HERITAGE TEA RIDE-ASSAM

Duration

8DAYS / 7NIGHTS

Price

Cities

ARRIVE - DIBRUGARH, RUKMINI CRUISE, WAKRO ( ARUNACHAL PRADESH), SIBSAGAR – KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Itinerary
Overview
Inclusions
Exclusions
Highlights
Important Notes

DAY 01 ARRIVE - DIBRUGARH

Received at Dibrugarh airport and transferred to a Heritage Chang Bungalow (20 kms / 30 mins) in the midst of a tea estate. In the afternoon, take a short introductory ride around a tea estate. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow.

(Riding Time- 30 mins.)

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 haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. 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.
When the British established their tea plantations in the mid-19th century they quickly built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. One of the main features of these buildings has given rise to their name – Chang bungalows. Chang in the local language means “raised on stilts” and the design served multi purposes- to keep the house cool by allowing the breeze to blow underneath and to keep both water and animals out!

DAY 02 DIBRUGARH

After breakfast your ride takes through the rolling carpet of tea bushes and onto the banks of the Brahmaputra river – the best possible way to see the countryside as you journey unhurriedly and enjoy the thrill of riding along the beaches of the river and the grasslands, often encountering rural settlements. Lunch on a tree house. Afternoon at leisure. Evening, enjoy a cultural programme (Bihu Dance) on the lawns of the bungalow. Dinner and overnight at the Chang Bungalow.
Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. The people of Assam are very proud of its unique position among all other such dances of India. Except Bhangra (the popular folk dance of Punjab), no other folk dance in India can compete with the rhythmic exuberance of the Bihu dance.

DAY 03 DIBRUGARH

Today your ride takes through the lush green tea plantations of Ethelwold and Jalan nagar Tea Estate. Later we take a tea tour around a tea estate known for producing high quality CTC teas. Learn all about tea - its origin, how it is grown, all about tea tasting and its quality. Return to Chang Bungalow. Post lunch we drive to Digboi (80 kms/ 02 hrs), the first Oil town of South Asia. We visit the Oil Museum and the 2nd World War Allied Forces Cemetery where 200 graves are permanently maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Return to Dibrugarh for overnight stay at the Chang Bungalow. Digboi : Digboi is a small but wonderful town in Tinsukia district in the north-eastern part of the state of Assam, India. Petroleum oil was discovered here in late 19th century and the Digboi oilfield is one of the oldest oil fields. With a significant number of British professionals working for the Assam Oil Company as late as until the decade following the independence of India, Digboi has a legacy of well developed infrastructure and a number of bungalows unique to the town. It has a world class golf course with 18 holes as part of the Digboi Club. (Riding time during the day: 02 hrs)
Please note that 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. Factory also remains closed on Monday’s of the week.
Digboi Museum remains closed on Monday’s of the week.

DAY 04 AT - DIBRUGARH

Today your ride takes through a different tea plantation through the country side and paddy fields. Enjoy packed lunch. Return to the Chang Bungalow. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Chang Bungalow.
(Riding time during the day: 03 1/2 hrs)

DAY 05 DIBRUGARH – RUKMINI CRUISE

Post breakfast, the ride today takes you to the riverfront from where you embark on a boat cruise to a river island in the midst of the mighty Brahmaputra. A picnic lunch is organized. Enjoy kayaking on the river. Return late in the afternoon to the mainland. Evening at leisure/ free for shopping. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow. (Riding time during the day: 03 hrs)

DAY 06 DIBRUGARH – WAKRO ( ARUNACHAL PRADESH) SUGGESTED EXTENTION PROG NO- 1

We take a final short ride before you return home. Later in time drive to Dibrugarh airport to board flight for onward destination. (Riding time during the day : 45 mins)
After breakfast we go back on the trail that we rode on the 1st day for a final short ride. Later we drive to Wakro (190 kms / 4 hrs). Enroute visit Empong Village to see the Khampti tribes and also visit the Buddhist Gompa. Overnight at Purvi’s Mishmi Retreat at Wakro. (Traditional Mishmi huts) Khamptis are one of the major tribal inhabitants of the Lohit District. They are deeply influenced by buddhist ethics and morality. The Khamptis are Buddhists of the Theraveda School. They are the only tribe in Arunachal Pradesh who have their own script for the language. Traditionally, they live on the cultivation of paddy and other crops. The social structure of the Khamptis is well organized on the basis of clan or village determined by kinship or locality. Wakro (maximum valley altitude 2000m) is the homeland of the “Mishmis” one of the Mongoliod tribes of Tibeto-Burman origin. They speak their own dialect which varies from different groups. The three major Mishmi groups are “Idus” “Tarons” and the ‘Kamans’. Mishmis are very rich in culture and may be termed as a festival loving people. They believe any day of the year is auspicious for a ceremony if provisions exist. On these days animals are sacrificed. Mishmis are nature worshipers. Mishmi are the inhabitants of Lohit Districts and the border area of adjoining district. Mishmis are animist and believe in a number of higher spiritual beings. Kabeya, or Pharai in their traditional village council who exercise the judgment of any disputes comes to their society. The Mishmi society is divided into numbers of sub-tribes such as Idu -Mismis, Digaru Mishmi, Miju Mishmi with more or less distinctive characters on its dresses among themselves. This tribe can be easily distinguished from other by their typical hairstyle Their dresses reflect the artistic taste and the cultural thinking of the society. The male dress of Miju and Digaru consist of a sleeveless black or maroon coloured cloth with ornamental boarders and waist cloth with a embroidered flag in the front. They wear a head dress of woven cane. The women wear black skirts with coloured stripes reaching above the ankle and a beautiful embroidered bodice and a shawl. The also wear beautiful ornaments made of silver. The women keep themselves busy in weaving. The men are involved in making cane and bamboo products. The puffing of opium with the help of silver or wooden pipes by both men and women is the part and parcel of their tradition. These people may be termed as festive tribe. Reh is the most important festivals celebrated by Idu-Mishmis during 1st week of February. Purvi Mishmi Retreat: Surrounded by enchanting nature, this campsite comprises of four Mishmi traditional huts, each with two rooms one double bedded and one twin bedded. It can cater to a maximum group size of 16 pax. Four western toilets with provision of showers are not en-suite but conveniently located behind the huts. Hot water will be provided in buckets. There is a gazebo which provides for the common seating and dining area - an ideal getaway for the nature lover. In winter one can enjoy the view of the pristine show capped mountains from the camp site. The whole area abounds with orange plantations.

DAY 06 DIBRUGARH – SIBSAGAR – KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK SUGGESTED EXTENTION PROG NO- 2

After breakfast we go back on the trail that we rode on the 1st day for a final short ride Post breakfast we drive to Sivasagar (80kms / 2hrs) to visit the Ahom monuments and temples which encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty. Stop by a weekly market place enroute. (On Sundays only). After lunch at Sivasagar, we drive to Kaziranga National Park (140 kms / 3 hrs) and check in hotel for 02 nights. Dinner and overnight. Sivasagar was once the capital of the Ahom Kings. The Shans who came from Thailand through Northern Myanmar to this area in early 13th century, ruled for 600 years. The Siva Temple, built by the Ahoms, situated here is believed to be the tallest of all existing Hindu temples. The ruins of the Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historical town. Centuries, before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chieftains. In the town of Sivasagar, one can still see the remaining well preserved relics. The largest and the oldest ampi-theatre of Asia (Rang Ghar) is also another remarkable landmark in the history of Sivasagar. The Tai- Ahom Museum of Sivsagar contains some of the relics of the Ahom period like – swords, clothes, manuscripts and sundry artifacts Kaziranga National Park – A world Heritage site, is home to more than 75% of the world’s population of the great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. Kaziranga has a wide variety of fauna and avi fauna in a unique habitat. Grasslands, mainly comprise close tangled and thorny rattan cane, elephant grass and tall trees of the evergreen forest , interspersed with numerous water bodies, marshes and shallow pools. The main wildlife besides the Rhino comprise of the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Swamp Deer, Barking Deer, Hog Deer and Sambar. More than 400 species of birds are found in the park. Note : The park remains open from 1st Nov to 30th April only.