Paradise of India, North-East: 2012

One touch of nature makes the whole world Beautiful !!!!

Posted by Aytreye
Friday, August 17, 2012

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.

Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature. ~Kelly Sheaffer

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite.

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

One of my favorite quote so far: Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come shining through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep believing, the dream that you wish will come true. - Cinderella

Shri Shri ‘Batadrawa Satra’

Posted by Aytreye
Friday, June 22, 2012

Visit to the birthplace of Shrimanta Sankardeva

"The Kirtan Ghar"

Stepping in the ‘Batadrawa Satra’ which is located at Batadrawa in Nagaon District of Assam makes me feel like walking into another world, and the noisy streets of the city suddenly seem to be very far away. Surrounded by huge and old green trees looking down at visitors, walls are adorned with colorful paintings depicting gods and demons. Entering the “Naamghar” or “Kirtanghar” (main prayer hall) where “naam prasanga” was going on, I found an immediately uplifting and soothing feeling. Many sat and prayed on rugs on the floor, while others bowed and placed offerings before the “Monikut” (raised platform) containing the “ Bhagwata Sastra” (Holy Book) without any idols in it. I sat in a corner cross-legged and felt the positivity of the atmosphere. The entire area was calm, and the ambiance was pure. The splendor of this place is further accentuated by the exuberant foliage of majestic trees and meandering garden.

Inside the premises the major attraction are “Akashiganga Lake”, a museum or an art gallery preserving age-old manuscripts, instruments and weapons. An open-air theatre where Traditional dances, musical recitals, dramas and such other cultural activities are held.

Museum or an art gallery

“Akashiganga” is a beautiful lake in the campus of the Batadrawa thaan. The lake got its name from a nearby waterfall. Akashiganga also finds mention as a "pithasthan" (a holy place associated with Shakti cult) in the Kalika Puran. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the lake by the Akashiganga waterfall. The site also offers a view of the Brahmaputra River from a distance.

"Akashiganga" Lake View

Batadrawa (also Bordowa) is the birthplace of Sankardeva, the greatest Vaishnava saint who is considered as the father of Assamese culture. A center of Vaishnava art and culture, this shrine is held in high veneration. Srimanta Sankardeva was a great scholar and literary genius. His eminent literary creation is the “Kirton-Ghosa”, an early Assamese poetical work. In “Gunamala” he had cryptically described the manifold qualities of Lord Krishna in a day to impress the Koch King Naranarayana. For most of his works, Srimanta Sankardeva used the Assamese language of the period so the lay person could read and understand them. But for dramatic effect in his songs and dramas he used Brajavali, an artificial mixture of Braj language and Assamese. His magnum opus is his Kirtana-ghosha containing narrative verses in praise of Lord Krishna and meant for community singing.

Dol-mandir

The Dol utsav, a Hindu festival that is celebrated in the day of Holi, On that occasion thousands of devotees visits “Doll -Mandir” at Batadrava. During this festival the devotees visit the shrine and offer colors (Holi) to the feet of Idol. The head of the family observes fast and prays to Lord Krishna and Agnidev. After all the traditional rituals are over, he smears Krishna’s idol with gulal and offers “bhog” to both Krishna and Agnidev. People purchase sweets and distribute each other on this festival. Dol-Purnima, the festival of colour is celebrated with great festivity and joy. On this day, people come out wearing pure white clothes. Certainly there are perennial rituals attached to Holi, the first is smearing of colored powder on each other, and throwing colored and scented water at each time

Finally, a worth visit to the ‘Batadrawa Satra’ great Assamese Religious place and a must visit for every assamese, God and the Gods are not a psychological product of the Hindu religious mind. They are far older than the universe and are the fountainheads of its galactic energies, shining stars and sunlit planets. They are loving overseers and custodians of the cosmos, earth and mankind.

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Sunset Views at "The Majestic Brahmaputra River"

Posted by Aytreye
Tuesday, June 5, 2012

SUNLIGHT ON THE BANKS OF BRAHMAPUTRA

Sunset view at Joypur, Guwahati

The mighty Brahmaputra known as 'Luhit' or 'Burha Luit' as like it’s directly run away from paradise; the river is often considered the most beautiful river in the country.

The river LUHIT known for its breathtaking alpine beauty and for its status as the most popular sport fishing river in the state. Brahmaputra flows at an average height of 400 In the Tibet and Himalayan region, this is highest for any major river in the world. Based upon the flow rate, Brahmaputra is the fifth strongest river in the world;
The Brahmaputra is everything that you imagine a picturesque river to be, It’s beautiful whether you’re into mountainous horizons and lush greenery, navigating through wild rapids or feeling the breeze across the calm and silent river. Wildlife and wilderness are the main features of a cruise in Assam on the vast Brahmaputra river . The river bed is often 20 or 30 km across, an empty world of sand spits and water with marvellous bird life and the occasional Dolphins. The cruises here also give access to a number of India’s National Parks, including Kaziranga, perhaps the finest of all, and Manas, a Project Tiger reserve on the Bhutan border. For a combination of antiquity and beauty the river provides a wide array of ways to explore history and culture, whether on its banks or on a riverboat cruise through its winding waterways. This is one of the classic ways to see huts popularly known as "SANG GHAR" along the riverbanks.

River View at Koliabhumura, Tezpur

If riverboat cruises are your thing, there are few better ways to explore some of the more stunning river areas. You get a combination of the local rural areas, metropolitan parts and very exotic temples. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife await here. Not to mention the peace and tranquility of a landscape associated with sages and meditation, people come for rafting & stay in tents at the beach side. Very photogenic & close to the nature.

Sunset View from Kachari, Guwahati.

The Brahmaputra is popularly also called as 'Luhit' or 'Burha Luit' in Assam. It is derived from the word 'Lohit' means 'blood' in Assamese. The river Brahmaputra and it's fertile valley is the lifeline of Assam. It's is the symbol of power and greatness for the people of Assam. But equally Brahmaputra has been destructing Assam every year with its devastating flood. The river's three names, the Brahmaputra (India), Yarlung Zangbo (Tibet), and Jamuna (Bangladesh), reflect the social fabric of ethnic groups and international community’s living along its banks. The river is considered to be a symbol of synthesis of people of all religions, castes and creeds. 'Majuli', the largest island created by a river also resides in the Brahmaputra. This river island is situated in Assam and around 100 km in length. Where Brahmaputra enters India is till date on the most remote and adventurous part of the world. The river flows rapidly down to the plains from a height of 4000 meters in this region. The rivers are considered to be female in India. But the Brahmaputra is the only male river in India.The Brahmaputra is one of those very few major rivers in the world which exhibit 'tidal bore'. It means incoming tides form waves that travel up the river against the direction of the current. This is what called a true 'tidal wave' in geography. This is one of the reasons behind Brahmaputra's enormous strength.

Sunset view at North Guwahati

River Brahmaputra is under the serious threat as a result of the growing Urbanization and industrialization. The river has been dying at an alarming rate due to the pollution created by the factories. Large number of industrial units operates from the river basins which are the main reason for the water pollution. The pollution concern around Guwahati is increasing day by day, and it's high time to stop it now or we will have to pay the consequences soon.

Rivers have been the lifelines of India’s ancient, pulsating, throbbing civilization. They have brought prosperity, culture, style, colour, values, wisdom, devotion, knowledge, romance, wonder and above all, a priceless spiritual heritage to the people of Assam for thousands of years.

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"The Green Tea Gardens of Assam Valley"

Posted by Aytreye
Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Green Quotient of Northeast

A much needed rejuvenating start to a day, Tea lovers around the world cherish the fresh Assam tea. It is a green paradise and is filled with beautiful lush covers of greenery. Tea gardens throughout the range of Assam valley is a natural beauty site. I am originally native of Upper Assam; it’s always my dream come true journey during my summer vacation, across those lush green tea-gardens all throughout my childhood when I used to visit my grand ma’s place at Jorhat.

A nature walk to the lush and verdant tea gardens, the beauty of the green tea garden offers a casual visitor with a subtle ambience, a mental and sensory quietude, rarely to be experienced elsewhere. Imagine yourself in a tea-plantation on a spring-scented evening, seated on the verandah of your bungalow, watching the twilight melt unhurriedly into the night. Surrounded by a veritable sea of verdure, stretching across all around as far as the eyes can see, and the tall shade trees standing watchful amongst them, like shepherds guarding their flocks of sheep. Green, they say, is the colour which soothes the eye. A tea-plantation, literally, is a sight for sore eyes!

Witness the workers plucking the tea leaves and working hard in the fields. Admire the deftness of their fingers as they pluck the delicate two leaves and a bud You can converse with them and have a cup of hot and spicy black tea with them. Apart from that you can simply relax in the calm and peaceful environment. The silence is so thick that you can reach out and touch it. Only a few sounds ripple through this pall of quietness. No trip to Upper Assam can be complete without a visit to one of the numerous tea-gardens that stand, lush and verdant, all around the valley. The tea gardens of Assam have a unique ambience, and a cultural entity that makes them stand apart from other such plantations elsewhere. Fresh and pollution-free, the atmosphere is invigorating. A visit to the gardens, as well as a trip to a garden factory to see the actual process of curing and preparing the leaves, is a very interesting experience.

Tea Workers plucking the tea leaves

Today Assam Valley is one of the largest tea growing areas of the world. There are more than 850 tea estates and more than 2500 tea gardens, Black tea of Assam having a rich, strong and a distinctive malty taste of favour very much known to outside Assam. BLACK tea, far different in taste and colour from the GREEN tea made in China. Each tea-garden in Assam has its own history, The both sides of famous river Brahmaputra, constitute the world's largest Tea growing area. Full bodied and malty flavoured Assam Tea offers bright liquor that is enjoyed by all Tea drinkers. It’s a worth visit to Tocklai in Jorhat, which is the world’s largest tea research institute. Tocklai campus is beautiful, with some ponds full of lotus and lilies and numerous tall and small trees dotted with seasonal flowers. It does research on all aspects of tea, right from the soil that it grows in to the way it is packaged and sold. It also comes out with new varieties of tea and new systems, methods and processes for processing the tea.

Tea Garden

In the month of November, Assam Tea festival is organized by the Assam tourism and is the completely unique experience which should not be missed. It gives the opportunity to make a visit to the magnificent tea gardens, enjoy the exciting river cruises. If fortunate, you might catch the tea tribes performing a Parab or festival. They celebrate a host of Parabs like Tusu parab, Karam puja, Saharal parab, Bir puja, Charul pujo, onosa puja and so on. These festivals are celebrated not only ritualistically, but also with dance, music and feasting. The songs sung during Karom puja for instance, are called Jhumur. The Jhumur songs are replete with enchanting descriptions of the beauty of Nature and express emotions like love, sorrow and joy.

When we start we also need to stop so, after driving through the lush greenery of the numerous tea growing estates that fill the landscape of Upper Assam, arrived at the destination.

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a green leaf harvest.

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Amazing Arunachal

Posted by Aytreye
Tuesday, March 27, 2012

***Arunachal Pradesh* *–said to be the land of mystical bliss.***

Being a traveller I got to see many wonders and attractions, the wavering rivers, the snow clad mountains, the stubborn plains, exclusive flora and fauna& the legendary cultural heritage. After travelling about 56 Kms from Tezpur, Assam & 213m above reached ‘Bhalukpung’ a well-known picnic spot is the entry point to Arunachal. A historical fort of 10th-12th Century AD is situated in the foothills of the region. The stone remains of the fort can be seen & the mighty river Kameng after completing all turbulent courses enters Bhalukpong provides rare opportunity of adventure tourism and added beauty to the beautiful picnic spot.

Entry

River meets the sky

Afterwards, travelling about 5 Kms from Bhalukpong is a botanical paradise of the state. “TIPI” home to about various species of orchids. Some of them are rare and endangered species. There is an orchid museum too. One can watch various snow clad mountain peaks from Bomdila, about 109 km from Bhalukpung including a bird’s eye view of Kangto and Gorichen Peaks, the highest peak of the state. Crossed “Dirang” the place of Hot water springs where people take bath for curing skin ailments, Apple and Kiwi orchards and Sangti Valley where Siberian black necked storks visit during winter are the places worth visiting. On the way to Twang, Sela Pass is the world’s second highest motor able pass at 14000 ft with a high altitude serene crystal blue water natural lake. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape is a dream come true feeling.

After a long travel of about 183 Kms from Bomdila & 3500 m above msl we reached Tawang , the perfect destination with natural beauty and solitude of Gudpi and Chong-Chugmi ranges and Tawang chu River and Valley. The main attraction here is the famous Tawang Monastery of the Gelukpa founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyaltso during the 17th century, and a contemporary of the 5th Dalai Lama, the second largest Monastery in Asia and the largest one of its kind in the country which controls 17 Gompas in the region. The most imposing part of the Monastery is the three storied assembly hall which houses the temple and the 28 ft high Golden statue of Buddha. Surrounded by beautiful natural Lakes, like the Sangetsar Lake with splendid natural beauty of the surroundings. It is home to snow pigeons and musk deers. PTso Lake is surrounded by a picturesque landscape.Other nice places to see in and around Twang are the War Memorial, Craft Centre and local markets.

Dirang

Than time to visit, “Itanagar” the capital itself is a heritage of rich archaeological sites of great historical value and built up resources and institutions of great socio-cultural significance. The main attraction of the city is the itafort, ‘the fort of bricks’ from which the State capital derives its name, is situated in the heart of the capital complex. The fort has an irregular shape, built mainly with bricks dating back to the 14th-15th Century. Gekar Sinyi (Ganga Lake) is a beautiful natural lake locally known as Gekar Sinyi (Confinedwater) surrounded by landmass of hard rock. Jawaharlal Nehru Museum has a rich collection of textiles, weaponry, household articles and handicrafts items reflecting the tribal culture and heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.Craft Centre & Emporium at Itanagar is worth visiting where one can see and buy local artefacts like Wall painting, traditional costumes made of natural vegetable and herbal dye yarns, and attractive utility items made of cane and bamboo.Zoological Park (Zoo) at Chimpu houses a variety of fauna including avi-faunal species.

Another destination last but not the least of this amazing tour: ‘Ziro’ about 167Km from Itanagar is a beautiful plateau and headquarter of Lower Subansiri District bounded on all sides by picturesque hills situated at an altitude of 5000 ft. The place has an imposing landscape of beautiful lush green forest, rivulets and elevated patches. Talley Valley (30 Kms from Hapoli old Ziro) is a rich habitat of many unique and endangered plants and wildlife. It is home to highly endangered species like clouded leopard.

So we ended up at zero, yet more left to explore in the land of amazing beauty Arunachal…it was a very refreshing and ever memorable visit after a long time.

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Paradise of India, North-East