Agro tourism places in North East region

Dr Dipak Nath and Dr Daya Ram
Contd from previous
NAGALAND
Khonoma : A historic village located about 20 km from the state capital Kohima it is recorded to have resisted British rule in the region from 1830s to 1880 and etched its name into the history of Indian resistance to the colonial invasion.
Wokha : Home of the Lotha tribes is a land of beautiful mountain ranges and rivers and is known for its vibrant dances and folk songs. Wokha literally means Census in Lotha. It was a place where Lothas counted heads before spreading out into the villages during their waves of migration.
Pfutsero : A picturesque town in Phek district is the highest altitude town and the coldest inhabited place in Nagaland with temperatures dropping to below zero in winters. The Baptist Theological College in Pfutsero is one of the oldest in Nagaland. The best time to visit is from mid-October (harvesting time) to April.
One can also take a day trip to Khezhakeno Village, a very important village in the context of the Naga history. It is said that the first Nagas stayed at this village before moving on to other parts of Nagaland.
Mokokchung : Home of the Ao tribe and is the cultural nerve centre of the Ao people. Tourist attractions in Mokokchung, which are great places to visit, are Longkhum, Mopungchuket, and Ungma.
SIKKIM
Gangtok : The capital city of Sikkim is located on a ridge at a height of 5500 feet. With a spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga, the town provides the perfect base for travel through the State. Gangtok is a cosmopolitan town which offers the tourists all possible amenities.
Changu Lake : 38 km from Gangtok and at an altitude of 12,400 ft, the ethereally beautiful Tsomgo (Changu) lake is a must on every visitors itinerary. A winding road through rugged mountain terrain and sharp cliffs takes you to Tsomgo, which means source of the water in Bhutia language. The lake derives its water from the melting snows of the mountains surrounding the lake. Of legendary beauty, the lake looks different at different seasons. In winter the placid lake remains frozen with the area around it covered in snow while in late spring the profusion of flowers in bloom adds a riot of colours around the lake.
Rumtek : Situated around 23 kms from Gangtok, it is a quiet getaway and home to the Rumtek Monastery which is the largest monastery in Sikkim and demonstrates the best of Tibetan architecture.
Aritar : Located in east Sikkim, Aritar is steeped in history and natural beauty. A breathtaking view of Khangchendzonga only adds to the many natural riches that Aritar is blessed with lush green forests, sweeping hills of paddy fields and placid lakes hidden inside deep forests makes it a perfect destination for those in search of nature trails and a serene holiday. The Aritar Gumpa is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim belonging to the Karma Kagyu lineage order of Tibetan Buddhism.
TRIPURA
Ujjayanta Palace : The former royal palace of Tripura (princely State) situated in Agartala, the State capital of Tripura. The palace was constructed between 1899 and 1901 by the Tripura king, Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, and stands on the banks of a small lake surrounded by Mughal gardens. It was the home of the ruling Manikya dynasty until the Tripura`s accession to India in October 1949. Ujjayanta Palace is now a State museum and it showcases the lifestyle, arts, culture, tradition and utility crafts of communities residing in N. The name Ujjayanta Palace was given by Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian Nobel Prize winner.
Tripura Sundari Temple : According to mythology, Lord Vishnu had cut off the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces with his ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ and all these pieces fell at different places throughout the country and these places are known as ‘Shaktipeeths’. It is said that right foot of Mata Sati fell at Matabari on the southwestern outskirts of Udaipur town in South Tripura district. This temple is one of the 51 holiest ‘Shaktipeeths’ (Shrine of the goddess of power ) in India as per Hindu mythology.
Rudrasagar Lake : About 55 km away from Agartala near Melaghar it is a 5.3 sq. km. water area. In the centre of the lake is the famous lake palace ‘Neermahal.’ The lake witnesses a large number of migratory birds every winter.
Unakoti : About 178 km from Agartala, it dates back to 7th–9th centuries if not earlier. The marvellous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty and waterfalls are great attractions. Unakoti means one less than a crore and it is said that these many rock cut carvings are available here. As per Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva was going to Kashi along with one crore gods and goddesses he made a night halt at this location. He asked all the gods and goddesses to wake up before sun rise and proceed for Kashi. It is said that in the morning, except Shiva himself, no one else could get up so Lord Shiva set out for Kashi himself cursing the others to become stone images. As a result we have one less than a crore stone images and carvings at Unakoti. These carvings are located at a beautifully landscaped forest area with green vegetation all around which add to the beauty of the carvings. The images found at Unakoti are of two types, namely rock-carved figures and stone images.