TOUR CODE: AS-011: 1 Sister # ASSAM

Arrive Guwahati Airport ……..your gateway to the beautiful North East!!!! Our office representative shall meet & greet you @ airport & you shall be transferred to Shillong. Later arrive Shillong – ‘Scotland of the East’ & check into the hotel. Evening free for leisure, you can visit colorful Shillong markets. Overnight stay at Shillong. Specialty shopping at Shillong: Bara Bazaar & Police Bazaar - These markets also host the IEWDEH, the weekly local market. You can explore the markets for goodies that are locally produced like handicrafts, wooden items, bamboo artifacts and a very popular forest-made honey. Get your hands on some of the souvenirs typical to Shillong - hand-carved knives, Tibetan shawls, bamboo cutlery and artifacts. The Police Bazaar is known for its traditional Khasi silk skirts, called jain-sayem. Alsosavour the locally grown fruits, Sayang and Saflang, which are wrapped and sold in banana, leaves.

Early morning proceed to Shillong Peak (Subject to operation) for breakfast. Enroute diverse your route to visit the Asia’s Cleanest Village MAWLYNNONG – Located in the East Khasi hills, this village is known for its ‘Cleanliness’ & it’s a community based eco-tourism initiative! The village offers picturesque natural beauty, a short trek to the LIVING ROOT BRIDGE at a neighbouring village Riwai. The village also offers a sight of natural balancing rock, a strange natural phenomenon of a boulder balancing on another rock! Later continue your journey to Cherrapunjee. Later visit Mawsmai Cave, Mawsmai Falls, Seven Sisters Falls and Nohkalikai Falls. Later back to the hotel. Overnight stay at Shillong. Highlight: - Mawlynong Village (Single Decker Living Root Bridge).

Morning post breakfast, drive to GUWAHATI - the commercial capital city of the north-eastern state of Assam, formerly known as Pragjyotishpur (the City of Eastern Light). Enroute visit DON BOSCO MUSEUM - a unique venture of the Salesians of Don Bosco in North East India to develop expert facilities for the preservation and promotion of numerous beautiful and diverse indigenous cultures of the region. The Museum exhibits cultural artifacts thematically arranged from floor to floor in the different galleries along with excellent paintings depicting various aspects of the cultures of North East India forms. On arrival check in to hotel, post lunch Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Museum. In the evening enjoy the RIVER CRUISE over the river Brahmaputra (Optional cost). The longest river in India, the Brahmaputra, runs through the spectacular scenery of Assam and is an ideal introduction to river cruising in India. Overnight in Guwahati. Later back to the hotel. Overnight stay at Guwahati. Highlight: - Don Bosco Museum & Kamakhya Temple.

Morning after breakfast drive to Kaziranga. Enroute visit KAMAKHYA TEMPLE - Kamrup Kamhakhya has been the seat of the powerful tantrik cult in India. Situated atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, this temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas of the country. Rising to a modest height of 562 feet above the mighty river Brahmaputra, the hill on which the temple stands commands a magnificent view of the entire city. KAZIRANGA is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural environment. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK is situated in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. It is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds. Later on arrival in Kaziranga, check in to the hotel. After lunch– Enjoy a thrilling JEEP Safari in the park with our expert Naturalist. Evening free or one can explore the Crafts Centre & Assamese village on own. Overnight stay at Kaziranga. Highlight: - Jeep Safari (Not Included) & Kamakhya Temple.

Morning after breakfast depart by car for Majuli. Enroute we will cross the Namdang Stone Bridge (The Namdang bridge, cut out from a single solid rock over the Namdang River, was constructed by king Rudra Singha in 1703). We will reach Neemati Ghat and take a Ferry to Majuli. After approximately one and half hours of sailing we will arrive at Majuli Island (Majuli has been the cultural capital and the cradle of Assamese civilization for the past five hundred years. Although the origin of Majuli may be uncertain, it is known for a fact that the social reformer Sri. Sankaradev visited the island in the early sixteenth century. Sri Sankaradev propagated a form of Vaishnavism that was simpler and more accessible than the ritualistic Hinduism of the time. His approach was rooted in faith and prayer, and stressed on the cultural aspects of life and living. There was no idol worship or sacrifices - instead, he developed the dance-drama forms of the Bhawna and Ankiya-Nat, theatrical depictions of the triumph of good over evil, using as material, the Bhagawat, which he himself had written). Upon arrival, check-in at Cottage. Afternoon visit Uttar Kamalabari Satra. Also, witness the Monastery Dance performed by the monks of Uttarkamalabari Satra. Post visit, return to resort for dinner and overnight stay at Majuli. Highlight: - Vaishnavite Satras (SATRAS are charged additionally & Need to be Pre-Booked)

Morning after breakfast, today we will explore the rest of the important sites of Majuli covering Auniati Satra Founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, the Satra is famous for the "Paalnaam" (Monastery Prayer) and Apsara Dances (Dance of the Angels) and also its extensive assortment of ancient Assamese artifacts’, utensils, jewellery and handicrafts) and Natun Shamaguri Satra (Shamaguri Satra is a unique feature of Vaishnavism in Assam. Shamaguri is not only a hub of art, cultural and classical studies but is also famous for its unique art of mask making). Afternoon we will take you to Salmara Village to show the Art of Pottery Making (Pottery in Majuli is probably the single most important heritage of all. The potter’s wheel has not found its way till date. Pots are made with hand from beaten clay and burnt in driftwood fired kilns. Archeologists opine this to be a missing link between Mohenjo-Daro & Harappa civilization). The day would come to an end with a visit to Dhapak Village of the Mishing Tribes (Mishings are a plains tribe who prefer to have their settlements next to the Brahmaputra River. They are of the Arunachal hill tribe origin especially of the Adi tribes of the Abor hills of Arunachal Pradesh). Evening back to resort for dinner and overnight stay at Majuli. Highlight: - MISHING Tribes (Cultural Dance is charged additionally & Need to be Pre-Booked)

Morning after post breakfast drive Dibrugarh. Enroute Visit Gibbon Park, Tea research center in JORHAT, on arrival check in to the Hotel. Evening free for leisure and personal activity. O/N stay in hotel at Dibrugarh.

Assam is among the most sought after north eastern states in India for tourists. It is not only the amazing natural diversity and enticing wildlife that woo the travelers in this hilly state. The amalgamation of diverse culture and tribes having various ethnicities is also worth observing. The numerous tribes residing in Assam have primarily Mongolian origin and despite their cultural and religious differences, they co–exist in harmony. The Namphake village, located on banks of Burhidihing River, not far away from Dibrugarh is a prominent example of this. It is the home to the Tai Phake community in Assam.

After breakfast transfer to Dibrugarh airport for onward destination.