Highlights of Kolkata & the North-East
India’s north-east region is possibly the most diverse in the country. From the steamy delta regions around lowland West Bengal, up to the high Himalaya in Sikkim, the area’s extremes in geography is matched by its variety in cultures and ethnicities. This region feels far removed from the beaten path, and whether you are gawping at stunning Himalayan vistas, tracking rhino in Kaziranga National Park, or meandering amongst the colonial relics of Kolkata, there is always plenty of adventure to be had.
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Kolkata, the City of Joy, is the capital of Bengali culture. This historic city continues to thrives as a social, artistic, and educational hub: a centre of discussion, irreverence, and politics.
Darjeeling is the original colonial retreat. Synonymous with the tea industry, it spreads across several sharp hillsides and mixes stunning mountain views with a relaxing hill station atmosphere.
The prestigious Kaziranga National Park offers a unique safari experience. Part forest, part grassland, the park is dotted with watering holes and cut through by the Brahmaputra River.
Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous state of Sikkim. Its name derives from the Tibetan word for 'hill side', which tells us two things: it is hilly, and there is a strong Tibetan influence!
Kalimpong was once the starting point for the migration and trade across to Tibet, and still retains a distinct Buddhist air with its Tibetan heritage adding to a sizable Nepali population.
Dubbed the “Scotland of the East”, Shillong is a former hill station with pockets of old-world charm, a strong local culture and surrounded by rolling scenery.
After Kolkata, Guwahati (sometimes Gauhati) is the second-largest city in Northeast India, and one of the fastest-developing conurbations on the subcontinent.
Jorhat is a busy trading town found towards the eastern reaches of the Brahmaputra river. Ringed by tea plantations, it is the centre of the Upper Assam tea trade.
Majuli is the largest river island on the Subcontinent: an expanse of some 452 sq km carpeted by rice paddies and watering holes, dotted with hyacinth blossoms, and a cradle of Assamese tribal culture.
The hilltop state capital of Nagaland is best known for the annual hornbill festival and for the decisive battle which took place here during WW2, memorialised by the moving and well-maintained Second World War Cemetery.
The northernmost district of Nagaland is home to the Konyak Nagas, the largest tribe among the Nagas, and Mon town provides the best access point to the many villages in the area.