The Raas Mahotsav Festival is celebrated in November every year at Majuli in the name of Lord Krishna with infectious fever. Everybody is involved in the festival. The various monasteries of the island stage various interpretations of Krishna’s life by using folk dances, masks, puppets, songs and dance, all enrolled in a charming riot of colors.
During the four-day festival that starts from the Raas Purnima day, the Island transforms in to a divine place. During the Raas festival, Majuli becomes a veritable place for pilgrimage.
10 Nights / 11 Days
Received at Guwahati airport and later drive to Tezpur(180kms/05hrs). On arrival check in at hotel for overnight. Evening option to explore Tezpur City (time permitting).
Day 2 - Tezpur- ZiroAfter an early breakfast proceed to Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh (320 km/ 08-09 hrs). Driving along the Ranga river, enter the extensive foothills of the Himalayas. The mountain passes through densely forested hills and gradually keeps gaining altitude by 6000 feet. En-route visit Nyishi tribal villages. Overnight at Ziro.
Day 3 - ZiroFull day Ziro valley sightseeing including Apatani tribal villages like Hong, Hari, Hija, local market. Everywhere we go, we are warmly welcomed. As E.T. Dalton noted in 1845 "The men do not rejoice in much drapery, they wear a girdle of cane work painted red which hangs behind in long bushy tail." Just as the tail is the distinctive part of the male dress, so is the nose plug peculiar to the Apatani women. It is the ambition of each woman to wear the largest possible nose plugs, which are made of wood. Both sexes extensively tattoo their faces. Each of the sect has distinctive features. Their hats, clothes, ornaments, language and even physical features are totally different. Overnight at Ziro.
Hong village - Hong village is counted as the second biggest and most organised tribal villages in Asia. The unique feature of the Appertain tribe is the tattooing of the women’s faces and their nose plugs, which you will find different from the other tribes.
Day 4 - Ziro- MajuliPost breakfast we drive for Majuli (approx 06 hrs) including ferry crossing. Majuli - the largest inhabited river island in the world and famous for the Vaishnavite Satras or monasteries (Kamalabari Satra, Auniati Satra, Benganti satra, and many more) and culture. It is nestled between the confluence of the Subansiri and the Brahmaputra River. Visit the monasteries and interface with the tribes on the island. Overnight at Majuli (basic accommodation).
MAJULI ISLAND - Majuli Island-A World Heritage Site, is located in the Brahmaputra River and is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world. The island has long served as a monastic retreat to the Vaishnavite community and is known for its beautiful rural setting and traditional Assamese and Mishing architecture. Majuli, is the largest freshwater river island (1250 sq km) in the world and is contesting for a position in the "World Heritage” list. It is located 20 kilometers from the city of Jorhat, Assam.
The Mishings - The Mishings belong to the Tibeto-Burman clan of the Mongoloid race. It's not known exactly where they migrated from, but it is believed that they were dwellers of the hills of present day Arunachal Pradesh. They continued their practice of living in thatched houses raised on bamboo stilts, known as chang ghars.
Auniati Satra : Founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, the Satra is famous for "Paalnaam" and Apsara dances. Also remarkable is it's extensive assortment of ancient artefacts, Assamese old utensils, jewellery and handicrafts.
Shamaguri Satra - The Satra is famous worldwide for it's Mask-making tradition. Henghul Haithal Painting: The masks and boats are painted with a special coloring matter called Hengul Haithal. This painting process is called Hengul Haithal painting. Hengul means vermilion and Haithal means the yellow orpiment. Hengul Haithal is a mixture of minerals, vermilion and yellow orpiment, indigo and pale soi. The Sattra Institute of Majuli is famous for this painting. It is used in making masks and wall paintings.
Day 5 - MajuliFull day exploring the Majuli Island. Evening enjoy Raas Festival at Majuli. Overnight at Majuli.
Day 6 - MajuliFull day exploring the Majuli Island. Evening enjoy Raas Festival at Majuli. Overnight at Majuli.
Day 7 - Majuli- KazirangaAfter breakfast ferry across to the mainland and drive to Kaziranga(80kms/02hrs). Check in at hotel for 02 nights.
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK - Kaziranga National Park - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found. The park is one of the oldest parks of Assam and lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River. Besides rhinos, Elephants, Royal Bengal Tigers, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park. To name a few- Great Hornbill, Swamp Francolin, Pallas Fish Eagle, Greater Adjutant Stork, Pied Falconets, , Long Billed Vulture. There is no telling what one might find in Kaziranga but it is always a great experience. The specialty here is the Blue naped pitta among a host of Raptors and Waterfowl. The adjoining buffer areas are worth a try too, as numerous rare sightings are reported regularly.
Note: The park remains open from 2nd Oct to 30th April.
Day 8 - KazirangaWe spent the full day exploring the beautiful forests and grasslands of the National Park with morning 01 Elephant Safari followed by 01 Jeep Safari post breakfast. Post lunch enjoy another Jeep Safari. Overnight at the hotel.
ELEPHANT SAFARI: Elephant Safari: Approximately 45 mins duration 05.30 to 06.30 06.30 to 07.30 Elephant safari for foreign nationals are held only on Kaziranga Range, Kohora (Central Range) Allocation of elephant riding seats and timings are regulated by the forest department, Kaziranga National Park, Government of Assam. The tickets for the same are issued only on the previous evening of the ride after 7:30 PM. subject to availability. It starts very early in the morning and continues for approx 45 minutes.
JEEP SAFARI: Forenoon: Entry time between 07:00 to 09:30 Hours. Visiting time is till 12:00 Noon Afternoon: Entry time between 13:30 to 15:00 Hours. Visiting time is till sunset. Jeep
Safaris are permitted on pre-defined tourist circuits within Kaziranga National Park- currently at the following points:
The Central Range passes through the entire habitat spectrum from ox-bow lakes, savannah woodland to swamp forests. It is very good for mammal sightings as well as for birds (Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Great Hornbill, Rufous Woodpecker). While driving along the trail, one can see rows of Indian Roofed and Tent Turtles (Kachuga tecta and Kachuga tentoria). Water Monitors Varanus salvator are sometimes spotted in the beels.
The Eastern Range abounds in water birds such as bar-headed geese, falcated duck, grey-headed lapwing and spot-billed pelican (a colony of 200 pairs of this globally threatened species nesting on the Bombax trees can be found here).
The Western Range has the highest density of rhinos as this part of the park is swampier. It has grassland birds and raptors (swamp francolin, pallas's fish eagle etc). Smooth Indian Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) can sometimes be seen fishing in it’s ox-bow lakes.
Day 9 - Kaziranga- KohimaPost breakfast drive to Kohima (215 kms / 05 hrs). On arrival check in at hotel for 03 nights. Later we visit 2nd World War Cemetery - Explore what is perhaps one of the most scenic cemeteries in the world, which includes an outline of the famous tennis court which was fought over between the British and the Japanese in 1944 and local market. Overnight at the hotel.
Kohima - Kohima, situated in the south at an altitude of 1444 m above sea level, is the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima is centrally located - on the West Assam, Wokha district on the North, Zunheboto and Phek districts on the East and Manipur state on the South. The Angami, Rengma and Zeliangrong communities mainly inhabit Kohima District.
KOHIMA WAR-II CEMETERY: In World War II, a number of officers and soldiers killed in and the War Cemetery is built in memory of them. Formerly known as Garrison Hill it is designed as a series of terraces with magnificent stone steps. There are 1421 slabs erected in memory of soldiers who were killed in the Battle of Kohima viz. the 18 plots of the cemetery. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Day 10 - KohimaPost breakfast we drive to Khonoma (45 mins) inhabited by the Angami tribe. Later back to Kohima and overnight at the hotel.
Khonoma Village: Located 20 kms West of Kohima is Khonoma village.The village referred to as “Khwünoria” by the residents is estimated to be around 700 years old and is surrounded by hills that are as high as 9000 ft. It was here that the Naga warriors made their last stand against the British in 1879. The village is named after a plant locally known as “Khüno” that grows in the area. The alder tree (Alnus Nepalensis) is found in abundance in this region. Khonoma is famous for its management of jhum (shifting agriculture) fields with alder trees, which fixes nitrogen in the soil and checks soil erosion. With its mission "Green Khonoma", it has become the Model Village for eco-tourism. The Village Council has made it mandatory for every household to have dustbins. Once a month, sanitation drives are carried out and the community’s garbage is burnt. The ashes and residue are then used as manure. The combination of rich bio-diversity and stunning landscape makes Khonoma an excellent candidate for eco-tourism.
Day 11 - Kohima- Dimapur FlyoutIn time transfer to Dimapur airport (80 kms / 02 hrs) to board flight for onward destination.
Amazing Arunachal Pradesh
Essence Of Arunachal Tour
Assam Adventure Tour
Brahmaputra Cruise Tour
Aromas Of Assam Tour
