It took us 3 months to plan this detailed road trip. Before embarking on this journey, we found Mr H V Kumar (HiVayKing) who assisted us with routes, accommodation, sightseeing. He is called the Human GPS of India who provides routes to travellers that are unknown to Google Maps as well.
Day 1
7th April 2019
We wokeup with excitement. Started our drive by 3 am, the roads to Hyderabad was good and minimum traffic, the new factory of KIA motors coming up after Anathpur has created lot of real-estate boom in and round the area, with lot of sign boards in Korean language, for a minute you’ll be confused wether we driving through Andhra Pradesh or some place in Korea. Reached Hyderabad by 11 am, headed out of Hyderabad city using the wide outer ring road in no time we were out of Hyderabad city driving to Vijayawada, As the first phase of election for Loksabha 2019 was just a few days away we were stopped by officers on election duty more than 7 times in Andhra Pradesh alone. It is great fun to travel around the country specially during election time you Can see the colour and flavour of different political parties. Day 1 stop was in Vishakhapatnam after driving for 16 hours.
Day 2
8th April 2019
Started our drive by 6 am .The roads from Vishakhapatnam to Srikakulam not in best shape due to road widening, had a small noise coming from the left side of the car took a pitshop in Mahindra work shop in behrampur, lost about 2hours but got the issue fixed and reached Bhubaneshwar in Orrisa by 2pm for lunch day 2 we travelled accross Odisha and reached Kharagpur in West Bengal .
Day 3
9th April 2019
As we are in the Easter part of India sun rise is as early as 5:15, started the day with tea and two slices of bread as complimentary breakfast from the hotel where we stayed and drive through the well laid roads of West Bengal in about 2 hours we were on the outskirts of Kolkata using the bypass we passed through Kolkata without getting caught in the morning rush, we drove through Jharkhand and halted the night in Purnea in Bihar.
Day 4
10th April 2019
Started from Purnea, had a relaxed start reached Siliguri drove to Nepal had lunch in a small restaurant and drove back to Siliguri.
Day 5
11th April 2019
Due to election in West Bengal the border was closed in Pheuntsoling and would only open by 6 pm and close the same day by 8 pm. We were not sure if the border would be open only for 2 hours we decided to take the chance and drove to Pheuntsoling which is about 4 hours drive from Siliguri.
The drive is mesmerising with tea plantation on both sides, we reached Pheuntsoling by 6 pm . We were lucky that the gates were opened for tourist for 2hours that day and we entered Bhutan, checked into Namgay Hotel
Phuentsholing was the first town in Bhutan where we had to acquire the permits to travel deeper into Bhutan. After such a long day, we decided to rest our eyes. Checked into Hotel Namgay. This place was warmer than a regular hill station.
Day 6
12th April 2019
We reached the immigration office by 9 Am, the process took about 2 hours documents req Indian tourists, you I’ll need to have 1 passport size photograph, election ID card or passport, for kids below eighteen if you don’t have a passport you would need to carry original birth certificate.
After receiving the permits and stamping done on our passports we went to the Road transport office to get the road permits to drive our own car.Documents required is RC copy, drivers license , insurance and Bhutan permits issued at immegration office they charge you 100 Ngultrum. Equivalent to 100 INR
Had lunch at Namgay and commenced our drive to Paro which is 140kms. The hilly climb paired with winding and misty roads took us 4 and a half hours. As we climbed higher and higher, the temperature dropped to 10 degrees. Once we arrived, checked into Hotel Taktsang Paradise. Roti and dal completed our dinner and we hit the bed.
It is a pleasure to drive through Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas Eastern edge rightly called as the lost kingdom. known for its monasteries, Dongz or fortress and dramatic landscapes that range from sub-tropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.
Day 7
13th April 2019
We drove to Chelela Pass – The highest motorable road in Bhutan. It is close to Dokhalam , The presence of the Indian army here is no surprise . The very first sight of snow was here.
Drove back into town and had Bhutanese cuisine food at Nima Hotel, Shopped at Paro Street. We ended the day with snacks and tea at Champaka Café.
Day 8
14th April 2019
That Sunday was considered as the most auspicious day according to the Buddhists. The day began with a 7km trek to Tiger Nest. It’s at an elevation of 10232 ft. This trek took 6hrs. we started trekking at 8am and returned back to our car at 2pm. Had lunch and started the drive towards Thimphu. Checked into Yardroling Hotel. The temperature was around 12 degrees.
At 12 deg in the evening we managed to visit Buddha Point and quickly come back to our Hotel.
Day 9
15th April 2019
A continental breakfast commenced our day. A Folk Heritage Museum was our first stop. We saw a painting school where students were carving sculptures. Shopping at Taj Tashi. Padays Bistro was where we had lunch. A clock tower in the city centre attracted our attention, shopped there as well. Snacks at Lama Bakery and called it a day.
Day 10
16th April 2019
Checked out of Yardroling by 8am and drove back to Phuentsholing. Arrived at 1.30pm. Started towards Bongaigaon, Assam. Reached by 5.40 pm and checked into Hotel Kailash.
Day 11
17th April
Checked out from Hotel Kailash and moved towards Bomdilla, Arunachal Pradesh. After a long hunt, had breakfast at 11am at a very small place. (1 plate for all of us). Noodles for lunch near Bhutan border. Winding roads began. My husband fell sick due to bad food. Bad roads, poor health, but managed to reach Bomdilla and checked into Anu Homestay. We froze at the temperature of 11 degrees. The host, Tenzen prepared us a tasty, hot meal.
Day 12
18th April 2019
My younger daughter, Stuthi fell sick and delayed our departure by almost 3hrs. The destination for that day was Tawang. On the way, we found Madras Café at Baisakhi Military Canteen and had our very own Dosas, drove via Sela pass, saw the frozen lake and drove to reach Tawang at 4.30pm and checked into Ling Geysar Sun was already setting and it was getting dark by 5 . Cooked the ready to eat food that we had carried.
Day 13
19th April 2019
Finishing breakfast and waiting for our permits to enter Bum La Pass (Indo-China Border) began our day. Took a walk to Buddha Park. Received the permits by 9.45 am as taxis leave to bumla by 8:30 am we missed them and we had to drive on our own we missed the route and drove the wrong direction by almost an hour no human around to verify, at last we found two other jeep that had also lost the route decided to go back and reaching Tawang town asked the locals and headed to BumlaPass , reached the first Military checkpost and we were informed that we are late for the day to travel to Bumla we requested the officer who obliged as we were travellers from South India. The route is a single track as most taxis were returning from Bumla we found it extremely difficult for two cars to pass, extreme patience and attitude of others first will only help. Which we are not used to in Bangalore roads.
Day 14
20th April 2019
Our destination was Tezpur from Tawang which is about 320 kms , we started our journey by 5:30 Am, crossed the night Sela pass and reached Bomdila by noon for lunch had a great lunch and started our drive down winding roads , heavy rains with low visibility made the journey slow, it was already getting dark by 5 pm, there was a road blockade only to realise the cause was trees uprooted and few lorry drivers and taxi drivers cut the tree and cleared way a little ahead lot of boulders on the road and water gushing over knee height and you could see boulders rolling down, very tense moment for all of us, we had no option to drive back the winding roads and where inhabitants can be found is about 4 hours , if you decide to go forward there is possibility of your car being washed to the valley below, walked accross the road in the water to ensure that there was road and that the road had not caved in . Spoke to a few taxi drivers who felt as our car had good ground clearance we should be able to pass, trusted in God and decided to drive through the flowing waters 4×4 came handy . When I’m writing this blog I’m getting goose bumps thinking about the passage. Reached Tezpur by 9.45pm, checked into hotel Kalash had dinner and we hit the bed. This day the journey of 320 kms took about 16 and a half hours.
Day 15
21st April 2019
Started the day with a nice breakfast and started to Majoli which is the world’s biggest river island. To reach this island we had to embark a ferry at North Lakhimpur. We assumed the ferry to be a big one but to our surprise it was a kind of boat, a small one where our 2-ton car had to be parked.
It was quite scary to get the car onto the ferry as one inch here and there could lead a big mishap….after 20 minutes in the ferry we reached Majoli and started driving towards YGdrassil bamboo cottage where in we had to cross another bamboo bridge for about 600 mtrs, here some of the localites warned us that the bridge might not take the load of our car. With nerves of steel we crossed the bridge and reached our cottage. It is a lovely place though rooms were not well maintained.
Day 16
22nd April 2019
During breakfast met a foreigner, Monica who is a solo backpack traveller. She has been exploring North-Eastern India for the past 6 months. She shared her experience with us. Our hotel’s owner had a girlfriend who is from JP Nagar, Bangalore. Met her at the same place.
Mask Making is one of the most famous traditional crafts still practiced in Majuli, Assam. It is made of bamboo and paper. We visited one such place and learnt how it is made.
A one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride brought us to Jorhat, from where we continued our drive to Kaziranga (Home to the Indian One Horned Rhinoceroses). We then checked into Eco Nature Hunt Bamboo Cottages at Kaziranga by 5pm. It was a cosy property between acres of tea plantations. We winded up our day with snacks, tea and dinner.
Day 17
23rd April 2019
We woke ourselves up by 3:45am, started from our resort at 4:30am. Kaziranga has 4 different regions: Ghorakati, Agaratoli, Kohora, Bagori. Our elephant safari was from the Bagori (western range)Range. We had an excellent sighting of a plethora of Rhinos.
We then visited Orchid Gardens where we got to see a few traditional dances of different parts of North Eastern India. Local shopping, snacks and returned to the Resort for lunch. A nice cool shower allowed us to embark on our evening Jeep Safari. We were fortunate enough to sight a herd of elephants, crash of rhinos and a massive Monitor Lizard. We purchased a few rhino ornaments at the gift shop, made of wood. Dinner and rest.
Day 18
24th April 2019
Our journey moved on towards Kohima, Nagaland via Dimapur. The roads were pathetic. We could only travel at 10kmph. We reached Kohima by 3:45pm and checked into Hotel Blue Bayou (Opposite World War 2 Memorial). This is a city which winds up itself as early as 5pm.
Day 19
25th April 2019
The day started with breakfast followed by visiting the World War 2 Memorial. Kohima War Cemetery is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who died in the WW2 at Kohima in April 1944.
Once that was over, we started our drive to Imphal, Manipur. By 2:30pm, we reached our destination and checked into Eco Heritage Villa Homestay. Freshened up and began sightseeing. Snacks at Runway Café opposite Imphal Airport. Ema (“Mother” in Manipuri) Market was our next stop. It is the largest women market in the world. Products varying from meat, vegetable, fruits, textiles, spices, etc. Shopping here was not a piece of cake due to the language barrier. This place was a feast for our eyes. Visited Govindji Temple to wrap up the day. Localites only spoke Manipuri, unfortunately no Hindi or English. Headed back to our homestay. Dinner and rest.
Day 20
26th April 2019
Began our day at 5am towards Moirang, Manipur. Loktak Lake was our first point of attraction for the day. We went boating and had snacks at a floating restaurant. Breakfast was served on top of a hill at a beautiful view point.
Indian National Army (INA) Museum, our next point of attraction, was the place where Indian tricolour flag was first hoisted by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Indian soil. We moved towards Moreh which is located at the Indo-Myanmar border. We entered Myanmar and reached Tamu. Myanmar is ahead of India by 1 hour as per time zones.
Finishing the formalities of immigration, we left our car behind and went into Tamu by Tuk-Tuk. Due to time constraints, we could only visit White Temple (Monastery), Golden Temple and the Tamu Market. We returned to the immigration office by 5pm (Local Time) and exited Myanmar. We reached Imphal by 8pm IST. Dinner and rest.
Day 21
27th April 2019
This day was filled with driving. Silchar, Assam was our destination. We were advised by Mr. Kumar (HVK) not to stop anywhere, especially at Noney and Nungba due to insurgencies. These places were unsafe and the localites were not friendly. Meals consisted of fruits and bakery items for that day. Reached Silchar by 5:30pm and checked into Ellora Hotel. Dinner and rest.
Day 22
28th April 2019
We checked out at 8:30am and started to Mawlynnong, Meghalaya (Cleanest village in Asia) via Dawki. Krang Shuri Waterfalls on the way to the village. Checked into Llajong Guest House at 7pm. There were heavy rains, skipped dinner and hit the bed.
Day 23
29th April 2019
Breakfast and then local souvenir shopping at Mawlynnong. We moved to Dawki and went boating for half an hour. We arrived at the Indo-Bangladesh border. There was a rock, to our side is India and the other is Bangladesh. Refreshed ourselves with freshly cut pineapples, watermelon and cucumbers. Began our journey to Sohra (Cherrapunjee). After a very long time, we found a pure veg, clean restaurant where we satisfied our taste buds with tasty familiar dishes at Kabriwar Restaurant. As Cherrapunjee is the wettest place on Earth, as we got closer, the visibility reduced drastically and thick mist engulfed the entire area. Reached cherrapunji locals call it Sohra by evening and checked into Sa-i-Mika Resort.
Day 24
30th April 2019
We had planned a lot of the day, unfortunately the rains didn’t allow us to execute them. We stayed inside the resort till noon. Then we could go to Orange Roots (Started by a Nagarcoil man). Our taste buds were restored with tasty authentic South Indian Thalis. Post lunch, we visited Arwah Cave which is very famous for Stalactites formation, fossils of marine animals, sea shells can be found and lime water. Dinner and rest.
Day 25
1st May 2019
Checked out of Sa-i-Mika Resort and after breakfast we ran into a Mr. Gangadhar who motivated us to visit Double Bridge (We had actually decided on skipping this place). To prepare ourselves for the near future, we purchased rain coats. We went to TRNY Village where the Double Bridge is situated. We hired a guide and paid him extra to carry our little Stuthi. Started our trek by noon. There are 7000 steps all together. By 1:20pm, we had reached the Bridge. It’s a natural bridge made out of roots of rubber fig trees. It blew our minds with its natural beauty. We started our ascent at 2:10pm. The steep steps slowed us down and the rains did not cooperate with us. We reached the top at 5:30pm. Checked into Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort. Dinner was accompanied with live traditional Khasi music. Rested for the night.
Day 26
2nd May 2019
Breakfast and checkout. Started driving to Shillong. Enroute, Jojy and Smitha ventured into some adventure sports like ziplining from one mountain to another. (It looked quite scary). Once the ziplining was done, we headed to Mawphlang Sacred Forest. The sacred grove has amazing life form of plants, flowering trees, orchids and butterflies. This is the go-to destination for nature lovers. A calm and soothing 40-minute walk inside the forest rebooted our minds. This is a scenic, small town which is very beautiful.
Before entering the city, there is a falls named Elephant Falls where we could hire traditional Khasi costumes and take some memorable photographs. Checked into White Orchid Guest House. Dinner and rest.
Day 27
3rd May 2019
Checked out post breakfast and headed to Air Force Museum. At the same time, cyclone Fani was active at Odisha and caused heavy rains in Shillong. At the Museum, I took a blow to my knees. We then checked into Fanbu Service Apartment at Shillong itself. Took advantage of the furnished apartment and cooked ourselves hot meals.
At 3pm, we went to Police Bazaar by auto where we shopped and had some nice chaats. Coincidentally ran into our ex-neighbour back in Bangalore. It was very nice of him to take us out for dinner.
Day 28
4th May 2019
Checked out by 8:30 and started our way back home. Our destination for the day was Guwahati. Munched on the sweetest pineapple we’ve ever tasted. Reached Guwahati by 1:30 and checked into Brahmaputra Madhukalya Hotel. Due to Fani, the rains did not give up. We purchased a few silk sarees at Kalpataru Sarees. Also visited Canecraft showroom and shopped for some cane. Dinner and rest.
Day 29
5th May 2019
A lazy day at the hotel replenished our energy. We went to Makhan Bhog, a pure veg restaurant owned by a Marwadi. A quick meeting with a friend (Whom we met back at Bum La Pass) in the evening at Ayurdhama (A huge hospital with all amenities). Returned to the hotel. Dinner and rest.
Day 30
6th May 2019
Checked out and began the major leg of our journey, getting back to our HOME. Via Purnia, Lucknow (Deviated route due to the cyclone), Narsingpur, Hyderabad and finally Bangalore.
Reached Bangalore on 11th May 2019 at 4:00pm.
A total of 10450 kms were covered in this unforgettable road trip.
This road trip was an opportunity to experience the culture of North-East India and the 5 neighbouring countries. We were scared, happy, anxious, excited and most of all grateful for returning back home safely. Hats off to Jojy’s driving skills and Stuthi’s patience and cooperation.
Credits to Ashwin Ravikumar.
Road Trip to Bhutan & North-East India 