Which are the 10 reasons that will make you fall in love with east India?

Here are 10 reasons that will make you fall in love with east India and will make you plan a holiday there right away. There’s a lot to be explored and discovered in this beautiful part of India.

1. Picturesque Lakes

The breathtakingly beautiful landscapes of Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim and and Loktak Lake in Manipur will leave you enthralled. The floating phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition that have thickened into a solid form) make Loktak Lake the world’s only floating lake.



Photo of Gurudongmar Lake (Soumyajit pramanick)

Photo of Loktak Lake in Manipur

2. Wildlife Galore

Discover your love for wildlife at the Kaziranga National Park and Kanchenjunga National Park. Kaziranga, a World Heritage Site, is the home of the Indian rhino and also has one of the highest densities of tigers in the country.

You can also find elephants, swamp deer and wild water buffaloes here. The Kanchenjunga National Park is home to musk deer, snow leopards and the Himalayan Tahr.

Photo of Kaziranga National Park

Photo of Kaziranga National Park (by scott1723)

Photo of Snow Leopard (by Tambako the Jaguar)

3. Mesmerizing Hills

The majestic Kangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga) is the third highest peak in the world and you can catch the best views of this spectacular peak from Gangtok and Darjeeling.

Photo of Kanchenjunga Peak (by proxygeek)

Photo of snow clad Himalayas near Gangtok Nathula Pass

4. Spiritual Monasteries and Temples

Find peace at the tranquil monasteries of Tawang and Rumtek, the famous monasteries in India, or seek the divine at the Kamakhya Temple, one of the revered temples in India.

Photo of Tawang Monastery

Photo of Kamakhya Temple

5. Colourful Festivals

There is no better time to experience the real flavours of Kolkata than during the Durga Pujas. Every nook and corner of the city is decked up to celebrate this grand 10-day festival.

Photo of Durga Puja Celebration (by Jonoikobangali)

The harvest festivals are celebrated with much pomp in the east. The Bihu festival, one of the most popular festivals of India, in Assam is something worth witnessing.

Photo of Bihu Celebration (by rajkumar1210)

The Hornbill festival in Nagaland is a huge tourist draw. Several tribes showcase their warring, dancing and hunting skills at this festival.

Photo of Hornbill Festival (from Official Facebook Page)

No wonder then, these interesting and unique festivals are included in the 10 reasons that will make you fall in love with east India.

6. Gushing Waterfalls

Love the sight of cascading waterfalls? The Seven Sister Waterfalls and the Elephant Waterfalls in Meghalaya are truly a sight to behold.

Photo of Seven Sister Waterfalls

Photo of Elephant Waterfalls (by Flickr Upload Bot)

7. Take a Joy Ride on the Toy Train

The Toy Train ride in Darjeeling is a marvelous experience. Sit back and take in the beauty of the rolling hills and lush green plantations as the train chugs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling and back.

Photo of Darjeeling Toy Train (by AHEMSLTD)

8. Lush Plantations

The lush, green, tea and rubber plantations of east India area major tourist draw. The pleasant climate, rolling hills and the vast green expanses make plantations a must visit place in east India.

Photo of plantations

9. Delicious Delights

Eastern Indian cuisine is a very diverse one. Sweet, pungent, spicy and bland--you can relish many flavours all at once in eastern cuisine. There are strong influences of Chinese and Mongolian cuisine as well. Rice is the main staple.

Photo of a meal (from Official Website of Rosang Cafe)

In the coastal areas, fish is the preferred protein while in the hills pork and chicken are the favoured choice. The popular dishes are momos, thukpa, macher jhol, tamato pickle, rosogulla and sandesh.

Photo of a Bengali meal

10. Exquisite Handicrafts

From colourful beadwork, brilliant woodwork and masterfully woven baskets to sarongs and shawls woven with intricate patterns and motifs, east India is a haven of handicrafts.

Photo of a local market in Darjeeling

Don't forget to buy some real beadwork jewellery from places like Gangtok when you visit here.

Photo of a jewellery shop (by Wonderlane)

This would be the best time to visit the east. In the monsoons, everything looks verdant and lush. Still not overrun by tourists, east India is definitely worth exploring. The cool app is a handy help for finding the best airfares, train fares and hotel options for your vacation to east India.