Northeast: Walking through the realms of clouds, rains and monasteries
9 Dec 2017 3:38 PM IST
From snowcapped mountains, to ancient monasteries and plunging waterfalls, the Northeast of India offer myriad stories and destinations.
From snowcapped mountains, to ancient monasteries and plunging waterfalls, the Northeast of India offer a myriad stories and destinations. (Photo: Suraj Alva)- A view of the Nohkalikai Falls. It is the tallest and highest plunge waterfall in India with a height of 1115 feet. The waterfall is located near Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on Earth.
- Yaks enroute to Cherapunji, a place situated high above misty valleys and foaming rivers and forever ensconced in swirling clouds. Cherrapunji is known as the wettest place on earth.
- Sunset near Tawang. The Tawang monastery has three legends associated with it, in which two are associated with a horse while the third is linked to Terton Pemalingpa, diviner of treasures. At this location, he is stated to have given \"initiations\" of Tamdin and Kagyad, which resulted in the name \"Tawang\". Ta' is an abbreviated form for \"Tamdin\" and Wang' means \"initiation\".
- Tawang monastery belongs to the Gelug school of Mahayana Buddhism and had a religious association with Drepung Monastery of Lhasa, which continued during the period of British rule.
- The largest monastery in India, Tawang monastery is also known as the Galden Namgey Lhatse, which translates to \"celestial paradise in a clear night.\" It was founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680-1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.
- A unnamed lake enroute to the Indo-China border. The place is predominated by moss and lichens. Lakes like these are abundant all across the journey.
- Indo-China border. According to army personnel present there, the mound contains rocks with dates inscribed on them. Each date represents the day members of army from both nations met to meet on official purposes.
- Roadways from Sangetsar. Another panoramic view highlighting the altitude of the place as roadways kiss rolling clouds and nothing else remains visible. Interestingly, the Sangetsar Lake is one of the remotest high altitude lakes in India and is located tantalizingly close to the China border.
- Pine forests near Sangetsar Lake. Situated above 12,000 feet, the place is a heady mix of spirituality, the mighty Himalayas surrounding it and the tree trunks jutting out of this lake that give it an ethereal look.
- A bridge near the Sangetsar lake in Arunachal Pradesh. Often known as Madhuri lake, this mystery lake ,actually pronounced as Sho-Nga=Tseir by locals, was originally pasturage of Shok-Tsen village turned into a lake due to an Earth Quake in 1971..
- The inner sanctom of the Kalachakra monastery seats an idol of Budhha. The enture interior is decorated in vibrant colours and patterns and often tell tales of Buddhist myths and legends.
- As evening sets in, clouds start rumbling in slowly encompassing the monastery in a veil of fog.
- Murals on the walls of Dirang Monastery. Kalachakra Gompa, which is another name for Dirang monastery, is located above Kalachakra, a village in Dirang.
- A birds-eye view of Dirang. Located in West Kameng district, this small hill station is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, gushing streams and lush greenery.
- Enroute from Tezpur to Dirang, teh roadwasy offer a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayas as different times of the day throw across a myriad colours on the icy peaks.
From snowcapped mountains, to ancient monasteries and plunging waterfalls, the Northeast of India offer a myriad stories and destinations. (Photo: Suraj Alva)
From snowcapped mountains, to ancient monasteries and plunging waterfalls, the Northeast of India offer myriad stories and destinations.
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