North East India
The North Eastern states of India are home to luscious jungles and woods. The landscape ranges from swamplands to deciduous to semi-rain forests to high altitude alpine. The result is a very different wildlife diversity.
This cluster of smaller states is almost separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh. Bhutan, China and Myanmar surround the region on the north and east.
Calcutta is the principal city. A surprising and vibrant mix of culture and beautiful colonial architecture. Bengali cuisine abounds including tempting cheese-based sweets and Kathi roll (kebab wrapped in dough).
In the north, Darjeeling is a delightful surprise. Sweeping tea estates, and spectacular scenery. The heat of the lower slopes of the Himalayas is relieved by moving up to the cooler hills.
A truly relaxing and rewarding experience is a cruise along the Brahmaputra River. The start is from Guwahati, a sizeable dusty city.
Set on the banks of the Brahmaputra River is the Kaziranga National Park. Entry to the park is most accessible from Assam. Assam is also home to Dibrugarh, one of the worlds tea capitals.
Kaziranga National Park covers some 430 square kilometres of varied terrain. Famous for its one-horned rhino, Kaziranga also has 86 tiger. The densest tiger population in India, although hard to spot in the dense jungle.
Key species to look out for:
- Wild Cats: Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Golden Cat, Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat and Leopard Cat.
- 9 Primate species including the Hoolock Gibbon the only ape found in India
- Wild buffalo, sambar, wild boar and endangered barasingha or swamp deer, owner of super impressive antlers.
- Red Panda
- Four hundred fifty species of birds including five species of Hornbills, colourful Trogons and Pheasants, pelicans and Pallas’s fishing eagle.
- Otters and dolphins
- Two most giant snakes in the world – reticulated python and rock python.
