Honeymoon in the pristine and blessed North East

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Delectable cuisines, merry-making people, folk dances, oldies sharing their tales, the tribal cultures and cordial encounters to nature are the few things that will welcome you to this land of beauty. These moments will leave their imprints on your heart so strong that you won’t mind knocking back to this place a year later.

It’s time to head towards East. Maybe people in search of deliverance used to travel miles to reach to these heavenly ranges to experience the peace it renders. It is easy to fall in love with these valleys. And, when you already have someone beside you, who you love whole-heartedly, then these valleys will help you strengthen the bond even more, by making you realize how at these secluded lands, your beloved by your side can mean the whole world.

Splendid Sikkim

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Landlocked from all sides, it can be seen as a land where Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and West Bengal’s culture melt to emerge as a unique edifying gem. At every step, it has a floral delight waiting to amaze you. And as you stand flabbergasted in the eternal bounty of this land, there’ll come another surprise, maybe a sudden snowfall. At Yuksom, you’ll bump into many mountaineering enthusiasts, but don’t spend the lion’s share of your time there; we don’t want you to sway towards the desire of climbing on the highest peaks, at least not during your honeymoon. Blessed with captivating landscapes, this land of flowers, leaves you longing for more of it. The numerous lakes, monastries and places like Gangtok make for a complete rejuvenating and intimate holiday that both of you have been wishing for after the band-baaja-vali-shaadi, where you could only share those longing glances. Marvel at her beauty and express what you have hidden into your constant gaze when the pleasant wind messes up her hair. Numerous waterfalls lining the hillside make Pelling, another reveling spot for honeymooners while Ravangla and Lachung (in way to awe-inspiring Yumthang Valley) are only more. To add some spice to this trip, you could attend some of the festivals like Saga Dawa, Bhanu Jayanti, Drukpa Tseshi, Phang Lhabsol, Biswakarma Puja, Lhabab Dhuechen, Kagyed Dance, Losoong, Cham Dance, Losar and Bhumchu and be a part of the culture here. Being a tourist-friendly destination, Sikkim is well-connected within by roads and can be reached in just few hours from Bagdogra Airport.

Places to visit: After some adrenaline rush at adventurous places like Pelling, Ravangla, and Yuksom, marvel at the nature’s bounty at Lachung, Mangan, Lachen, Chhangu Lake, Khangchendzonga Rumtek Monastery, Nathu La, National Park and Himalayan Zoological Park.

Activities: Spend some time to fill your adventure lust by trekking, river-rafting, yak safari, mountain biking and kayaking.

Where to Stay: There are plethora of options to stay around Gangtok and major towns in Sikkim like The Royal Plaza, Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino and The Elgin Nor-Khill, Gangtok. In Pelling you could have a peaceful stay at The Elgin Mount Pandim.

Astounding Assam

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The hills simmering in the distance create a blue haze while the mighty Brahmaputra sprawls in an untameable spirit, making Assam aptly known as the land of red rivers and blue hills. The emerald-green tea estates, the abundance of fauna in the sanctuaries and the existence of plains and a hilly serene topography simultaneously make it an exquisite beauty perfect for a honeymoon worth documenting in a memoir. Don’t be surprised if we are able to guess that the first thing you pictured were the one-horned rhinos. Tour Kaziranga National Park on an elephant, keep an eye on a prancing Tiger and share the joys together by spotting one! If you really want to go offbeat, then Manas National Park is the wilderness hub where you need to head to. Apart from being a pilgrimage destination for many, Assam is even a heritage destination. From mythological monuments of Sivasagar to the last capital of Sivasagar and the tea capital of India, Jorhat, the cities of Assam have to be on your travel list. The other place that only North-East could have kept in its heart is the world’s largest river island, Majuli, which you should visit before it becomes the prey of global warming. To reach Majuli, you have to take a boat from Nimatighat near Jorhat. You can experience the Bihu festival in its varied colours of celebrations. This gateway to the mystic North-East is conveniently connected through road, railways and air transport, specifically till Guwahati. Airport in Dibrugarh can also be a convenient means to saunter into this paradise.

Places to visit: The historical monuments to visit include Kamakhya Temple, Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Chandubi Lake, Agnigarh Hill. Assam gives you limitless options to experience the wilderness at Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park, Gibbon wildlife Sanctuary, Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and much more. Majuli riverine island is another marvel to explore if you want to feel the pious vibes.

Activities: You can spend the best of the times creating memories while angling, white water rafting, Parasailing, rock climbing and hang-gliding. Pat, Muga silk, cane and other traditional products and decorative items are the must bring back items from Assam.

Where to Stay: There are no limits on the choices to stay in Guwahati like Radisson Blu, Vivanta by Taj, Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, Hotel Landmark, while Thengal Manor in Jalukanibari and Banyan Grove in Jorhat are good options to go for.

Marvelous Manipur

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The land of Manipur puts you face to face to different rarities. The pale bluish-pink petals of truly endemic Shirui lily blooms in Ukhrul will make you wonder at nature’s bounty. You must not miss the floating islands at the Loktak Lake. On these islands reside people amidst the lush greenery of the floating weedy islands, the tranquil blue waters of the lake and above all, the colour spilled by the plants to titivate the ambiance. When time comes to move on from this setting, you must head towards the Dzukou Valley at Senapati. Though, you’ll need to do a bit of hard work to reach this place, but who worries when one has the love by their side to accompany them and when the destination is a mystic land! The Mao legend says that when lovers go to Dzukou the night also turns like a day and moonlit shines like the sun. No person alive can hold testimony to this legend but this dream land full of luminous charm and beauty is untouched by the malice of humans and is still the nature in its purest form. One can never have enough of this romanticism that scenic Manipur leaves you with. This abode for lovers is nearest to Imphal International Airport. The Loktok Lake is just 39 km away from the Imphal while Dzukou is at three hours distance from Imphal, by road.

Places to visit: The top attractions for couples in Manipur are Sendra Island, Sadu Chiru waterfall, Loktak Lake, Floating islands, Kaina, Doll-House, Shree Govindjee, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Khangkhui Cave, British War Cementery, Thalon Cave, Moirang, Dzukou Valley, Khongkhampat Orchidarium, Agape Park, to name a few.

Activities: Spend one day trekking, boating, and camping and other days by enjoying different festivals like Dol Yatra and sports such as Polo and boat race.

Where to Stay: The Classic Group Hotels are the best here for a decent stay while enjoying the honeymoon. The Classic Grand stands as the finest of all in Imphal. From the same group, the cottages in Sendra provide comfortable accommodation overlooking a gorgeous vista of the Loktak Lake, nestled in the hills.

Mesmerising Meghalaya

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Unsullied is what simply defines Meghalaya. From Asia’s longest caves to the impressive waterfalls, Meghalaya is the abode of the clouds, making Shillong, Mawsynram and Cherrapunjee the favorites. Your weary minds after the hectic wedding schedule will find solace in the panoramic landscapes, foggy hills, cascading waterfall, serpentine rivers and the terraced slopes. Whistling wind through the scented pines add the music to the usual silent and quiet woods of Meghalaya, making it a notch better than Scotland in beauty, to which it is often compared. The caressing weather of Meghalaya can be best enjoyed during March and July. Guwahati airport, at a distance at 128km is the nearest airport to Shillong. Breathtaking views here are heart-capturing and will make your honeymoon trip more fascinating.

Places to visit: Cherrapunjee, Mawsynram, Wards Lake, Law Kyntang. The various tribes, their culture and the hill ranges across the state can be witnessed while travelling form one destination to another. Pristine white falls like Elephant falls, Shadthum Falls, Weinia falls, Bidan Bishop falls and Nohkalikai falls are surely not to be missed.

Activities: Indulge in the amazing thrills of hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, rowboats, paddle boats, and water-scooters. Additionally, you could even revel at the various festivals and cultural dance events.

Where to Stay: As the complete trip will be centered around enjoying what God has endowed Meghalaya with, staying beside a lake is a must for an overall peaceful stay and exactly something that Ri Kynjai offers. Cottages, traditional Khasi spa and relishing the local delicacies will keep you occupied in Shillong. Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort fits for a stay during the trip to Cherrapunjee.

Life doesn’t run on the super fast mode in this serene section of India. Exploring the untapped North-East is not about sight-seeing. It is about being far from the madding crowd, and losing yourself to the bequest of nature, living in the moment. Marvel at the surprises that knock on your door during the trip, where you are not only heart-to-heart with the serenity found in abundance but also on an unforgettable and ever-cherishing honeymoon.