Assamese Dishes You Must Try While Traveling

What comes to your mind when you think about traveling to Assam? Most people think about the natural beauty, abundant wildlife, culture and heritage of the land. While all of those are indeed incredible, you should not overlook the delicious delicacies that Assam offers. 

During your Assam tour plan, you have to think beyond the much-hyped food like pork with the bamboo shoot if you truly want to explore Assamese cuisine. Check the following list of dishes and make sure to try all of them while you are traveling in Assam.

Omita Khar

Khar is the extract that Assamese people make from the banana peel ash. Even though it might sound a bit repulsive, Khar works just like sodium bicarbonate. Omita Khar is a traditional dish which you should include in your northeast holiday packages. Khar adds a sweet aroma to this already aromatic dish and makes the dish taste better.

Masor Tenga

This dish is bound to make you remember the glowy days of summer. This dish is made of large pieces of fish and dried mangosteen. The dried mangosteen offers a unique taste and smell to the dish that creates a huge difference between this dish and the regular fish curry that you can find in other parts of the country. In absence of the dried mangosteen, the dish can also be made with Kazi nimbu. This is a must-try dish for travelers who wants to taste the traditional dishes.

Duck with Kumura

Duck is one of the most popular meats in Assam. You can find different Assamese dishes which are made of duck. However, this dish is different from most. The sweet and mild fragrance of white gourd makes all the difference. The natural aroma of this vegetable complements the aroma of duck meat. It is one of the rare spicy dishes of Assam which you must try during your visit.

Dhekia Xaak

Fiddlehead fern is commonly known as dhekia xaag in Assam. It is one of the most common vegetables that most people in Assam love to eat. The dish is particularly cooked in spring. The vegetable is the signature of spring and the upcoming days of summer. This dish is cooked along with tomatoes, dried shrimps, and dried mangosteen, and can be eaten with rice or roti as well.

Unlike the rest of Indian dishes, most of the Assamese dishes are not that spicy. So, even if you are familiar with the dishes of mainland India, Assamese cuisine can still pleasantly surprise you. So, while you are there, don’t restrain yourself to adventure a bit when it comes to cuisine.

Places to Visit While in Tawang

Northeastern states of India are one of the lest traveled areas. The local, as well as the foreign travelers, give these states a pass when planning their journey. The remoteness of the states, the eclectic climate and the steep Himalayas are more than enough to discourage the travelers from even venturing to these places. Somehow, all these things have become a blessing for the northeastern states of India. Mother nature does not have to fight the sharpening claws of human development as of today. That is why the beauty you witness in northeast India tour packages is incomparable.

Tawang is one of the top places of Northeast India which enthrals the travelers of across the world with its breathtaking beauty. If you don’t consider the Assam trip cost, and  travel to the farthest corner of north-east India, don’t forget to pay a visit to Tawang. Check the names of the following places to make sure you visit them while you are there. 

Tawang Monastery

Known as the land of Monpa tribe, Tamang is home to the largest monastery of India. Situated on a hilltop, this monastery overlooks the entire Tawang township as well as the district. This monastery is known to be the hub of the Buddhist traditions and cultures and also Buddhist politics. The monastery was established in 1680 to preach Buddhism. It continues to do that. This monastery is home to hundreds of trainee lamas.

Urgelling Monastery

This 400 years old monastery is the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. The Mongols destroyed this monastery while attacking India. The impacts of the battle between the Bhutanese and the Tibetan can still be seen in this old place. In the premises of this monastery, there is an old tree known to be planted by the sixth Dalai Lama himself. Now, the locals worship and revere the tree.

War Memorial

This is not a happy place for travelers to visit. Nonetheless, they should do the same. The war memorial reminds the vengeful and violent humans of today of the cost of the war. It also reminds us of the courage and the valor of the soldiers who fought the Indo-Chinese war. Pay your respect to the beautiful stupa of the memorial, and wish that war never takes place in the world anymore.

It is hard to list all the surreal places you get to visit while traveling to Tawang. However, this above list can give a start. You can pile on a bit of research and find some more spectacular places to add on this list.

Things You Can Do While In Sivasagar

Are you traveling to Assam in your vacation? Have you ever heard about Sivasagar? Located in the confluence of Lohit River and the Brahmaputra, Sivasagar is one of the most beautiful places of Assam. Apart from the ethereal beauty of the place, Saivasagar is also known for its cultural and traditional heritage. The Dehning rainforest around Sivasagar creates an amazing landscape. The travelers can walk through the wild trails of the rainforest to get in touch with nature.

In the ancient time, Sivasagar was one of the most important places of Ahom Kingdom. From 1699 to 1788, it was the capital of the kingdom as well. You can witness the traces of the former glory of this now the quiet Assam travelling place in the ruins that stands even today.

Visit Rang Ghar

You need to visit Rang Ghar while traveling to Shivasagar. During Northeast India travel, you can see a two-storied royal pavilion, that the kings and queens of Ahom Kingdom used to see the ongoing sports events. In ancient times, the venue was used to host cultural programs and animal fights.

The building was first created using bamboo and wood. Later, it was rebuilt with using brick and mortar. The stunning architecture of the place is breathtaking.

SivSagar Sivadol

In the bank of the SivaSagar tank stands the famous temple known as the Sivasagar Sivadom. As the name suggests, the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. However, the devotees can find the idols of Lord Vishnu, and goddess Durga as well.

Sivadol is one of the biggest and oldest Shiva temple in Asia. According to the locals, the temple was built in 1730. Even today, you can spot the Shikhara architectural style in the temple, which is also known as the primary style of Hindu architecture. It does not matter whether you want to offer your payers, or just to check the amazing architecture, a visit to Shivadol will be worthwhile.

Talatal Ghar

You must make it a point to visit Talatal Ghar, which is a marvellous underground 18th-century palace. It was built to be used as an army base and is one of the most stunning examples of Tai Ahom architecture.
A journey to the historical and ancient ruins and temples of Sivasagar is truly humbling to any traveler. The place will help you to understand the deep impact of ancient cultures and traditions that generates the modern-day culture of India. If you want to find the route of the amazing diverse culture of India today, you have to take a trip to Sivasagar.

Things to Know Before starting for Arunachal Pradesh

Are you checking out Arunachal Pradesh tourist places for your next vacation? There’s no doubt that Arunachal is the best place for anyone to break the stale daily routine of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The silence of the place penetrates your soul and give it the much-needed recluse it craves in the hustle-bustle of daily life. If you are to reenergize your soul, then planning a trip to Arunachal is the best thing you can do.

However, there are some things that you need to know before starting the journey. Take a look at the following information and make sure to cover them all to have a safe and smooth Arunachal Pradesh travel plan.

Inner Line Permit

As Arunachal Pradesh is a frontier state, the government has set some strict rules for anyone who wants to enter the state. You should follow these rules if you want to have a hassle-free journey. So, to enter the state, you have to get an inner line permit.

It does not matter whether you are a native traveller or a foreign one, this permit is mandatory for all. Previously, the application process was a bit chaotic. Now, however, the government has started taking ILP application through the internet. You only have to possess a valid e-mail id and phone number to apply for the permit. Start your journey for Arunachal only after getting the ILP in your hand.

Road Travel

Road travel is the only convenient way to move from one part to the other in Arunachal Pradesh. The trouble is, the condition of these roads are not that rosy. So, you need to calculate a lot of extra time for your journey than you think is necessary. If you are not travelling in a private car, keep enough time in your hands as the local transport is pretty infrequent.

Mobile Network

Being the remotest state of the country, Arunachal has possibly the worst mobile network connections. The connection is good in the cities, but the speed and connectivity of the internet changes depending on the places you are travelling. You will not get any connection while visiting Madhuri Lake and Bumla Pass.

These are some of the most important factors you should know before starting the journey. If you want to know more such travel tips, do research on the internet or talk to professional travel companies. They will be able to inform you about the adversities you might face there.

Souvenirs You Can Buy from Assam

Are you ready to plan a trip to Assam? Do you also know the things you should buy as souvenirs from here? The journey of any traveller is incomplete without buying a souvenir or two. It does not matter whether you want to buy the pieces for yourself or your friends and family, souvenirs reserve the essence of the place in them. While we understand that the taste of every individual is different, we wanted to jot down a list of mementoes that you can bring back from your Assam trip. Take a look.

Tea Leaves

Assam is famous in the whole world for its exotic tea. The unique smell and strong taste of Assam Tea have helped it to make its mark in the world. You can find tea in almost every tourist places near Guwahati.

It is better to buy tea leaves after having a tea tasting session in any of the tea gardens of the state. In this way, you will be able to buy the tea leaves that you loved the most. If you are not a tea connoisseur, then you can buy the leaves from reputed shops of any market in Assam.

Assam Silk

Indeed, there are many states of India that produce silks of different types, but those are not muga silk. This particular silk is only produced in Assam. The quality, finesse, and strength of the muga silk have made it famous all over the world. This is the reason for the sky-high price of this silk. Apart from muga, you can find eri and pat silk in Assam.  

Handicraft

Northeastern states of India is known for their handmade crafts. Being the gateway of the seven sister states, Assam hosts the handicrafts made by the tribal people of other states. You can choose wooden or bamboo products as well as metal-crafts and pottery.

Pickles

Pickles of northeastern states of India are completely different from pickles of other regions. Local herbs are used as the main ingredient of these pickles, which gives the pickles a unique taste. You can pick different variants like beef, pork, sesame, chicken, bamboo shoots and whatnot.

So, these are some things that you can get for you or your loved ones from your trip to the northeastern states of India. While travelling, you will find many such interesting things to buy for yourself or your family members. See if those items match your taste and buy them as the souvenir of the journey.

Dishes You Must-Try While Traveling to North East India

What is your motivation for north-east India travel? Many travellers have different goals for their journey to the northeastern parts of India. Some make the journey to witness the abundant beauty of nature, while others travel to these parts to know more about the lifestyles of the aboriginal people of the states.

If you don’t care for all these and have a true love for food, then also you can take a trip to the farthest part of India. If you are really up for the gastronomic journey, then make sure to taste these following dishes from the northeast India travel blog.   

Smoked Pork with Bamboo Shoot

Smoked pork is one of the delicacies of the northeastern parts of India. You can find this pork in almost every dish that you taste over here. However, the preparation that is made with bamboo shoots is the best one according to the foodies. The ingredients of the dish are quite simple. Apart from the pork, it only requires bamboo shoots and buht jolokia chillies. The dish does not sound like much, but you will be surprised by the punch of the flavours it caters.

Narasingha Masor Jol

This is one of the greatest delicacies of Assam. This is a fish dish cooked in a paste of curry leaves. While the curry leaves are used as the main spice in the South Indian dishes, this one tastes different. If you don’t like the smell of the curry leaves, then try Masor Tenga instead. This fish dish is equally delicious.

Galho

If you have travelled to other states of India, you might have tested this dish which is known as khichdi. The only difference between traditional khichdi and galho is meat. Khichdi is predominantly a vegetarian dish, while galho is a non-vegetarian one.

This is not the only tweak the northeastern version of khichdi has. Apart from adding smoked pork or beef, people add fermented soybean to enhance the flavour of the dish. Some even add pork fat to enhance the tang of the dish. All in all, if you are looking for something delicious yet wholesome, then this is the dish that you should try.

These are only a handful of dishes from the vast number of delicacies that you can taste in northeastern states of India. As these dishes do not contain much spice, people of every age can try them without any problem. While travelling, you can explore on your own to find more such finger-licking good dishes.

Facts about North East India That You Should Know

Are you planning a trip to northeast India tourist places? Well, you should. The northeastern states of India are one of the most beautiful places in India, which is also one of the most underrated ones. Lush green forests, wildlife, abundant natural resources and colourful tribal people have made the seven sisters states even more interesting to the travellers who are not afraid to withstand little inconveniences while travelling through the lands.

If you are planning a trip to these offbeat destinations soon, you should check the following facts about north-east India first. It will offer you to choose the northeast India tour packages better while planning the journey.

The First Rays of Sun  

Have you ever wondered which state gets the first touch of the soft rays of the morning sun? Well, if you are interested in travelling to northeastern states, then you should know that it is a small village in Arunachal Pradesh, named Don, that gets the first light of the sun every day in our country. Visit the village if you want to witness this amazing event yourself.

Muga Silk

Have you ever heard of the golden silk or Muga silk of Assam? If you haven’t, then you should know that Assam is the only place that generates this type of silk and dress materials made from it. The fine quality, strength, and smooth texture of this silk have earned its global fame.

Raining Cats and Dogs

How would you feel if it rains day and night for months at a stretch in your home town? If your primary reaction is irritation, the just think how the people of Mawsynram feels during the monsoons. Known as the wettest place of the earth Mawsynram gets the most rainfall in the whole world. The extreme rain is a boon to the thriving forest in the area as well.

Being In Two Place at A Time

You don’t need a time machine to be in two different countries if you are travelling to the northeastern states of India. The Longwa Village of Nagaland in Mon district is located in the border of India and Myanmar. The border divides the village into two different halves. If you visit the village, you can be in two different countries at the same time.

Now that you know the interesting facts about the northeastern states, it is time for you to pack the bag and arrange your itinerary properly. If necessary, get in touch with professional travel agents to make better travel plans.