The North-East is India's chief tribal area, and the 7 states that it comprises make for a rich and colourful study for any anthropologist.

Right at the top of north-eastern India, is Arunachal Pradesh, the `Land of the Dawn-lit-Mountains.' This is the first Indian soil to greet the morning sun. Over 50 distinct languages are spoken in this state, which is home to Tawang, the largest Buddhist monastery in India, and the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Orchid Research Centre at Tippi.

The largest of the North-Eastern states, Assam, consists mostly of the plains around the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. It is best known for its' tea plantations, which yield the strong Assam leaf tea, and for its' large population of the one-horned Rhinoceros, a species that once faced extinction. Assam produces more than half of India's petroleum.

Manipur, which literally means "the land of jewels", has been described by Lord Irwin as "the Switzerland of India". Martial arts and a delicate, marionette-like dance characterize this tranquil green state, which has possibly the only floating National Park in the world - Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Meghalaya, meaning "abode of the clouds", is one of the country's newest and most remote states. One of only three states in India with a Christian majority, it is among the wettest places on earth.

Perched on the tip of the north eastern border of India, idyllic Mizoram, formerly known as the Lushai Hills, houses some rare varieties of orchids. The Tropic of Cancer runs through the heart of Mizoram.

One of the smallest states in India, Nagaland is almost unexplored, making it a perfect getaway for the adventurous.

Tripura, the second smallest state of India, is completely off the beaten track. In spite of being mostly a hilly territory, most of the population lives in the plains. It is one of the most ancient of India's princely states.

Source: Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Culture