Did you know that close to THIRTY FIVE percent of the Indian Himalayan Range lies in the Seven Sister States (+ Sikkim) of Northeast India! That's a massive stretch of the biggest mountain range in the world to be left unexplored. It also is home to over 200 tribes and 220 unique languages! That is a massive range of culture to be left undiscovered. This very raw region full of hidden gems provides great opportunities to seek out sources of a mix of adventure and culture. From the land of clouds, Meghalaya, to the land of festivals, Nagaland, to the land of the dawn-lit mountains, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India is a storehouse of untouched beauty.
The region still is one of the least visited parts of India. It remains shrouded in mystery for various reasons which mostly stem from a dearth of documentation leading to a lack of awareness about these states. This lack of information has caused Northeast India to gain a bit of a misguided image.
In this article, we are trying to bridge this gap and trump some of these misconceptions about Northeast India. We hope that in this attempt we are also able to soothe some of your concerns and answer some of the burning questions you may have before wanting to travel here.
Misconception 1: It is not safe to travel to the Northeast of India
This is almost always the first thing I heard from anyone I informed of my 15 day visit to Northeast India. From questions to instructions to concerns, I heard different versions of “Is it safe?”, “It’s not safe”, “Don’t travel there by yourself”, “Be very cautious”, “Travel with a local person”.
There is no denying that the past of some of the Northeastern states has seen scattered but strong and sudden episodes of violence, mass unrest and spurts of protests. The internal conflicts, people’s displeasure with governmental apathy and the political unrest in the region has earned some of the states a certain reputation. While these cannot be discarded as illegitimate concerns in regards to safety, there is something you should know about the residents of the Northeast. They are the warmest and most hospitable people you are likely to ever come across – friendly, extremely polite and full of humility.
We would say, it is important to keep yourself updated about the socio-political conditions of any area you may be travelling to – whether it is a Northeastern state or anywhere else in the world. But it is also important to not generalize a certain example from the past to form an opinion about the entire region. While it is good to be cautious, one visit to any part of Northeast will put your mind at ease when you realize how welcomed the region and its people make you feel.
Misconception 2: Northeast can be covered in one single trip
Northeast of India is usually spoken about and looked at as one singular region on the map of India. We generally forget that Northeast India is a combination of 8 distinct states namely Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya. Each of these states are so diverse from each other and also within themselves that a lifetime would not be enough to explore the lengths and breaths of this 8% of the total geographical area of the Indian subcontinent. This 2.62 lakh square kilometers has so much to offer in terms of its natural beauty, multitude of cultures, indigenous peoples, religions, national parks, mountains, rivers, weather patterns and so much more. From adventure sports to cultural indulgence, spelunking to bird watching, river islands to high mountains, each pocket of this magnificent land has something unique to offer.
We’d recommend that you do a thorough assessment of your interests before planning a trip to the northeast of India. It is also wise to pick a small region to explore instead of trying to cover maximum land.
We’d say travel to a state and not a direction!
Misconception 3: Northeast India is inaccessible
It most certainly is not. Guwahati, which is the gateway for all Northeastern states is easily accessible by air or train. In fact, all northeastern states now have fully functional airports connecting them directly or indirectly to most major cities of India. Travelling between the eight states of the Northeast also is now extremely time-efficient because of the recent infrastructural developments.
Northeast not being accessible or travelling here being a time-consuming affair are things of the past.
Misconception 4: Northeast India is nothing like India
The uniqueness of Northeastern culture is a well acknowledged fact. But why exactly is it so distinctive? The 7 northeastern states which are together called the Seven Sisters are connected to mainland India by a thin strip of land called Chicken’s Neck or the Siliguri Corridor. Nepal and Bangladesh lie on either side of this 22 km long passage. The 8th Northeastern state, Sikkim lies on the other side of the corridor connected more securely with mainland India. The states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Assam together only share 2% of their borders with mainland India. The remaining 98% i.e 5,182 kms lies huddled together between countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, China and Nepal surrounding them from all sides.
The region, hence, is a boiling pot of multiple nations and their cultures from which it generously borrows. It is highly influenced by these varied beliefs along its borders – lending to its uniqueness. This is also the reason why the region seems vastly different from mainland India.
Misconception 5: A trip to the Northeast will be one expensive affair
Okay, this one is a bit tricky to tackle. Northeast is well connected by air, railways and road but flights are the fastest way to get to the region. But because of the long distances one needs to cover to enter Guwahati which is the gateway to all Northeastern states, travelling to Northeast may get either too expensive or alternatively too time-consuming. It is like picking between the lesser of the devils – based on whether you have the luxury of time or a free hand with expenses. Internal travel as well may get expensive if you hire a private cab to travel locally. The internal distances are quite huge, so it is picking between planning your trip around the scantily available local transport options and hiring a private cab to make the best use of your time. Accommodation options also tend to be on the expensive side. There are cheaper options available but they usually fill up fast.
One very simple fix to this problem is pre-planning. If you plan your trip meticulously, way ahead of time, it is possible to make a pocket-friendly trip to Northeast. Pre book your flights at cheaper rates, pre-book your accommodation and pick the exact places you want to visit so you can research local transport options with timings.
Misconception 6: Food when travelling to Northeast is a problem
It is commonly believed that all people in the Northeast have vastly peculiar food habits and that bats, dogs, snakes and frogs form the core diet of people in the region. We will set this claim aside as an overgeneralization based on limited information.
While each state and region in the Northeast of India has its own food culture based on the geography, a typical home meal there includes a cereal – rice or millets, locally grown vegetables and a portion of meat (mostly pork) cooked in local spices using beans and bamboo shoots. While it is true that consumption of meat, especially fish and pork, is big in the region, food of all kind is easily available in market places as well as homestays. The use of certain kinds of spices gives the food its Northeastern flavour. It may be different from what you are used to but that is true for every place that you want to explore.
Although, in major cities, with the inflow of major brands of food chains, you will find food to your taste, we would still maintain that trying local cuisine is one sure way to feel fully belonged to a place and its people.
Misconception 7: Travelling internally within Northeast is difficult
In terms of road quality, most of the national highways and city roads are quite smooth in the region. However, if you decide to go on internal roads and head towards off-beat destinations within a Northeastern state, you must be prepared for a bumpy ride.
Based on the area you choose to travel to, local transport options may be available but not very frequent. It is helpful to do thorough research of the specific region you are planning to visit so as to make your actual travel a bit smoother.
So overall, we’d say that travelling to remote locations in Northeast may not be super easy but it is also not impossibly difficult. Remember to always seek the assistance of locals – whether they are tour operators or local residents to help you navigate the area well.
Misconception 8: Language barriers make communication difficult
A majority of the people in the Northeastern states understand and can speak Hindi. Although each state has their own language like Mizo is spoken in Mizoram, Bengali in Tripura, Nepali in Sikkim and so on, Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the northeastern parts of India.
Language is not at all a point of concern when travelling anywhere in the Northeastern states.
We hope that this was helpful in warming you to the idea to explore Northeast India. If you have any more questions, do check in with us and we will be happy to help you in any way that we can.
