Aoleang Monyu Festival

After breakfast transfer to the airport to board the flight to Dibrugarh

On arrival at Dibrugarh airport you will be Greeted and Escorted by India Holiday Mall Tour Executive to Mancotta/Chowkidinghee Heritage Chang Bungalow.

Afternoon take a tea Walk around Mancotta Tea Estate. Evening enjoy a dance performance by an ethnic dance group on the bungalow lawns Dibrugarh is the gateway to the "Hidden Land" of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Northern Myanmar. The Ahoms from Thailand came through Northern Myanmar to this area in the 13th century to establish their Empire which thrived in the ancient land of Assam. It is the "Camellia" town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows.

These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.

When the British established their tea plantations in the mid-19th century they quickly built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. One of the main features of these buildings has given rise to their name – Chang bungalows. Chang in the local language means "raised on stilts" and the design served multi purposes- to keep the house cool by allowing the breeze to blow underneath and to keep both water and animals out!

Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. The people of Assam are very proud of its unique position among all other such dances of India. Except Bhangra (the popular folk dance of Punjab), no other folk dance in India can compete with the rhythmic exuberance of the Bihu dance. 'Bihu' performed by young men and women reflects youthful passion and joy rejuvenating life during the spring season, accompanied by songs woven around the theme of love and physical yearning. The dance is performed by all- irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Overnight at Mancotta/Chowkidinghee Heritage Chang Bungalow

After breakfast, take a tea tour around a tea estate known for producing high quality CTC teas. Know all about tea - its origin, how it is grown, all about tea tasting and its quality. Later in the afternoon we visit Mancotta Tea Estate known for its Orthodox type of tea. Take a tea walk and enjoy a sundowner or a cup of tea on a tree house.

A tea tour through a 157 years old heritage tea garden gives an insight into the different activities that vary from season to season. It teaches us all about tea- its origin, how it is grown, tea tasting and its quality.

CTC (Crush, Tear and Curl) tea is a method of processing tea. In this process the leaves instead of being rolled, are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of small sharp "teeth" that Crush, Tear, and Curl.

This style of manufacture has the advantage that the finished product brews quickly, gives a dark infusion rapidly, is well suited for tea bags, and yields more cups per kg. In the Indian domestic market, this type of manufacture has virtually taken over - over 80% of tea production is of the CTC type.

CTC teas produce a rich red-brown color when they are boiled, which adds a beautiful color to tea made in the Indian style. This is done by boiling leaves in a mixture of milk, water and sugar and some spices (producing Masala Chai). With this production method, the tea does not get bitter, and its red colour comes through the white of the milk.

Orthodox tea: The manufacturing process of orthodox tea is similar to that of CTC tea. Instead of the tea leaf been crushed, the leaves are rolled in a machine that twist and break the leaves to release the natural chemicals that later react with oxygen in the air and give the tea its characteristic aroma and taste. It is the leafy variety of tea.

Note: Visit to tea factory is subject to being operational on the day of the visit. There is no tea plucking between December till mid March and hence the actual manufacturing process of tea cannot be demonstrated when one visits the factory during this period. Factory also remains closed on Monday's of the week.

Overnight at the Heritage Chang Bungalow

After breakfast drive to Mon and check in at guest house Afternoon visit Chui Village inhabited by Konyak tribe and local market Mon – situated at an altitude of 897 metres above sea level, Mon is the home of the Konyak Nagas. Hereditary chiefs known as Anghs (Chief) rule the Konyak and the institutions of Anghship prevail only to the Konyak Naga tribe. It is interesting to see tattooed faces, wearing featured head gears and war traditional dresses. They are known for excellent wood carving, handicraft and blacksmither.

Chui village situated about 8kms away is known for preserving of much of its old world charm. One can see the mansion belonging to the Angh which stores hundreds of skull of animal stag fetched from hunting period. We also plenty of houses which are in traditional Knyak style with palm leaf roofing and the main pillars jutting out. The front side of their houses are decorated with horns of the buffalo.

Overnight at the guest house

Today we visit Hongphoi and Mon Village to witness the Aoleang Monyu festival

Overnight at the guest house

This morning drive to Longwa village to witness the festival which is a 57 kms / 02 hrs, One of the biggest villages in Mon district, the village straddles the international boundary between India and Myanmar with half of the Angh's houses falling within India and the remainder in Burma. Enroute we visit Tang Village. Also visit Shengha Chingnyu Village. Later in the afternoon return to Mon.

Overnight at the guest house

Full day witness Aoling festival at Mon local ground where local villages get together and celebrate the festival

Overnight at the guest house

Today post breakfast drive to Neamati Ghat , en-route we visit the Ahom monuments and temples at Sivasagar which encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty. Later ferry across to Majuli Island (1 hr upstream boat cruise- the time depends upon the water level of the river) - the largest inhabited river island in the world and famous for the Vaishnavite Satras or monasteries and culture. It is nestled between the confluence of the Subansiri and the Brahmaputra River Majuli Island-A World Heritage Site, is located in the Brahmaputra River and is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world. The island has long served as a monastic retreat to the Vaishnavite community and is noted for its beautiful rural setting and the traditional Assamese and Mishing tribal architecture.

On arrival, you will be transferred by road to a monastery, en-route pass through both Assamese and Mishing Villages - the Mishing houses are typified by being built on stilts and their 'long house' style of design. At the monastery you will be given an orientation tour by one of the monks of the monastic cell and temple. (Please note that you will be expected to remove your shoes when entering the Vaishnavite monasteries). These Satras were set up by Srimanta Shankerdev, the leader of Vaishnavite revival in the 16th Century. These are active and nurture the traditional dance form 'Satriya' (which is the 5th nationally recognized dance form other than Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Manipuri), music and crafts (mask- making), besides religious teachings.

Overnight in the Eco Camp

Full day explore Majuli Island. We visit Auniati, Kamalabari monastery, Samuguri monastery, Salmara village famous for pottery making and Dhapak Mishing village

Overnight in the Eco Camp

After breakfast ferry across to mainland (01 ½ hrs) and later drive to Dibrugarh airport to connect flight for Kolkata

On arrival at Kolkata, transfer to hotel

Overnight at the hotel

In time transfer to airport to connect flight for onward destination

Imp: rooms will be available until 1200 hrs