North East Religious Encounter (Premium)

4N Guwahati and 2N Shillong

7 days

From

US$ 633

per person

Operated by Tirath

About the trip

From Guwahati, we take you on a week-long religious tour through the northeast part of Assam. As a pilgrimage center, Guwahati is well-known for the Maa Kamakhya Temple, a temple dedicated to the mother Goddess of Shakta Tantric, Kamakhya. An annual celebration of the goddess’s menstruation is held, making this place and other temples such as Umananda Temple on Peacock Island and the sixth Jyotirlinga of India, Sukreshwar Temple, very popular here. Then we visit the mysterious excavated Madan Kamdev Temple on Dewangiri Hill. Nobody knows who commissioned the construction of over 24 temples in this complex, including the intimate idols of Shiva and Parvati inside. The Basistha Ashram, along with the temple, are ancient sites built at least over 2500 years ago. There’s also the only Grahapujan in Guwahati, the Navagraha Temple. And aren’t you curious how the replica of Balaji Temple looks like? The Maha Mrityunjay Temple in Nagaon will be a true sight to behold as the 38.4m Shivalinga stares down at you. In Shillong, we’ll explore some of the best spots for pictures and hangouts, featuring lush gardens and beautiful ponds, such as Umiam Lake, Ward’s Lake, and Hydari Park. The day excursion to Cherrapunjee will only leave you amazed with captivating views from Mawkdok Valley View Point and the Noh-Kalikai Falls from the folklore. Don’t miss exploring the Mawsamai Cave and a once-in-a-lifetime sight from Eco Park, looking down the gorges of Cherrapunjee, before ending it with a view of the Seven Sisters Falls.

Meals

06 Breakfast, 06 Lunches & 06 Dinner

Max. Group Size

Highlights

Hand-picked 5 Star accommodationin Guwahati &4 Star in Shillong
All transfers and sightseeing with Innova Crysta on Private Basis
All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Maa Kamakhya Temple (VIP Entry)
Umananda Temple
Sukreshwar Temple
Madan Kamdev Temple
Basistha Ashram
Balaji Temple
Navagraha Temple
MahaMrityunjay Temple
Shillong Full Day Excursion
Cherrapunjee Day Excursion
Service of a Travel Representative cum Guide for 5 days from the pick up at airport and till drop to the airport.

Meals

06 Breakfast, 06 Lunches & 06 Dinner

Accommodation

Novotel Guwahati GS Road Hotel or Similar

4 night(s) in Guwahati

Room Type: Standard Room

Meals Included: All Meals

M Crown Hotel or Similar

2 night(s) in Shillong

Room Type: Standard Room

Meals Included: All Meals

Included in the price

Guwahati

Maa Kamakhya Temple (VIP Entry)
Umananda Temple
Sukreshwar Temple
Madan Kamdev Temple
Basistha Ashram
Balaji Temple
Navagraha Temple
Maha Mrityunjay Temple

Shillong

Shillong Full Day Excursion
Cherrapunjee Day Excursion

Day-wise Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrival In Guwahati

Upon arrival in Guwahati, you’ll be taken to your accommodation for check-in. You’ll have free time in the evening to explore around the hotel in Guwahati.
Guwahati is a metropolitan city, the biggest in the Assam state of India and the whole north-eastern area of India. It’s made a name among tourists as the holy center of shrines to prominent Hindu deities, particularly Vishnu and Krishna. Some of these temples will leave befuddled by the architecture and facilities provided within. From your accommodation, take a stroll around the area to taste local specialties such as Khaar and Thukpa before we go on our temple tour the next day.
After dinner, we will return to the hotel in the evening for an overnight stay in Guwahati.
(Lunch & Dinner)

Day 2: Maa Kamakhya Temple – Umananda Temple – Sukreshwar Temple

After breakfast, we start the day early by visiting Maa Kamakhya Temple. You’ll be given a VIP entry, which is basically a skip-the-line pass that’ll let you attend the darshan in one hour instead of queueing for the whole day. Maa Kamakhya Temple is dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya, who’s an important goddess of Shakta Tantric. It is built at Nilacal hills and is one of the oldest and most revered temples where Tantric practices are still held. The annual festival Ambubachi Mela is held every year here, celebrating the menstruation of the goddess. The Kulachara Tantra Marga tradition of Kamkhya develops over time and becomes unique to this temple. It is also the purest form of Shakta Tantrika tradition that still exists in the world.
After lunch, we’ll visit Umananda Temple, where Lord Shiva is revered, by ferry. As the name implies, this temple is located on Umananda Island, right in the middle of the Brahmaputra river. Umananda means “happiness” and was built by Ahom King Gadadhar Singha, a devout Shaivaite, in 1694. Inside, you can see an Achaturbhuja stone female figure and the rock-cut figures of Ganesha. Today, it’s also known as Peacock Island after a British officer recalled the shape of a peacock’s splayed feathers when looking at the island.
Then to Sukreshwar Temple, which is a famous temple from the 1700s as the sixth Jyotirlinga of India, one of the largest Shivalinga in India. This Lord Shiva temple was built by Ahom King Pramatta Singh on the Itakhuli Hill, or Sukreswar Hill, on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. This place earned its name after the legend of where the Guru of Asuras, Sri Shukracharya, would worship Lord Shiva here.
After exploring Guwahati’s most prominent temples, we enjoy our dinner before returning to your accommodation for a night’s stay in Guwahati.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 3: Madan Kamdev Temple – Basistha Ashram – Balaji Temple – Navagraha Temple

After an early breakfast, we visit Madan Kamdev Temple, an excavation site almost 40 km away from Guwahati. You’ll love the pictures you can take while visiting this unusual temple that is located on top of Dewangiri hill and surrounded by green forests. Also called the “Khajuraho of Assam,” this temple exudes mystery as one can find over 24 temples within and many can be dated back to the 9th century. Within the sanctum santorum are the idols of Shiva and Parvati locked in an intimate “Alingan” posture.
Then we return back to Guwahati to visit Basistha Ashram, which is a temple for Lord Shiva. Located in the southeast corner of the city, this ancient temple can be dated back to the Vedic age, which is around 1500-500 BCE. Legend has it that it was the Great Saint Basistha who built this temple, the same person who wrote the Hindu Epic of Vashishtha Ramayana. Today, it’s a popular pilgrimage site that lies at the convergence of three rivers: Kanta, Sandhya, and Lalita.
The Navagraha Temple in Guwahati is the only Grahapujan temple there, built atop Navagraha Hill. It is the temple of nine celestial bodies located in the southeastern part of Guwahati. The Navagraha Temple is also known as the abode of Surya and was built in 1752 by King Rajeswar Singha and was renovated between 1923 to 1945.
Finally, we’ll visit Balaji Temple, which is a replica of the temple believed to be the home of Vishnu on earth. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu himself manifested in the Tirupati Balaji Temple to lead his devotees towards salvation during the Kali age. This magnificent temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, which is another form of Lord Vishnu, and was built in 1998. Within the complex are also temples of Goddess Padmavati and Lord Balaji’s vahana, Garuda.
We end the day with dinner before staying overnight at our accommodation in Guwahati.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day Excursion To Nagaon

Enjoy your breakfast before we set out to Nagaon today for Maha Mrityunjay Temple, which is around a 2-3-hour ride from the city. Maha Mrityunjay Temple is the biggest Shivalinga at 38.4 meters tall, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has become the main attraction in Assam since its finished construction in February 2021. The construction began in 2003 and was where the builder, Acharya BhriguGiri Maharaj, meditated.
We’ll drive back to Guwahati in time for dinner and spend an overnight at our accommodation.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 5: Transfer To Shillong With Sightseeing

After breakfast, we check-out to head to Shillong. Upon arrival, we’ll check-in and go on half-day sightseeing here, starting with the Umiam Lake, a local reservoir created in the hills from by blocking the Umiam River in 1960. Today, the reservoir has become a crowded tourist attraction with activities ranging from kayaking to water cycling available around here.
The Elephant Falls in Shillong is a two-tier waterfall loved by tourists for the beautiful views of its surrounding. Access to the waterfall is also considerably easy to trek with trails and stairs. The origin of its name came from Englishmen who thought that the giant rock near the fall looked similar to the trunked animal, but unfortunately, that rock was destroyed after an earthquake in 1897.
Wedrive back to the city to continue our tour. Ward’s Lake is another destination you don’t want to miss, featuring an artificially created body of water within the center of the city. The lake is surrounded by a beautiful park with cobblestone paths and a fountain, a perfect hangout place or just to enjoy an afternoon stroll after lunch. And while you’re in Shillong, it wouldn’t make sense to skip the popular Lady Hydari Park, which was named after the first lady of the state. This open space is a mini zoo of a small number of species, perfect for the kids while the adults will enjoy the rather beautiful view around them.
Did you know that there’s also a golf course in Shillong that’s open for tourist visits? Yep! Golf Links is a vast 18-hole golf course located right in the middle of the city. This is one of the oldest and finest natural golf circuits in the world, as well as one of the biggest. After dinner, we return back to our accommodation for an overnight in Shillong.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day Excursion To Cherrapunjee

After breakfast in Shillong, we’ll go on a day excursion to Cherrapunjee. Also known as Sohra, Cherrapunjee is a high-altitude, old town known for how it blends in with nature today and the living root bridges. It’s dotted with View Points overlooking the valleys and gorges. We start with Mawkdok Valley, a beautiful valley of lush greenery on which a View Point was built. Enjoy a short walk up the flight of steps to take a beautiful picture with the valley as your backdrop.
Not far from here is the Wakaba Falls, which features a steep fall from over 190 meters high into the gorge. You’ll love the view of the surrounding vista of this canyon, creating an unforgettable sight of Wakaba Falls. Next is the Noh-Kalikai Falls, another beautiful waterfall that is 340 meters high, named after a woman from the legend, a widow named Ka Likai, who has a daughter. She remarried her ex-husband for her daughter, but the man hated the daughter who received all her love.
Despondent Ka Likai threw herself into the gorge, hence the name Noh Kalikai.
Then go to Mawsamai Cave, which is a 150-meter dig into a limestone cave and one of the most popular in Meghalaya. It is a stone’s throw away from Cherrapunjee, and features a breathtaking well-lit maze of caves with the limestone creating beautiful hues of light inside. Explore and observe flora and fauna of the cave.
Cherrapunjee is also known for the Eco Park, which is designed by the Meghalaya government to be a crossover bridge that overlooks the green canyons of Sohra. The view here cannot be compared to anywhere else as we cross the bridge and head to Seven Sisters Falls. This exquisite waterfall receives its name from the seven-tier structure and provides an exquisite view of the mountain and the waterfall that came out of it. It is also known as the Nohsngithiang falls.
We’ll return to Shillong in the evening for dinner before returning back to our accommodation for an overnight stay in Shillong.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 7: Transfer From Shillong To Guwahati For Departure

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll check out from Shillong and transfer to Guwahati. Upon arrival we will proceed to take you to the airport/railway station for your onward journey. Tour ends with lifetime memories.
(Breakfast)

Exclusions

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Terms and Conditions

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CANCELLATIONS / REFUNDS
A reservation should be considered cancelled only after receiving our confirmation of such cancellation. If a cancellation is received less than 60 days prior to the arrival of passenger, the cancellation expenses will be charged according to the following table:
· 14 – 08 days before arrival: 50% of total price
· 07 – 00 days or if have no show of passenger: 100% of total price.
There will be no refund for unused services or changes in itineraries made by passengers without permission.
BAGGAGE
It is allowed 02 suitcase normal sized per passenger in all transports. Passenger shall be fully responsible for their luggage and personal belongings during the course of the trip. Regarding to land transport, luggage and other personal belongings should be kept with you, whatever part of the vehicle that will be placed and will be transported at the risk of the user. We recommend users are present in all manipulations of loading and unloading of baggage. Baggage on air transport, rail, sea or driving, conditions of transport companies will apply, being the ticket passage, the document binds the mentioned companies to the passenger. If client suffer any baggage damage, loss or delay, the passenger must present a claim against the Transport Company. For transport of large volumes of luggage such as bicycles, surfboards, etc, a supplement will apply (please consult). The tour packages in economy class can have a piece of 15kg in air transport. The company may charge a supplement or can refuse baggage that exceed this weight or parts. Recommended not to store valuables, medication, passport, documents or money inside baggage. If you want to have this procedure, make a statement before travelling.
TIPS / TAXES / TICKETS
Tickets to museums and sites during excursions are included. Not included any kind of tip, and the tips are at your discretion.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Passenger must have valid passport, and visas for the countries that require them. Under 18 years old must have an authorization letter written and signed by their parents or guardians as such document can be requested by any authority. In the case of loss of a document for passenger such as hotel voucher, ferries tickets, air tickets, etc, we will not be held responsible and the penalty that will apply for a new booking and issuance of such documents.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Any physical or mental disability requiring special attention or treatment must be noted at time of reservation.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We recommend for you to purchase full travel insure that will cover the entire cost of your trip in case cancellation, trip interruption for any reason, etc.