With North-Eastern States Connected By New Flights, A Look At 5 Places To Add To Your Travel Itinerary

Did you read the news about three new flights connecting five cities in the northeast Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipal, Meghalaya, and Mizoram will now be connected with flights flying from Imphal, Ziro, Aizawl, Shillong, and Lilabari. With connectivity vastly improved, these states must be on your go-to list for upcoming vacations in these mountain regions basking in the warm sun and enjoying hearty bowls of thupkas. We suggest that you try something new and explore deeper into the historical backgrounds of these states. There are several underrated gems in these spectacular valleys. Here are some you must add to your holiday list. 

Talatal Ghar, Assam

Situated in the northern region of Rangpur, Sivasagar, Assam, Talatal Ghar is famous for its legacy of the Ahom Dynasty. The monument was constructed by Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha and houses numerous tunnels and exquisite structures. The tall and strong army base was built between 1751 AD and 1769 AD. The monument is constructed with organic cement and bricks, including rice powder and ducks' eggs. An army base is incomplete without mysterious tunnels used for escape in testing waters.

Thus, it, too, has two tunnels&ndash one three kilometres long and connected with the Dikhow stream, and the other sixteen kilometres long and leads up to the Garhgaon fortress. The successor of the famous Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, Raja Swargadeo Rudra Singha, added grace and grandeur to the palace during his reign. He added seven storeys and built beautiful corridors in the palace.

Ita Fort, Arunachal Pradesh

Believed to have been built in the 14th or the 15th century, Ita Fort in Itanagar, as the name suggests, is built of bricks (Ita in Assamese). Since there is not much-written literature available on the remains of the fort, some local viewpoints are of the opinion that the fort served as a hideout for the Ahom armies during the invasions of Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 13th century. The fort has three entrances from the eastern, western, and southern sides. Presently, only brick structures can be seen. These bricks are thought to have been baked at the sight itself at the time of construction and were made of sandstone. There were twenty types of bricks, including building and ornamental bricks.

Kangla Fort, Manipal

Built in the heart of Manipal in the city of Imphal, Kangla fort is one of the most important historical sites of the state. History recalls that the fort was the seat of Manipuri Rulers, namely God-king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33AD to Maharaj Kulachandra in 1891 AD. The fort's architecture includes the beautiful Pakhangba coronation site, built within the fort's boundaries. The fort is made up of well-burnt bricks, and there are three entrances to the fort. The old Govindjee Temple is said to be connected with the palace by a canal. Other neighbouring sites to visit around the fort are the sacred pond of Nungjeng Eekon, which is believed to have been the birthplace of Lord Pakhangba and the Nunggoibi temple dedicated to the Goddess of war.

Vangchhia Monuments, Mizoram

In the district of Champai, a village by the name of Vangchhia is located, which is the state&rsquos first protected archaeological site. The underrated site is special because it houses around 180 menhirs of different shapes and sizes across the village. Menhirs are tall and upright stones placed for cultural and religious purposes by humans. The Vangchhia menhirs have carvings of humans, weapons, and animals on them that symbolise rural life. These monoliths are the first to come under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India, and now a detailed research is being carried out to find their age and origins.

Nartiang Monoliths, Meghalaya

Situated in the Nartiang village, the Nartiang Monoliths are believed to be the tallest monoliths in the world, built in the honour of Jaintia Kings in Jowai. The monoliths are supposedly erected between 1500 AD to 1835AD, and the tallest monolith, named Moo long Syiem, is said to be built by Phylangki, a trusted lieutenant of the Jaintia King, U Luh Lyngshkor to commemorate his victory in battle. The locals say that the place served as a purpose of summer resort for the royal family in the 17th century.