of tourist attractions and exploring them do not miss out on the delicious culinary delights of Shillong. Also, no trip is complete without shopping for souvenirs. The Police Bazaar in Shillong has many stores and small shops selling garments to accessories to food while the Bara Bazaar is for the locals with its exotic fruits and vegetables and the local bamboo & Cane craft wares.

Not very far from Shillong around 17km, is the Umiam Lake located in Nongpoh where you can go for boating. Enclosed with rich greenery from all sides this lake is filled with blue and crystal clear water. Shillong makes the base for excursions and trekking to Cherrapunjee or Sohra. Some of the things to do here are to go for a short hike to the famous Double Decker Living Root Bridges, caving at Mawsami Cave, Krem Mawmluh and Arwah caves. You may also visit the scared forests in Shillong Hills that are kept preserved from a long time.

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Temperature in Imphal city

The beautiful state of northeast India Manipur has Imphal for its capital city located in the valley with Imphal River meandering through the city. This incredible capital of Manipur has a long great history that includes the ruins of Kangla Fort the seat of erstwhile kingdom. Today Imphal has emerged as an important tourist destination in the northeast of India and also an entry point for Manipur.

The climate of Imphal is pleasant throughout the year and the average high temperature in Imphal during summer is 29⁰C while the average low temperature in winter is 4⁰C. The highest recorded temperature in Imphal was 35.6 °C while the lowest temperature recorded was 2.7 °C.

Some of the many places to visit in Imphal are the famous Kangla Fort, Bihu Loukon, Women’s Market, India Peace Memorial (Red Hill), Imphal War Cemetery and Shree Govindajee Temple. The Kangla Fort is located on the banks of the Imphal River and has number of temples within the fort. Bihu Loukon is an interesting pre historic star shaped fort in Manipur that is situated in Maklang, the west district. At present only the ramparts remain which is built out of mud. The Women’s Market (Ima Keithel) is the commercial centre of Imphal city established in 16^th century and today host around 5000 to 6000 stalls all run and managed by women. The India Peace Memorial aka Red hill is located at 17 km south of Imphal. It was the scene of action during the Second World War between Allied Forces and Japanese Forces fighting alongside the Indian National Army. Japanese war veterans have constructed a monument at the foot of this hill to commemorate the battle. The Imphal War Cemetery is one of the most visited places in Manipur, it has 1600 graves of British and Allied soldiers who fought and died in 1944 during World War II. Another place of tourist attraction in Imphal is the Shree Govindajee Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple has two gold plated domes, a paved court and a large, raised mandapa or congregation hall.

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The weather trivia and temperature in imperial Imphal

Imphal the capital city of Manipur is one of the incredible places in northeast India that borders with Myanmar and was often referred to as the royal seat of Manipur up until British invasion. Located roughly at 2600 feet above sea level, the city experiences humid subtropical climate as dry winters and hot monsoons.

Imphal is famous for many things and some of them are the world’s oldest Polo ground and the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park on earth. It also houses historical landmarks such as the Kangla fort, the Khongjom War Memorial etc. The average annual temperature in Imphal in Manipur is roughly about 21°C with the summer temperatures reaching 30 °C and the winters at 4 °C. The three main seasons here are summer, monsoon and winter.

The summer in Imphal ranges from April to June. The range of temperature varies between 16⁰C to 35⁰C. During this time, lai haroba and moatsu are the festivals celebrated in Manipur. Summer is one of the best times to visit Imphal. The period of July to September is regarded as the Monsoons in Imphal, with June-July being the wettest months. Strong winds often blow during this time and the temperatures vary between a low of 20°C to a high of 30°C. The average rainfall in Imphal is about 1500mm annually. Winter ranges from the month of November to February in Imphal and is really pleasant. The temperatures during this time of the year vary between a low of 4°C to a high of 24°C. During winter, the weather is inviting and is considered as one of the best times to visit Imphal. Prominent festivals and events of Manipur like hornbill, gaan-ngai, sekreny are held during this time of the year.

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Exploring the ethereal food of Manipur

The food of Manipur is influenced by different countries and communities, the traditional food of Manipur is said to be similar to the cuisine of South-east and Central Asia like that of the Thais and Vietnamese. The staples here are rice, local vegetables and leaves, fish and meats, and last but not the least, lots of herbs like mint, coriander, chives, pepper and basil, that grow in abundance in Manipur.

A typical Manipuri meal will consist of rice, ensaang or athongba, eromba, morok metpa and singju. Athongba is basically a vegetable stew often flavored with fried or dry fish. Eromba is similar to athongba the only difference is the vegetables are mashed and flavored with chilies and fermented fish called ngari. Morok metpa is spicy chutney or paste made of king chilies, garlic, salt and fermented fish and singju is a salad of local herbs, colocasia leaves, banana flowers etc. Even if you are a vegetarian you will find many options to choose from like kangsoi or chamthong, ooti etc. Kangsoi is similar to athongba minus the fish and ooti is another star food of Manipur consisting of mashed peas.

Apart from fish you will find many dishes of meat like chicken, beef, pork, lamb and mutton. Some of the popular meat dishes of Manipur are soibum thongba and yen thongba made of pork and chicken respectively. Many dishes of Manipur are flavored with bamboo shoots and tastes absolutely delicious. Also, the umorok or the king chilies form the basis of almost all vegetarian and non-vegetarian preparations in Manipur. The traditional food of Manipur may appear simple, but the flavors are unmistakably complex and tasty. There is plenty to eat and enjoy in Manipur. And your next visit to Manipur should be for food and all things of gastronomical proportions.

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Manipuri cuisine

Manipur is one of the eight northeastern states of India also called as ‘the jewel city’. It is famous for so many things in India and one of them is the delicious culinary delights of Manipur. Manipuri cuisine predominantly consists of food eaten by the Meitei’s community which forms the majority of population of Manipur.

The staple food of Manipur is rice like other northeastern states of India and the side dishes of vegetables, meat and fish. Daily Manipuri food would have rice with a gravy based vegetable called ensaang, a dish of stir-fried vegetables called kanghou along with a hot spicy relish like chili paste morok metpa or boiled mashed potato with chilly and fermented fish called iromba. The essence of Manipuri food is the yummy fermented local fish called ngari, it is used to mainly for flavoring relishes and side dishes. A typical Manipuri thali consists of white rice, vegetable fry, meat gravy, chili paste or achar, dal and some other side dishes like papad, yogurt etc. In the Manipuri food raw turmeric, green garlic, onions, ginger garlic are used with mustard oil as cooking base.

A special food of Manipur bora is prepared by sun drying of lentil paste and is used to make curries. Food of Manipur consists of one or the other item of fish dish either as ngaari, roasted or fried. These fishes are sourced from freshwater bodies in Manipur.

Different ethnic groups and communities in Manipur have many unique food items to be placed on the table. The Tangkhul community has more emphasis on organic ingredients in their food. The locals of Manipur eat many organic wild edibles and these items are something everybody must try. Apart from fish Manipuri eat a lot of pork and chicken and also uses Manipuri Naga King Chilly in most of their dishes.

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The best of Manipur tourist places

Manipur in northeast India is also known as the jeweled town and it rightly justifies the picturesque land. Surrounded by nine hills and the presence of an oval-shaped valley at the centre, it really does look like jewelry. The lush greenery, wide array of flora, the colors of the sky, and the festivals of this state add on to the beauty of the land. Manipur is an ever blooming tourist destination in northeast India.

Manipur tourist places are bestowed with nature’s bounty, and there are myriad of options to choose from when it comes to sightseeing and exploring these places. Nestled in the laps of Himalayas the nature also has showered Manipur with numerous important water bodies, which also make some popular tourist destinations. The capital city of Manipur-Imphal one of the less explored places and has some untouched charm that surrounds the landscapes, natural beauty and sceneries of the state. Some of the popular places you can visit in Imphal are the Manipur State Museum, Loktal Lake and Sendra Island, Kangla Fort, Langthabal, Shri Govindjee Temple, and war cemeteries. Not very far from the capital is Ukhrul. It is rich for its scenic splendor; the fresh air, greenery, and natural beauty make a pleasant atmosphere that travelers often love to meditate. Another place to visit is Andro. It is a small village near Imphal. Andro is famous for pottery craftsmanship, and the art of the locals always attract attention of the tourists. Tamenglong is also known as the Land of Hornbill and is one of the naturally rich stunning places to visit. Other major Manipur tourist places to visit are Chandel, Thoubal and Khongjom.

Manipur offers varied tourist places fit for every kind of tourist. Visiting Manipur is no less than feasting one’s soul in the astounding landscapes, flaunting the beauty of hilltops and foothills in all their glory.

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Manipur tourist places

Manipur is the ‘land of jewel’, one of the seven sisters and a popular tourist attraction in northeast India. It has rich and long history and being on the cross road between south East Asia and rest of the country it has much to offer to tourist visiting the state. Manipur has natural, cultural as well historical places to visit.

The green rolling hills and valleys, waterfalls, natural caves and international borders magnetizes travelers to travel to Manipur. The capital city of Manipur Imphal is the gateway to Manipur tourist places since it is the only place with an airport. Some of the main tourist places of Imphal are Kanlgla fort, Shree Govindajee Temple, Manipur State Museum and the Ima Market, Mapal Kangjeibung, Red hill, Manipur Zoological Gardens, World War –II cemeteries etc. An hour and half drive from Imphal is the largest fresh water lake in Manipur, the Loktak Lake, which is world famous for its floating islands.

Ukhrul is the most popular hill destination in Manipur for tourist which is about 3 hours drive from Imphal. It is famous for Manipur’s Kachai Lemon and because of its uniqueness this lemon has been accorded geographical indication registration. Manipur also has beautiful natural waterfalls and the Sadu Chiru waterfall is one of them. Other waterfalls in Manipur are Kanglatongbi Shantipur Waterfall, Khoupum Waterfall, Thangshi Waterfall, to name a few.

Manipur is an ideal place for spelunking, with number of caves found in the hill tracts. The caves of Manipur are also associated with the history of the place. The Thalon Cave with a length of around 910 metres is around 185 kilometres from the Manipur’s state capital. While the Khangkhui Cave is a natural limestones cave in Ukhrul district. With opening of trade at the border town of Moreh with Tamu in Myanmar, a day visit to this place in Manipur has become a must on every tourist visiting Manipur. Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/manipur-tourist-places

Seasons in Meghalaya

Are you planning a trip to Meghalaya but wondering what would be theBest time to visit? The word Meghalaya is combination of ‘Megh’ meaning clouds and ‘Alaya’ meaning home which translates to the ‘Abode of Clouds’, and true to its meaning it is the wettest place on earth. The best time to visit Meghalaya is all year round; the state has moderate climate throughout the year. Every season in the state gives you a reason to plan a trip to Meghalaya.

The summer in Meghalaya is between April-June. Summers are moderate and the temperatures seldom go over 25^oC in most parts of Meghalaya. The pleasant mornings and evenings, make Meghalaya an ideal place to visit to escape the scorching heat of Indian Summers. Monsoon starts from mid June or the start of July and ends in September. The rains add charm to the place and during monsoon the waterfalls in their full glory are sights to behold. The dense forest cover shows the fresh hue of greens after the rain. Monsoon is the best time to visit Meghalaya to enjoy rainfall and witness waterfalls in full glory. The autumn starts with the end of monsoon in Meghalaya from the late September and lasts till November. Autumn is the time for beautiful cherry blossom trees in Meghalaya which also marks the festival times in the state. The climate is also very pleasant with a slight chill in the mornings and evenings while the day time is quite pleasant, thus, autumn time becomes one of the best time to visit Meghalaya. The winter ranges in between November-March, January and December being the coldest months. During winters the cold fogs cover the town, pine forest and the hills of Meghalaya. It gets chilly and the whole state looks like it is floating on the clouds.

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