ASSAM 06 Nights

Receive at Guwahati airport (suggest to take morning flight) and transfer to the hotel. Later drive to visit Srimanta Shankerdeva Kalashetra, The iconic old D.C. heritage Bungalow. In the evening enjoy sunset cruise on Alfresco Grand in the might River Brahmaputra (Subject to been operational on the day of visit) (time permitting). On arrival check in at the hotel for 01 night. Overnight at the hotel.
GUWAHATI - Situated on the southern bank of the River Brahmaputra in the Kamrup District of Assam, Guwahati is a fast growing premier city. It is the gate way to the North Eastern States of India and a principal center of socio cultural, political, industrial and trade and commerce of the entire region. Dispur, the capital of Assam is a part of Guwahati. In earlier years, this city was full of areca nut trees rappled by pan creepers. Hence this city subsequently got the name Guwahati. The word ‘Guwa’ in Assamese means areca nut and Hat means market.
The iconic old D.C.Bungalow in Panbazar, Guwahati has been renovated and named Bahniman Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre.
The Scottish styled bungalow was built in mid 1850s during the administration of British officer Captain Bogle. Located atop 'Borphukanar Tilla', a small hillock named after the famous Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, it is the site from where the Ahom forces planned and launched attacks on the Mughal army during the 'Battle of Saraighat' in 1671.
Srimanta Shankerdeva Kalashetra - a multi-art complex portrays the rich cultural diversity and life of Assam as well as that of the North-east. This art complex has been named after the greatest Vaishnava saint and the integrator of the Assamese society, which is why it is chosen as the venue for many cultural activities. Enjoy the sound and light programme on the history of the region here.
SUNSET CRUISE
Reporting Time: 4:30 PM
Cruise Time: 5:00 PM To 6:00 PM
Duration: 1 Hour

Post breakfast drive to Kaziranga (230 kms/4½ hrs). En route visit the Kamakhya temple, Sualkuchi Silk Village and Hajo. On arrival check in at the hotel at Kaziranga for 02 nights.
Kamakhya Temple - Situated atop the Nilachal hills, the foremost shrine of Assam, Kamakhya Temple dominates Guwahati, as much as the great Brahmaputra river. This temple is an ancient seat of tantric and shakti cults of Hinduism. Kamakhya is the base of worship of Ten Goddesses of the Tantric Hinduism. Known as Dasa – Mahavidyas the ten Goddesses are Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari (Shodoshi), Bhuvaneshvari, Tripura Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. A rush of devotees throng the Temple during the Ambubachi Puja celebrated in June.
Sualkuchi - Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra, 35 kms north of Guwahati, Sualkuchi is a weaving village that produces some of the best silk in the state. This sleepy little village exudes a charm like no other. Almost every house has an adjacent shed (karkhana) that houses the traditional bamboo loom- the gentle click-clacking of which can be heard from the streets. You can walk into any of the numerous karkhanas and observe the talented weavers weaving intricate patterns on the golden Muga silk. In the early years of the 20th century, Sualkuchi was developed as a “crafts village”. Most of the funds for this development work came from eminent Gandhians across the country who responded to the “back to the villages” slogan of Gandhiji’s swadeshi drive. Although the weaving industry of Sualkuchi remained almost confined to the tanti community till the 1930’s , with encouragement from the government, people from other communities also took up silk weaving. There are about 17000 silk looms in Sualkuchi producing an eclectic range of silk products. Most of Sualkuchi’s silk is woven into mekhela-chadars and gamosas. Owing to the increasing demand , the weavers of Sualkuchi have diversified to saris, shawls and dress material. The silk weaving of Sualkuchi provides direct and indirect employment to more than 25,000 people throughout the year.
Hajo – the meeting point of Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu faiths on the northern bank of river Brahmaputra, has a number of temples The chief among them being the Hayagrib Madhab Temple – a place of pilgrimage both for the Hindus and the Buddhists. Hajo’s bell-metal work is renowned for the interesting artifacts made by local craftsmen.
KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Elephants, Royal Bengal Tigers, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park. To name a few- Swamp Francolin, Great Hornbill, Pallas Fish Eagle, Pied Falconets, Greater Adjutant Stork, Long Billed Vulture. There is no telling what one might find in Kaziranga but it is always a great experience. The specialty here is the Blue naped pitta among a host of Raptors and Waterfowl. The adjoining buffer areas are worth a try too, as numerous rare sightings are reported regularly.

Today post breakfast full day game drive inside the park with morning and afternoon jeep safari.
Later in the evening option to visit the Kaziranga Orchid Park cum Biodiversity Conservation Centre and enjoy a cultural evening. Overnight at hotel.
JEEP SAFARI-
Forenoon: Entry time between 0700 to 1000 Hours. No entry after 1000 Hrs . Return back latest by 1130 hrs.
Afternoon: Entry time between 1330 to 1500 Hours. No entry after 1500 Hrs . Return back before sunset.
Jeep Safaris are permitted on pre-defined tourist circuits within Kaziranga National Park- currently at the following four points. Each of these circuits takes about one and half to two and half hours (or even more depending upon interest of the tourists), subject to local range conditions and weather. Jeep Safari may be cancelled / curtailed due to any reason by the Park Authorities without prior notice.
1. Mihimukh in Central Range at Kohora
2. Bagori in Western Range at Bagori
3. Agaratoli in Eastern Range at Agaratoli
4. Ghorakati in Burapahar Range at Ghorakhati
The Central Range passes through the entire habitat spectrum from ox-bow lakes, savannah woodland to swamp forests. It is very good for mammal sightings as well as for birds (Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Great Hornbill, Rufous Woodpecker). While driving along the trail, one can see rows of Indian Roofed and Tent Turtles (Kachuga tecta and Kachuga tentoria). Water Monitors Varanus salvator are sometimes spotted in the beels.
The Eastern Range abounds in water birds such as bar-headed geese, falcated duck, grey-headed lapwing and spot-billed pelican (a colony of 200 pairs of this globally threatened species nesting on the Bombax trees can be found here).
The Western Range has the highest density of rhinos as this part of the park is swampier. It has grassland birds and raptors (swamp francolin, pallas's fish eagle etc). Smooth Indian Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) can sometimes be seen fishing in it’s ox-bow lakes.
The Kaziranga Orchid Park cum Biodiversity Conservation Centre is spread across 16 bighas of land. It also has a photo gallery of 500 orchids, a greenhouse, lakes with boating and angling facilities and small tree-houses, among other attractions. The basic purpose of opening this park was to conserve local varieties of orchids, flowers, fruits, fish and also to spread cultural awareness knowledge . Those visiting the park will also be able to taste juices of local fruits, pithas (local cakes) and enjoy Borgeet and Xattriya dance performances as well. Experts have been involved to give shape to the park. Khonjit Gogoi, a teacher who has been preserving orchids for the past 20 years pitched in to shape the park. As did Mahan Bora, a farmer, with his 10-year experience in collecting paddy varieties, Kunti Bora, an expert in medicinal plants, who helped in opening a medicinal plants sales counter, Bihu expert, Dhaneswar Saikia who showcases the original Bihu dance forms and music while Xattriya expert, Biplob Baruah for Xattriya dance training.

Today post breakfast drive to Neemati ghat (80 kms / 02 hrs) for a ferry boat crossing (1hr downstream boat cruise – the time taken depends upon the water level of the river) to Majuli – the largest river island in the world famous for the Vaishnavite satras or monasteries (kamalabari satra, Shamaguri Satra, Auniati Satra and many more) and culture. It is nestled between the confluence of the Subanshsiri and the Brahmaputra River. Visit monasteries and interface with the tribes on the island.
Later in the afternoon ferry back to mainland and overnight at jorhat.
MAJULI ISLAND - A World Heritage Site, is located in the Brahmaputra River and is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world. The island has long served as a monastic retreat to the Vaishnavite community and is known for its beautiful rural setting and traditional Assamese and Mishing architecture. Majuli, is the largest freshwater river island (1250 sq km) in the world and is contesting for a position in the "World Heritage” list. It is located 20 kilometers from the city of Jorhat, Assam. Since water bodies cover most of the island, it attracts a number of local and migratory birds. About twenty six Satras or cultural houses of power are located in Majuli- of which the Kamalabari, Auniati and Garmur are worth a mention. These Satras propogate the religious ideology of medeival Assam’s Vaisnavite saints like Sankardev and Madhavdev.
Shamaguri Satra- The Satra is famous worldwide for its Mask-making tradition. Henghul Haithal Painting: The masks and boats are painted with a special coloring matter called Hengul Haithal. This painting process is called Hengul Haithal painting. Hengul means vermilion and Haithal means the yellow orpiment. Hengul Haithal is a mixture of minerals, vermilion and yellow orpiment, indigo and pale soil . At the early stage the ash of the skull of bottle gourd is used for black coloring. After this, charcoal is used in this process. A type of gum mixed in Hengul Haithal, which is found in the seeds of the wood-apple. It is a long process, where red color found from vermilion, yellow from orpiment, blue from indigo and white from pale soil are sourced. One week to a month is required to process the required colours. All the ingredients of Hengul Haithal paints are ground in a stone slab. The intensity and quality of the colors depend on how well the ingredients are mixed & ground. These paints are stored in a vessel made of bamboo . The painters also use appliances like brushes made from feathers of pigeon, hair of goat etc. The Sattra Institute of Majuli is famous for this painting. It is used in making masks and wall paintings.
Auniati Satra - Founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, the Satra is famous for "Paalnaam" and Apsara dances. Also remarkable is it's extensive assortment of ancient artefacts, Assamese old utensils, jewellery and handicrafts.
Dakhinpat Satra - Founded by Banamalidev, an exponent of Raasleela, which is now observed as one of the main festivals of Assam. During Rasotsava several thousand devotees visit these holy Satras every year.
Kamalabari Satra - Founded by Bedulapadma Ata, it is a centre of art, culture, literature and classical studies. The finest boats on the island are made here. It's branch, Uttar Kamalabari Satra, has showcased the Satria Art in several states of India and abroad.
The Mishings - The Mishings belong to the Tibeto-Burman clan of the Mongoloid race. It's not known exactly where they migrated from, but it is believed that they were dwellers of the hills of present day Arunachal Pradesh. This explains the cultural and linguistic similarities they have with the people of the Adi (erstwhile Abor) tribe, and to some extent of the Hill Miri and Dafla tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Somewhere around the 13th century, they started migrating towards the plains of Assam, most probably in search of fertile land. This exodus continued for at least 2-3 centuries. As fate would have it, they found one of the most fertile river-beds (that of the mighty Brahmaputra) and settled on both banks along the length of the river, starting right from Sadiya in the east, to Jorhat in the west. They continued their practice of living in thatched houses raised on bamboo stilts, known as chang ghars. It was a protection against flood waters during the rainy season, although the original logic behind raised houses was protection from wild beasts. The yearly floods ensured that the Misings lived a life of abject poverty and misery. Agriculture being their main occupation, floods affect them in more ways than one. Their chief festival is Ali-Aye-Ligang, held in the month of February, which celebrates the agricultural harvest. Most Mishings follow both the Donyi-Polo and Hindu religions, but some Mishings also follow the Catholic or Baptist faith. The language of the Misings is known as Mishing language.
JORHAT - Jorhat is the gateway to the state of Nagaland & to Majuli, the largest river island. It was the last capital of the Ahom Kingdom and is home to many historical monuments. Jorhat is another tea hub in the Upper Assam region. Many small and big tea estates surround this town. Cinnamora Tea Estate - the first commercial tea estate, was planted by the British in this area.. Jorhat also boasts of the Tea Experimental Station at Tocklai, where tea scientists continuously endeavor to introduce new and better agricultural practices- some of which include developing of new clones and saplings.

Today post breakfast drive to Dibrugarh (140kms/03hrs). Enroute we visit Dhekiakhowa Bornamghor, the Ahom monuments temples at Sivasagar which encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty and Hemprabha Chutia -The weaving woman (Subject to availability). On arrival check in at Mancotta / Chowkidinghee Heritage Chang Bungalow for 02 nights.
Dhekiakhowa Bornamghor is a namghar (prayer hall) in Jorhat, Assam, that was established by the saint-reformer Madhavdeva in 1461. He kindled an earthen lamp in 1461, which has been burning since then being religiously re-fueled by priests till date. It is located at Dhekiakhowa village of Jorhat, 15 km east of Jorhat town.
The namghar is situated in a complex of facilities spread over 13 bighas of land and is maintained by a managing committee. It is funded with donations from devotees. Besides the maintenance of the complex, the managing committee sponsors various social and cultural programs.
There is an anecdote related to the name of Dhekiakhowa namghar- Guru Madhavdeva after taking up the duty of reforming people and spreading the Ekasharan Nam Dharma came to stay in this small and very poor village. He took shelter for the night in the hut of an old woman, who served him rice with Dhekia Saak (believed to be poor man's veggy, but a very popular and tasty ). Though the old woman was very embarrassed to have served the Saint guru a frugal meal as this, he was immensely pleased with the dinner. So he established a namghar there and gave the responsibility of kindling the earthen lamp to the old woman. Thus the namghar got it’s name- Dhekia khowa namghar. There are many stories associated with this Bornamghar. It is said that the main pillar of the namghar is made of a Sal tree. One night, one of the bhakats (monk) of the namghar dreamt that the river near the Bor namghar (known as Dhekiakhowa jaam ) was flowing in the opposite direction and was carrying a Sal tree meant for the construction of the Bor namghar. This was uncannily true. So the next morning when the villagers learnt of it, they decided to make the main pillars of the Bor namghar from this tree. The lamp in Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar lamp is said to have been burning since 1461.
SIVASAGAR was once the capital of the Ahom Kings. The Shans who came from Thailand through Northern Myanmar to this area in the early 13th century, ruled from here for 600 years. Thus the ruins of Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historical town. The Siva Temple situated in Sibsagar was built by the Ahoms and is believed to be the tallest of all existing hindu temples. Centuries, before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chieftains.
Shiva Dol and Shiva Sagar (tank): A huge 125 acres water tank was built in Sibsagar by Queen Ambika in 1734AD. On its bank are three temples – Shivdol, the most important of three, attracts a large number of devotees on Shivaratri. It is probably the loftiest Shiva temple in the country.
Rang Ghar: It remains Asia's largest amphitheatre and was the cultural playground of the Ahom Swargadeos or kings. It was constructed in 1746 during the reign of King Pramatta Singha. The king and his officers would sit in the auditorium and watch indigenous games like wrestling, birds' fight, buffalo fights and more. There is a beautiful park near the ancient royal auditorium which enhances its picturesque setting.
Talatal Ghar: Ahom architecture over the centuries has resulted in some very defining edifices. The Talatal Ghar at Sivasagar is a seven storied building with four floors below the ground and three floors above the ground- an amazing palace for the Ahom Kings but at the same time an exceptional architectural concept given the period of history in which it was built

Hemprabha Chutia (The weaving woman) lives in Moran ( Dibrugarh district of Assam),India. She is known as The weaving woman because she has taken the art of weaving to new heights by weaving several epics in silk. She initially wove Sankardev's 'Gunamala' and Madhavdev's 'Naam Ghosa'. Later, progressed to weaving the entire Bhagavad Gita, which measured 150 ft., in Sanskrit using muga silk . Currently, she is weaving The Ramayana- has already been working on it for the past 3 years. Not surprisingly, she has been awarded various prestigious awards for her incredible work - Bakul Bon award, Aai Kanaklata award and the state government’s Handloom and Textile award.
DIBRUGARH - Dibrugarh is the gateway to the “hidden land” of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Northern Myanmar. The Ahoms from Thailand came through Northern Myanmar to this area in the 13th century to establish their empire which thrived in the ancient land of Assam. It is the “Camellia” town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed , unspoiled and undistributed paradise on earth with breath- taking scenic beauty surrounded by a lush green expanse of tea plantatons. Tea incidentally is a variety of the camellia plant. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows. These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.
In Dibrugarh, Purvi Discovery provides to you, two of its well appointed mid 19th century Chang Bungalows constructed on stilts, Chowkidinghee Chang Bungalow is one such heritage bungalow which welcomes you to Dibrugarh- the “camellia” country! It is ideally suited for a private family holiday allowing you to experience the luxurious raj period hospitality that the British manager and his memsahib enjoyed. When the British established tea plantations in the mid-19th century, they built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. Mancotta Chang Bungalow is another heritage property located on the outskirts of Dibrugarh town. It is conveniently accessible from both Dibrugarh railway station and Dibrugarh airport. It provides a base for a unique holiday set amidst the tea plantations.

Today early morning breakfast we drive to Tinsukia (01 hr) and take a boat ride at Maguri Beel on a country boat to see some birdlife.

Later we visit Lemon village Cheleng Chuk and Namphake Village at Naharkatiya, inhabited by the Tai Phakial people. Visit the Buddhist Monastery at the village and also interact with the local people to know more about their rich tradition and culture. Late in the afternoon return back to Dibrugarh

TINSUKIA - The ancient name of Tinsukia was Bangmara and was also originally known as Changmai Pathar. It was the capital of the Muttack Kingdom. Bangmara city was built by King Sarbananda Singha with the help of his Minister Gopinath Barbaruah alias Godha. The city was built originally in the middle of where the present Tinsukia city is situated (near Senairam H.S. School). As legend goes- Sarbananda Singha, asked Godha Baruah to dig a triangular shaped pond in Bangmara which is now known as "Tinikunia Pukhuri". In 1884 a Dibru-Sadiya Rail line was constructed, and a station was setup near "Tinikunia Phukhuri"- this was subsequently christened Tinsukia. Since then the city is known as Tinsukia.

Maguri-Motapung Beel – is in Tinsukia District of Assam. It is a wetland complex which is part of Dibru Saikhowa , and is located just outside the Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve. Maguri-Motapung Beel is located in the southern bank of the Dibru River, ‘Beel’ is the local name for a lake with marshy areas around it’s edges. The Beel is connected to the Dibru River by a system of channels and is very rich in aquatic life especially waterfowl and grassland birds. Best time to visit is November to March.

Cheleng Chuk is a remote village situated about 67 kms from Dibrugarh on the way to Naharkatia . It is about 8 km from Naharkatia Moran Tinali . The village comprises of about 125 houses with a population of 1000 approximately. The people of this village belong to Assamese community. They are mainly engage in agriculture and is the main source of their livelihood. This village is also known as The ‘Lemon Village’ as they producing Assam’s two famous varieties of Lemon, ‘Gol Nemu’ & ‘Kaji Nemu’ in abundance. During season they earn a lot by selling lemon and even export to foreign countries.
Mrs. Jaanmoni Gogoi a resident of this village is presently running a nursery with the name Gogoi Seuj Nursery which is looked after by the women of the village. The women are mainly engage in making different varieties of pickle, jam and juice on a natural way from the organic fruits.
In the village most of the household has their own loom and they weave varieties of traditional cloths. People also can enjoy their local culture, cuisine and witness the traditional cloths weaving process in the village.

The other attraction nearby is the Merbill in Sasoni , is a naturally formed water body and is considered to be a popular eco-tourism destination. One can enjoy birding on a country boat.
Namphake Village is the largest of the Tai-Phake villages in Assam, boasting 70 odd families, which trace their ancestry to the great Tai race. The village folk speak a dialect similar to the language in Thailand and still follow the traditional customs and dress code of the great Tai race. The hamlet is also home to the Namphake Buddhist Monastery, one of the oldest and most respected Buddhist Monasteries in Assam. They are Buddhist in religion. They have their own separate scripts and has also preserved in a few manuscripts, which are mainly religious scriptures. These manuscripts are written in Tai-scripts, which are preserved in their village Vihars.

Today post breakfast take a Tea Tour at around a tea estate known for producing high quality teas i.e. Ethewold Tea Estate. Also experience a tea tasting session of different types of tea with a knowledgeable person in the field of tea / practicing estate manager. (Suggest to take afternoon flight)
Later in time transfer to Dibrugarh airport to board flight for onward destination
A TEA TOUR through a 160 years old heritage tea garden will give you an insight into the different activities that vary from season to season. It will teach you all about tea- its origin, how it is grown, tea tasting and its quality. The estates come alive with teams of colourfully dressed tea pluckers, predominantly ladies, who pluck the delicate buds and leaves. The harvest is taken every day to the factory where it undergoes an age old process of being turned into the finished product. All stages of the process are carefully controlled to ensure that the product which leaves the factory is only of the highest quality, a quality that has made Assam tea world famous.
CTC (Crush, Tear and Curl) tea is a method of processing tea. In this process the leaves instead of being rolled, are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of small sharp "teeth" that Crush, Tear, and Curl. This style of manufacture has the advantage that the finished product brews quickly, gives a dark infusion rapidly, is well suited for tea bags, and yields more cups per kg. In the Indian domestic market, this product has virtually taken over - over 80% of the tea produced is of the CTC type. It produces a rich red-brown color when the tea leaves are boiled and so is best suited for tea made in the Indian style. This is done by boiling leaves in a mixture of milk, water and sugar and some spices (producing Masala Chai).
Note - Visit to a tea factory is subject to it being operational on the day of the visit. There is no tea plucking between December till mid March and hence the actual manufacturing process of tea cannot be demonstrated when one visits the factory during this period. The factory also remains closed on Monday’s of the week. However one can still visit the tea plantation, tea factory and enjoy a tea tasting session.