ChaloHoppo to Meet the

Headhunters of Nagaland and find Peace in

Majuli

Time to meet the Headhunters of Nagaland

It is a rare occasion when, in a span of a week, one gets to explore places and cultures which are so fragile and their existence is a race against time. The journey to the world's largest river island and then exploring the remote world of the erstwhile headhunters of Nagaland

will be an experience to remember.

View from the homestay in Longwa

Majuli island in Assam, the largest river island in the world may get submerged forever due to the rapid erosion happening on the island,

and then you visit the villages of the Konyak tribe in Nagaland, the last of the feared tattooed headhunters who are octogenarians. The practice of headhunting and tattooing the victorious headhunters was abolished

in the 1960s but you can see glimpses of their bloody past when you meet them in their backyard.

A glimpse of the gunmaker’s home in Longwa village

The brief Itinerary

5 nights and 6 days

Day 1 Beginning the journey to Majuli

A long road journey awaits. Good old Potin junction will be back (refer to the Ziro itinerary to know this) till we finally reach Dhunaguri ghat where we board the ferry to Majuli. The ferry ride is fascinating. Cars, motorbikes, cycles, people, everyone on board one vessel. This one hour ride will give you an idea of the vastness of the Brahmaputra and if you are observant you will see the erosion, the infamous erosion of Majuli in action, slowly and gradually, bits of sandy banks drowning in the river.Upon reaching the Kamlabari ghat in Majuli, patiently, let people get off and rush to their rides since your transport is waiting for you. The drive from the ghat to your stay for the night will take about 30 minutes. Tonight is about meeting and greeting your host and enjoying some lovely “Porro apong” or “chai mod” as it is locally known.

Overnight in a boutique stay in Majuli

Day 2 Explore Majuli on two wheelers

Your guide, a monk will arrive by 9 am. You are expected to have had your

breakfast and taken a shower as you will visit Vaishnavite monasteries.

Your two-wheelers will wait for you as you begin the journey. Your guide

will give you insights about Majuli that he will also quiz you about it. If you

get all the answers right, then a special prize awaits you!

On your ride, you will cover the Uttar Kamalabari Satra where the monks

aren’t allowed to touch anyone and keep their hair long. You will have a

‘satvik’ meal prepared by the monks at Aouniati Satra. Next you will visit

the Samuguri village to meet the mask makers and see a brief

demonstration of the kshatriya drama, the pottery village where bare hands

are used to create pots.

Overnight in a boutique stay in Majuli

Day 3 Enter the wild east

Drive past the Assam border to enter the land of the Nagas, and not any Nagas, the Konyaks, also known as the last of the tattooed headhunters. You will slowly leave the plains and tea gardens of Assam and head towards higher elevation on bumpy roads. The drive slowly starts to give you the feeling that you are entering a different zone, something unknown. Thatched huts and flowering plants serving as boundaries of homes will welcome you into Nagaland. The clouds should be right up there with you. But you have to understand that this will be one of the bumpiest rides of your life and hence prepare accordingly. Check into your comfortable stay for the night after trying some local food. For non-vegetarians, this will be the beginning of a different trip, a food trip.

Overnight in cottages overlooking Mon town.

Day 4 Meet the last face tattooed king and more

Today we hope to meet the last surviving face tattooed headhunter Angh, i.e. the chief or the king of a Konyak village. Usually, he is found sitting in his kitchen drinking dearly bitter black tea with other old men, all of whom wear tattoos on their wrinkled skin. The king or his men don't really speak English but a conversation can be facilitated with the help of the local guide cum translator. Don't forget to 'pay' your regards to the Angh. We will spend some time picking up handloom and handicraft products from the local market. The Konyaks make some amazing products and this is a great way of supporting the local community as well as have a fascinating shopping experience. Take a walk through the King’s house, shedding your usual understanding of kings, queens and palaces. The village gets more fascinating as you visit the gun maker's house and understand the nuances of the gun culture in Nagaland.

Overnight in a homestay overlooking the hills of Longwa village.

Day 5 A night at the opiated border town of Longwa

You can experience a beautiful sunrise in the village and if you are an early riser, a hike up to the India Burma border pillar no 155 will give you a bird's eye view of the village. Ignore the men with rifles patrolling the pillar and the border and focus on the clouds below you. Rest of the day you can spend as you like, walking and hiking.This day has been added on request and feedback from travellers who wished they had an extra day in this border village doing nothing but just soak in the beauty of the place.

Overnight in a homestay overlooking the hills of Longwa village.

Day 6 A night in the train reflecting on the trip

Today it is time to bid goodbye to your hosts and to Nagaland. We drive out by 10 am. This train ride will be an equally exciting and important part of the trip. Let's just leave it to the day when you board the train.Total drive time from Longwa to Simalguri (railway station) will be 5.5 hours.

Day 7 Fly out of Northeast India

The train chugs into Guwahati early in the morning. Board your flight with memories for a lifetime.Any flight after 12 pm can be booked.

Trip Inclusions● Breakfast and dinner on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5,● Lunch on day 2, day 4, day 5, day 6● Accommodation on twin sharing basis in village stays, homestays and farm stays.● ChaloHoppo Guy as the tour leader● Transport from Ziro campsite to Majuli and back to Guwahati in a train● Parking, tolls, driver allowance, driver accommodation and driver food● All necessary permits to enter Nagaland

Trip Exclusions● Airfare charges● All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above● Trekking shoes and clothing (Any personal equipment)● Any camera fees ● Hotel & driver tips if any, since the locals earn low wages, your tips can show your appreciation)● Any personal expenditure (Toiletries, medicines, etc.)● Tips to be given to the Konyak king aka Angh and other locals if required● Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors

beyond control.● Anything not specifically mentioned under the head "Inclusions".

Reviews of Headhunters of Nagaland & Majuli

Reviews of Headhunters of Nagaland & Majuli

Reviews of Headhunters of Nagaland & Majuli

FAQ’sQ. Which airport do we have to come to and fly out from?A: The tour begins from Dibrugarh Airport.

Q. What time should we land and what time should we book the return flights?A: Ideally you should land by 2 pm or earlier and fly out anytime it is convenient for you.

Q. Do I need a Visa, inner line permit or any other kind of identity proof to enter northeast India?A: Entry to Nagaland will require an inner line permit for domestic travellers. Foreigners visiting Nagaland have to register themselves at the nearest police station.

Q.I am a solo traveller, can I come on this trip?A: A most definite yes, as long as you are okay travelling in a mixed group of other solo travellers or small group of friends.

FAQ’sQ. I am a vegetarian, I hear that people only consume meat there. How will I manage?A: The cultural diversity of northeast India is so vast that we can’t blame outsiders for not being aware of communities in the region who are purely vegetarians, so much so that they avoid eating onions (they are indigenous to the region, in case you are thinking about communities from mainland India who have settled here). Having said that, we must admit that the region’s food habits especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya are predominantly non vegetarian with a whole lot of red meat based preparations. But the states have warmed up to tourists recently and almost every place you visit will provide the Indian staple diet of rice, dal and sabji, even chapatis if you are lucky. Your craving for butter paneer may not be satisfied, but you will do just fine as far as maintaining your health and strength is concerned.

Q. How will the roads in Nagaland be?

A: The roads in Nagaland are terrible. To describe the condition of the roads it would be fair to say that there is just a symbolic presence of a road amidst potholes.

FAQ’sQ. Is it safe to travel to Northeast India? I have been warned about Naxalites, ULFA and other terrorist groups.

A: The sources of such warnings should be checked and speaking from the perspective of locals living in the region we can say that though some parts of Northeast India do have cases of groups clashing against government forces from time to time, it doesn’t affect a tourist as long as the route is chosen wisely and hours of commute are decided smartly, much like travelling in any other part of the world. If you have seen warnings in the advisory pages of governments, then we would like to remind you that governments (of different countries)will always take precaution and not be in sync with the real situation. Northeast India is absolutely safe with warm and welcoming locals. You should have no issues even going to the most interior places. As with any other tribal dominated region, respect the local culture and don't hurt their sentiments, and you will have a great time in a beautiful place. Because so less is known about the region in general, it may be a wise idea to get in touch with some travel experts before you plan your trip.

Cost of the experience per person

Rs 29,000/-

For further details email experiences@chalohoppo.com

AND EXPECT A PROMPT RESPONSE.

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