A Special Note to my fellow Indians
I know how frustrating it is for all of us to stay cooped up at home & how dearly we all miss travel, being with friends, eating out and even going to the office! Even the less adventurous among us are just "Waiting to Exhale"
The COVID-19 pandemic had just changed our lives and perspectives forever!
For us Indians, it was a proud feeling to clap for our carers but it was also extremely distressing to see our migrant daily labour flee to their meagre villages risking life and limb because daily labour is daily food and in a shut down city that means starvation and sure death!
This is the time we as Indians need to think of "Not what our Country can Do for us, But what we can do for our Country"
I am sure we are all trying to help our domestic help, our employees and our service providers in every way we can!
However, Do you know which sector is the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is the Travel & Tourism Sector globally that will be put out of business in the coming months and years! There is no turning back now!
So my fellow Indians, let us do our bit when the world opens up,
Let us Travel in India FIRST! Let us help our domestic sector eat!
At Mee Time Holidays, we would like to do our bit with a "SWADESH INR 5000" Discount for our Northeast India Trip " A Walk in The Clouds"
If you want to know "Why go the Northeast of India? Read my Itinerary below and decide for your self!
This pocket of India was once called the Seven Sisters and included Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland. With Sikkim now added to this, it is the 8 sisters now! These sisters are unique and spectacular and hold many accolades!
The only place to see One-Horned Rhinos in the world
The cleanest village in Asia
The wettest place on earth
Stable man-made Root-Bridges
The largest freshwater lake and so much more!
And what's more this pristine region has had none or negligible cases of COVID-19 cases-and we are told by govt. sources that the 8 sisters will be opening travel restrictions from September 2020.
Mee Time's "A Walk in The Clouds" - 8 Days Tour
Itinerary
For a short 8 Days tour, I, personally, would choose only 2 states viz: Assam and Meghalay. Not just because they are the most stunning but also because the region is not extensively developed and roads are kaccha and hilly and the travel time between any two sisters is therefore rather long and tiring!
Day 1: Guwahati Airport to Kaziranga National Park
Reach Guwahati and drive straight to Kaziranga National Park from the Airport.
It takes about 5 hours or so to reach Kaziranga from Guwahati but is a must-see sanctuary! This Park is a UNESCO listed sanctuary and is regarded as one of the finest wildlife refuges in the world. The single largest population of one-horned rhinos in the world lives here! We stay at a beautiful wildlife-themed hotel close to the Park. Enjoy a lazy dinner at your wildlife resort and sleep early!
Day 2: Kaziranga Park & Around
Let's wake up early for an early morning Elephant Safari at Kaziranga! This unique park is the ‘Big Five’mammals namely the Tiger & Panther, the wild Buffalo, the Swamp Deer, the elephant and of course the one-horned rhino! Post the Safari, we return for a bountiful breakfast at your hotel and then head to the fascinating Kaziranga Orchid centre! You can go click crazy here with 600 or more orchid species to choose from! Later we head out for a local Assamese lunch followed by a jeep safari for another round of catch –catch with the Big Five!
Day 3: Kaziranga – Shillong
It takes 6 hours to reach Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. We Chill at a pub or café such as Dylans Café or the Polo Irish Pub at Hotel Polo Towers post the road trip and swap stories and pictures of our Kaziranga safari with our fellow travellers as we guzzle pints of fresh brewed beer or coffee!
Day 4: Shillong – Day trip to the Wet World!
It takes about 2 ½ hours to reach the wettest place on earth! Yes, that’s cherrapunjee, from school geography? What’s not to love here … visit the Seven Sister Falls, Nahkhalikai Falls, Mwasmai Cave, Koh Ram Hoh, eco-park and find yourself welcomed into the ‘abode of the clouds’ i.e ‘Meghalaya’
Day 5: Shillong – Day Trip to the Memories of a Lifetime!
Drive from Shillong to Mawllynnong Village. Mawlynnong Village located in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya is also referred to as “God’s own garden” and has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia. Also famous for its Root Bridges, these are a result of bio-engineering practised by the locals. The bridges can bear 50 people at a time and are spectacular to watch! We visit the Mawlynnong Living Root Bridge, which is an easy trek on a sturdy man-made root bridge made carefully about 200 years ago that has grown stronger with age! If you choose not to cross this bridge you could still enjoy your solitude and some spectacular selfies here before moving on to more magic! A boulder that balances on its own micro tip! Post this calming “forest bathing” experience enjoy a serene boat-ride in the crystal clear waters of the Umngot river at Dawki! Return to Shillong completely transformed from the experience!
Day 6: Shillong – A Sacred Forest
Mawphlang village in the East Khasi Hills district, 25 kilometres from Shillong. This village is home to a sacred forest. According to local tribal beliefs, a deity known as Labasa inhabits the forest. It takes on the form of a tiger or leopard and protects the community. Nothing is allowed to be removed from the forest as it may upset the deity. There are tales of people who have broken this taboo becoming sick and even dying. Thanks to this legend and curse this forest has astonishing bio-diversity. Orchids, insect-eating pitcher plants, ferns, mushrooms, rudraksha trees have all been pristinely preserved for more than a 1000 years!
Further, take an excursion to Laitlum Grand Canyons. These Grand Canyons have a birds-eye view of the city of Shillong. The green hills, the orchids, the bamboo plants, the cotton clouds - all from one point.
Tip: Do reach here in the afternoon to avoid the thick morning shawl of fog that these beauties cover up with!
Day 07: Shillong – Day trip to Jowai
Visit the Jaintia hills to behold the beauty and magic the nartian monoliths Krangsuri falls & Tyrshi Falls in Jowai.
Day 08: Shillong – Guwahati
We take a late night flight home to enjoy some shopping or pub crawling in Guwahati!
Yes, the very famous ‘Mekhela Chador’ is available at many boutique shops here ..
Lets go Shopping: Indulge your inner diva by shopping for mekhala chador or regular sarees in muga silk or pat silk!
The Best Shops Mekhela Chadors are
· Silkalay –The best shop
· Kalpataru –The oldest shop
· Aunty’s Shop – Boutique designer shop
Eating, Drinking, Chilling: Café and Restaurants to check out!
After getting your choice of sarees and knick-knacks and haggling to your hearts content, chic Café Hendrix 'toh banta hai' tuck into some pork fry or chicken fingers or have a memorable local assamese dinner at well reviewed Food villa!
#If you liked Mee Time's Itinerary,
Click the link "A Walk in The Clouds" for more details
A walk in the clouds - Women Only Trip is on 17th November, 2020
A walk in the clouds - Mixed group or Families is on 25th November, 2020
To Redeem the "SWADESH INR 5000" discount
Fill the BLUE FORM below this post with your Name and Email id
In the Message put - "Swadesh Discount NE for 17 th Nov or 25th Nov, 2020" … That's it!
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NOTE: If you want Mee to customise your own tour, Just fill the form below the post and in 'Message' indicate your Date of Travel, No. of Pax, States to Cover, Duration and we will send you our best offers or connect with Mee at +9372990089