East India covers a vast and uneven terrain along the Indo-China border. Sloping down from the lower heights of the Himalayan peaks, this area is dotted with dense forests and blessed with differing climate zones, making this region an eco-tourism paradise, with lush flora and fauna, frozen wastes and sub-tropical and festering swamps with a huge variety of wildlife inhabiting the unpopulated areas. Most of the states and areas in East India are still populated only by tribal villages surrounded by forests, living off the land, while the other regions of India progress towards modernity with skyscrapers and shopping malls. At the same time, this land is rich in tradition and culture, with historic landmarks and ancient temples, witness to the arrival of many new civilizations and bearing mute testimony to the horrific excesses of the British Empire and the cultural conflicts which tore apart India on the eve of Independence.
 

West Bengal

Kolkata ( Calcutta ), the capital of West Bengal. Densely populated, struggling with an urban crush, haze, traffic congestion and also the center of a dynamic culture and Bengali tradition of religious festivals, dances, theater, folk music and arts like the Durga Puja festival. Special mention also needs to be made of the beauty of Bengali women, exemplified by the former Miss Universe Shusmita Sen, now a film actress in Bollywood.

Other notable features of West Bengal and Calcutta are the rich literary tradition, the cottage silk industry, exquisite Bengali dishes and delicacies such as the sweet Rasagolla, which literally melts in your mouth and the extensive Colonial presence in the architecture, since Calcutta was the capital of the early British force in India, known as the East India Company. One of the most famous landmarks in West Bengal is the Howrah Bridge over the Hoogly River.

Assam

Assam is a wet and lush rain forest region, with tea gardens, wildlife preserves and heavy rainfall. The miles and miles of sloping tea estates give way to dense equatorial forests, habitat of the One Horned Rhinoceros, saved from extinction and now protected in a wildlife preserve called Kaziranga National Park, which also houses the Asian Elephant. With dozens of wildlife sanctuaries, a dazzling array of flora and fauna and important archeological ruins, Assam attracts a lot of outdoor tourists. Please check your travel advisory warnings before you plan a visit to Assam.

Darjeeling

The town of Darjeeling is a hill resort on the lower edges of the Himalayas. With gently sloping plains and moderate to cold weather, Darjeeling has become famous for its production of black tea, which is exported worldwide. With a mix of Tibetan immigrants and local Hindu populace mostly dependant on the tea estates and tourism for their living, make Darjeeling an ideal place for a peaceful holiday shrouded in the mist and peace of the tea estates. The area has excellent accommodation for international tourists, with a history of tourism dating back to the British Empire, when important visiting dignitaries and Maharajah’s would spend the summers in Darjeeling. Nominally, Darjeeling is a part of the State of West Bengal, but due to clashes with the Hindu populace, Darjeeling has a semi-autonomous status.

Sikkim

Sikkim is a mountain state, guarding passage from India to Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. Sikkim has a mix of Tibetan, Nepali and Indian Hindu populations. With plenty of ice capped mountain peaks, hot springs and frozen lakes, Sikkim is a prime spot for adventure tourists.

Arunachal Pradesh

Bordering the People’s Republic of China, Arunachal Pradesh varies in climate and geography from sub-zero frozen wastes to warm sub-tropical forests. At the lower levels of the Himalayan peaks, the climate is perennially cold and freezing, with ice capped mountain peaks blocking the horizon. Moving further from the peaks, a mixed population of immigrants from nearby states and Tibet, Bangladesh and the native Hindu tribes make up the population. Tourist attractions include Bomdila, the hanging bamboo bridges and Rukmininagar, said to be the residence of Rukmini, the Hindu God Krishna’s wife. Entering and moving around in the state for foreign tourists may be subject to obtaining a visitor’s permit from the Indian Ministry of Tourism.

Meghalaya

Among East Indian states, Meghalaya is the most popular state attracting tourists in large numbers due to its dazzling array of natural and scenic attractions. Cherrapunjee, which is known as the world’s wettest place, with its torrential rains and magnificent waterfalls, is one of the foremost tourism hotspots in the whole of India. With numerous limestone caves spread around the state, it is a delight for exploration and camping out. Some of these caves are still in the process of discovery and it is uncharted territory. In addition, Meghalaya offers white water rafting, mountain climbing, man made and natural lakes, wildlife sanctuaries, botanical gardens and a host of other outdoor activities and sports.

Mizoram

Mizoram is known for its bamboo forests and the local population is largely dependant on bamboo and other herbal plants growing in the forests for their livelihood. But since 2006, the bamboo forests have become a mixed blessing for the locals with an explosion in the rat population, which seems to be related to bamboo flowering. A widely expected famine due to the destruction of crops and food grains by the rats is expected to ravage Mizoram through 2007, until the next years’ crop. With a mild climate, virgin forests and hilly terrains, Mizoram has plenty to offer for eco-tourists.

Tripura

A small state with majestic palaces, lakes and stone carvings, Tripura offers a glimpse into the luxurious lives of the Maharajah’s who inhabited and ruled over this small kingdom in the years gone by. Major attractions include the Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala, the Unakoti rock carvings, Mata Tripureswari temple at Udaipur, the Dumboor Lake, the Jampui Hill station resort and a number of small wildlife sanctuaries.

Nagaland

A hill state on the north eastern borders of India, Nagaland is mostly made up of a collection of sixteen indigenous tribes, each with a distinct culture, identity and apparel. Nagaland is famous for the arts and handicrafts produced by these tribes, which are totally made out of raw materials collected from the surrounding forests.

With a picturesque and lush landscape, a moderate climate and stunning sunrise and sunsets, Nagaland has a lot to offer to the intrepid outdoor tourist, including trekking, rock climbing, overnight camping in the sub-tropical rain forests with an abundance of rare plants and an a thriving ecosystem untainted by man and modernity.