Tea Tours and stay in a tea heritage bunglow!
It’s always a pleasure to loiter around greenery in Assam and it becomes all the more interesting when you get the chance to stay in a heritage tea bunglow, indulge in tea tasting, visit to tea auction centers or simply enjoy your day playing golf. The winters are very relaxed here and it is one of the best times to pay a visit to the tea gardens. Major tea estates organize the Assam Tea Festivals during November to January which is one best highlights of the state. Tea tours give you the chance to be one with nature and enjoy the lush green landscape amidst chirping of birds and the freshest aroma of the Assam tea.
When: November to January
Where to stay: Dibrugarh (Mancotta Chang Bunglow and Chowkidinghee Chang Bunglow), Jorhat (Bura Sahib Bunglow,Banyan Grove, Thengal Manor Bunglow , Tinsukia(Wathai Heritage Bunglow), Sonitpur (Mahseer Tea Bunglow), Nagaon (Koliabor Manor Resort).
Go Feasting during Bhogali Bihu/Bhuj
One of the most loved festivals of Assam is the Magh/Bhogali Bihu celebrated during January second week of each year. Being a harvest festival this marks the end of winter harvesting and during this time people have fun and make merry by conduction Bhuj (feast) either with family or in groups. This festival is similar to Sankranti/Lohri/Pongal which is celebrated all over India. So, in case you are in Assam during this period then do try to attend a Bhuj and indulge in a variety of food from bamboo rice to different types of pithas and other vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies. People also make makeshift huts or “Meji” from Bamboo leaves and thatch, where they prepare their food and then burn it the next morning which then marks the beginning of the month Magh. The entire night is spent around a bonfire singing songs, beating dhol and making merry. One of the main highlight of this day is boys going out at night stealing vegetables and bamboos from the neighborhood farm. Hence people wake up all night lighting a bonfire guarding their small vegetable farm and bamboo fencing. But then again this is just an excuse for a night-out with the near and dear ones, cooking, eating, and dancing all night. Buffalo fighting is another major highlight of this festival.
When: January 2nd week
Where: In an Assamese locality
Visit to Assam’s only hill station-Haflong
Pic Courtesy: haflongwelcomenri
Assam’s only hill station is a treat for the nature lovers with blue mountains, waterfalls, amazing picturesque greenery, river, rare breeds of birds and other attractions such as adventure sports and sightseeing. Located in the Dima Hasao district this place has plenty of lake side resorts which is perfect for you to spend few winter days in solace and give you the chance to be one with nature. This place is so enticing that it is called as the Switzerland of the East.
When– October to April
Where: 353 Kms from Guwahati city. Nearest airport being Barapani,Shillong and 60 kms from Lumding railway station.
River Rafting at Nameri National Park
Pic Courtesy: Assamtouristspots.wordpress.com
If you are in a mood for some adventure then you must visit Nameri National Park situated in the Sonitpur district of Assam. Apart from watching some exotic wild animals you can indulge in water sports at the Jia Bhorali river flowing through the park. Jia Bhorali, the tributary of one of the massive and untamed rivers in the country, the mighty Brahmaputra offers a thrilling and action packed rafting experience. It originates at Tuting and concludes at 180 kms at a place called Pasighat. It takes almost a week to cover the entire stretch where rafters also camps at the end of each day along the river.
When: November to May
Where: Eco Camp, Nameri (http://www.nameri.co.in/activity.html), around 220kms from Guwahati
Enjoy wildlife as well as Elephant festival in Kaziranga
Pic Courtesy: Kaziranga Elephant Festival FB page
A winter in Kaziranga is bliss. Waking up with nature amidst the sight of wild animals can make your holidays a memorable one. The winter season gives you a chance to be a part of the Elephant festival there which takes place in the month of February. The main aim of celebrating this festival is to create awareness about preserving the species and also promote tourism. The Elephants are groomed from head to toe and will mesmerize you with the grace with which they parade, dance and play games. So apart from the Elephant and jeep safari or spotting the world famous one horned Rhino, now you know what else you are supposed to do in Kaziranga this winter, isn’t it?
When: February
Where: Kaziranga National Park
A walk at the most historical place in Assam- Sivasagar
Pic Courtesy: indiumbound
This place rich in history is a must visit if you want to have a close look at the Assamese culture and the winter season adds a charm to this place. Sivasagar, the literal meaning being “the ocean of Lord Shiva” tells the tale of one of the most powerful empire in India – the mighty Ahoms who ruled Assam for more than six hundred years. The most talked about place here is the 200 year old Sivasagar tank and the most important temples such as Shivadol, Vishnudol and Devidol as well as the Karenghar. It’s always a treat for the travelers to witness the beauty of this place half submerged in fog during winters and to sit at the green grass and just adore the empire.
When: November to April
Where: Around 360 Kms from Guwahati and around 80 kms from Dibrugarh town.
Trip to the River Island Majuli
Pic Courtesy: johangerrits.nl
Majuli, one of the largest river islands celebrates the Majuli festival during winters (especially during the month of November) but the place can be visited any time from November to March to get a glimpse of the Neo- Vaishnavite culture. Music, Dance, Food fests there is whole of things for you to explore at this island during winters.
When: November to March
Where: Majuli River Island
A day at Dibru Saikhowa National Park amidst Migratory bird and ride in a boat house
Pic Courtesy: rideandclimbadventure.com
Being one of the nineteen biodiversity hotspot in the world, this place is well known for having some of the extremely endangered and rare species of wildlife and avifauna. This place is mostly visited during winter by the bird watchers who come here to spot some of the endangered and rare species of migratory birds. The Maguri-Motapung Lake here is truly a bird’s lover paradise. Cruises are also available here.
When: November to April
Where: 45 kms from Tinsukia and around 91 kms from Dibrugarh
Brahmaputra Beach Festival
Pic Courtesy: liquorsky
This festival is celebrated along the banks of the river Brahmaputra Bharalumukh in Guwahati mainly to celebrate the onset of Magh Bihu. People come here in large number to be a part of the festival. The entire stretch of the river Brahmaputra there starts bustling with endless numbers of shops selling hand made products, people participating in various sports such as parasailing, kayaking, canoeing, dirt biking, enjoying traditional games such as cock fight and egg breaking etc. One of the main attractions of the festival is the boat race.
When: 15th Jan- 29th January
Where: Guwahati
Jonbeel Mela
Pic Courtesy: goimonitor
The barter system fair, where goods are exchanged for goods is one of the rarest of the festivals in Assam held every year in Morigaon distict. Tribes such as Khasi, Karbi,Tiwa, Jayantia all come here along with their products and interchange them with the local people as per their needs. This 3 day long festival has many other attractions as well.
When: 15th January – 17th January
Where: Dayang Belguri, 5 km from Jagiroad
Dehing Patkai Festival
Pic Courtesy: travelhi5.co
Named after the huge Patkai range and the enchanting Dihing river, this festival is held annually at Lekhapani in Assam in the month of January. The reason for celebrating this festival is to expose the beauty of the place which is done in the form of organizing wild safaris, trips to tea gardens, though golfing, trip to World War II cemeteries and also an Elephant safari to the Stillwell road which once led to the majestic land of Myanmar.
When: 16th Januaray – 19th January
Where: Lekahapani, Tinsukia being the nearest railway station and Mohanbari (Dibrugarh being the nearest airport).
Go Picnic along with a bonfire
Come winters, go picnic; it’s almost like a ritual to go to some nearby destinations where there is plenty of clean and fresh river water to cook your lunch and have some great time with your family and friends. These tours starts early in the morning where people would cover themselves in woolens and start their short journey amidst cheers and laughter’s. The river Brahmaputra flowing though Assam has got a number of points where people gather during winters and make merry. Freshly cooked mutton, steamed rice and tomato chutney is the most favorable menu for these get together which concludes with a bonfire.
When: December to February
Where: Aaithan, Dilli Ghat, Kalia Bhomora, Choraideo, Bogibeel, Hore Ghat (Jokai), Sita Kund, Meow (Arunachal Pradesh).
Go Taste Some Unusual Assamese delicacies
Winter is the best time to visit this place because you get to taste the most amazing and unusual food- various kinds of pithas prepared during Bihu, Jolpan, Masor Tenga, Bamboo Shoot dishes, Duck meat, Pork, Khar etc are a few of the most preferred dishes during winter.
Get to taste some exotic winter delicacies
Pic Courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org
Ber or most commonly known as Bogori is Assamese, Olives or Jolpai, Robab Tenga or the big citrus fruit, Oranges, green leafy vegetables; this place is a food lovers paradise during winter. The joy of eating bogori with powdered hajmola, the mere mention of Robab Tenga mixed with salt,green chilies with a pinch of sugar or eating those boiled jolpai getting dried in the sun for making the perfect pickle is sure to make you spend all your winters at this heavenly place. Ask any local and they will swear by this.
A Cruise in the Brahmaputra River
Pic Courtesy: assambengalnavigation
A cruise in the mighty Brahmaputra River is all you need to wrap up your winter journey in this mystical land called- Assam. After all those fun and excitement this is the best way to relax and unwind sailing through one of the most powerful river, crossing many villages and interacting with the localities there who are so simple that you are sure to come back again to them.
When: October- April
Where: Assam Bengal Navigation (http://www.assambengalnavigation.com/assam-cruise.html)