NORTHEAST

NORTH-EAST INDIA

SANDEEP JAMATIA

The beauty of the northeastern parts of India is known by one and all. With their dense green forests – home to thousands of species of exotic plants, shrubs and flowers – mighty rivers, pretty streams and deep valleys, all under the benign gaze of the majestic Himalayas, they serve as a tourist’s paradise. It is not just nature at its most breathtaking grandeur that one hopes to find there, but also a unique combination of different cultures and traditions, long grown in isolation and still untouched; holy churches, shrines, monasteries, mosques and temples; and most importantly, amiable, hospitable people.

The northeastern states of India are still a secluded portion of the country. Though an integral part of the Indian Republic, they have not got the necessary exposure they deserve. Very little is known about them and they are not developed even though they have got enough potential.

If the North East has lagged behind the rest of the country, it is partly because the connectivity of the region is not developed. The region needs new investment and employment opportunities. It needs better infrastructure. It certainly needs improved connectivity – road, rail, air and telecom connectivity. Tucked away in this beautiful corner, you must not feel that you are in an island of tranquility isolated from a fast changing world.

The tourism industries in northeast have not yet done justice to it. Though different travel agencies conduct tours out there, they have never highlighted the true potential of the northeast. When tourists travel to a tourist destination, say, Goa or Kerala, they come across only one (may be a few more) type of culture and language. But when they visit the northeast, say, even a single state out of the eight, they come across many cultures, traditions, dialects and languages.

There are enough tourist spots in the northeast that still remain untapped. “Majuli”, the world’s largest river island is located in Jorhat, Assam. “Mawsynram” in Meghalaya receives the heaviest rainfall in the world. “Kaziranga National Park” in Assam is home to the world famous one horned rhino. Currently, a project is going on to make “Brahmaputra River” a national waterway, the only one of its kind in India. The famous “Nathula Pass” connecting India and China is located in the picturesque Sikkim. The handloom and handicrafts of my native state Tripura is well known all over. “Nirmahal” – a palace or rather a fort, surrounded by water bodies from all sides, is located in Tripura. There are myriad of other tourist spots. The breathtaking “Bhageswari Hills” in the beautiful Bongaigaon, Assam, is currently attracting many tourists.

One of the main drawbacks of this region is that it is heavily inflicted with terrorism, a curse to the society. That is one of the reasons for people not choosing the north east as their tourist spot. But that does not take anything away from the beauty of the northeast.

All in all, if properly developed, the northeast will be one of the main attractions of developing India.

Hoping for the best!