Even the 6 full days in Assam was not enough to cover everything, but we hit a few highlights. Including our first stop, Maa Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati!
Sunrise in Guwahati. Over the Maa Kamakhya Temple
Shillong and Cherrapunji
Mural in Shillong
Starting in Shillong, and Cherrapunji. With such a limited time in the area, we should have skipped the waterfalls, as they are practically non-existent in the months before the monsoon. Instead we visited the few trickles and spent a majority of the day in the car. The day-long trek to the root bridges would have been a better use of our time.
-
- Elephant Head Falls
-
- One of the five Waterfalls of the day
The brief stint in Shillong was followed by a day of travel to Kaziranga, and the promise of rhino sightings! From the start, this was the major draw of the northeast. After a bit of circus involving limited tickets and confusion as to nationality, we had tickets to the early morning Elephant Safari!
Rhino Safari!
Rising in the dark early morning hours, we got ready and set off in the misty, foggy dawn, towards the meeting point. Eager to see a rhinoceros, I clutched a camera and a phone, and we set off slowly ambling into the park. The only sounds were that of the mahouts and the others on their elephants. Then a whistle! Something was in the bush, and out charged a rhino! Off to find its friends. Over the next hour we spotting about a half-dozen grazing and wandering about. We also spotted elephants, deer, wild boar, and countless birds. An experience that we definitely worth the early wake-up call.
Rhino Sighting!!
With this we decided to not delay, and made straight for Majuli, easily the best decision of the trip.
Majuli
Getting to Majuli involved another drive, and then a hour-long ferry ride to the large island. When you first arrive, the island is nothing but a sand bar and taxis, ready to drive over the sand to one of the two major town. After a bumpy ride, we arrived on the main track and took in the sights. We were staying at a set of bamboo cottages, set just on the main street, in the midst of paddy fields. To reach, you had to cross a bridge over a small fish filled pond. Settling in was easy, and the place was perfect! We had a small cottage that had a large porch overlooking the pond, and two very comfortable chairs.
Majuli is a beautiful and quaint island that seems stuck in time. There isn’t much to do, other than meander through fields and spend hours just taking in the surroundings. It was easy to pass the time, reading, biking and chatting with the others staying in the cottages. If you are going to Assam, this is one place I strongly suggest you visit, and stay! It is the perfect place to just relax and unplug from everything else, especially since phone service is spotty.
-
- Woven Bamboo Fences
-
- A Woman Weaving at her Home
-
- Roads of Majuli
While my brother chose to spend most of his time reading, I set off a few times and explored a few of the sutra or temples that island is known for. Unlike the other religious spots in India, the sutras are practically deserted and very peaceful. Many had places for clay lamps and ponds filled with fish and turtles.
-
- Entrance to a Satra
-
- Garuda (Krishna’s Chariot) Watching over the Shrine at a Satra
-
- Drums at a Satra
Return to Reality
Our return trip was anything but peaceful. On the day we were meant to return, the ferry workers went on strike, so we were forced to return over land, making a 6 hour detour to come from the north! But we made it to the airport in time to catch the flight! Even with the drama, every minute spent on Majuli was worth all of the travel troubles that followed.
