North East India is a stunningly beautiful region that is home to a rich and diverse culture, breathtaking landscapes, and a unique way of life. From the snow-capped mountains of Arunachal Pradesh to the rolling hills of Meghalaya, there is something for everyone in this region. Different seasons in the North East offer very different experiences. For someone who loves greenery and doesn’t mind the rain, the monsoons in Meghalaya would be great while for someone who would like to see the transparent waters of the Umngkot river, the dry season would be better. In other words, the best time to visit the North East depends on what your interests are.
However, no matter which season you plan to visit and which part of North East India you wish to come to when traveling to North East India, it is important to be well-prepared, as the terrain can be challenging and the weather can be unpredictable.
In this blog post, we will discuss some essential things to carry when traveling to North East India.
- Warm clothing and rain gear
- Comfortable shoes
- Any particular (not-so-common) medicines
- First aid kit
- Medicines for motion sickness
- Water bottle (so that you don’t have to buy packed water when on the move)
- Camera and binoculars
- Power bank and charger
- Enough cash, Inner line permits (where applicable), and identification documents
- Your liquor (if you are particular about your brand)
Warm clothing and rain gear
Depending on the season you are visiting, you will either have to bring your winter clothes while traveling to the northeast or you will have to bring your umbrella/ponchos. Sometimes, you have to bring both. For example, if you are visiting the North East during the monsoons, which is also one of the best times to visit northeast India, you will have to come prepared for rains and as you proceed to a one week tawang trip or a Meghalaya tour, you will have to put on your winter wear, almost as soon as you leave the plains.
If you are traveling during the winter though, you can drop the rain gear.
Comfortable Shoes
No matter where in the North East you are traveling, the scenery and the people are bound to get you on your feet to explore a bit. To be able to do that, you will need to be wearing comfortable shoes. And if you are planning to go on a trek to the double-decker living root bridges in Meghalaya, a comfortable pair of shoes are a must.
Any particular (not-so-common) medicines
If you take any particular medicines other than generic, commonly found medicines and you are about to run out of the same, bring them with you. Don’t rely on picking them from here. You might or might not get it.
First aid kit
No matter where you are traveling, North East India or elsewhere, carrying a small first-aid kit with you is always a good thing.
Medicines for motion sickness
Since most of the North East is hills and mountains, with beautiful but winding roads, if you are someone like me, whose stomach can’t bear the ups and downs of the mountains, when not driving, don’t forget to bring your motion sickness medicines.
Water bottle (so that you don’t have to buy packed water when on the move)
North East India is a beautiful region but it’s also very ecologically fragile. We at North East Explorers, try to do our best in preserving this beauty as is. One of the ways we try to do this is, to request our guests, you, to minimize the use of disposable water bottles as much as possible.
All our homestays in North East India have RO filters where you can fill your water bottle. So, bring one.
Of course, there will be days when might have to buy bottled water. But, we try to do the best we can, help us doing so 🙂 .
Camera and binoculars
Except for some particular regions in the North East, you are almost sure to be surprised by nature’s bounties as you travel through the North East. Be it in the form of flora and fauna of north east India or just the jaw-dropping scenery. And while we always encourage people to stay away from the screen as much as possible, while on a holiday, taking some pictures to take back home, is only natural. After all, wouldn’t you want to take pictures with the one-horned rhino in the Kaziranga national park, an animal unique to this region? Or say, one of your exhausted but satisfied look on your face after reaching the double-decker living root bridges of Meghalaya, after a tiring trek?
Also, not to mention, North East India is a photographer’s paradise, with stunning vistas, unique flora and fauna, and colorful cultures.
Powerbank and Chargers
In almost all north east tours we run, you will be heading to one or the other remote north east region. These regions are far-flung so quite understandably, the electricity and mobile coverage is spotty. If you want to make sure your devices don’t die due to a dead battery, carry your power banks.
Enough cash, permits, and Identification documents
Thanks to the spotty network and power (at some places) in offbeat north east India, there’s always a possibility that the ATM(s) will be out of order. Due to the same reason, card payments are almost never an option. Google Pay/UPI works but what works best and is the most reliable is cash. When you are on a northeast tour with us, almost all your expenses are already taken care of so, you don’t really have to carry a lot of cash. Just for your personal expenses, flooding, and shopping mainly.
In case you are on a tour to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, or any other North Eastern state that requires an Inner Line Permit, we would have already given you that well in advance. Keep a couple of hard copies of the same while traveling.
Also, always keep your photo ID document with you, as a good practice.
Your Liquor
While almost all brands and types of liquor is available in the cities and big towns of North East India, it is not the case once you head deeper. So, if you are someone who is particular about his/her drink, carry your drink of choice with you, when you land 🙂
In conclusion, traveling to North East India can be an enriching and rewarding experience, but it is essential to be well-prepared for the terrain and climate of the region. By carrying these essential items, you can ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip, and make the most of your time in this stunningly beautiful part of India.
