Unknown India — Assam, Meghalaya

The journey begins quite unassumingly—at an airport, where you still have no idea how deeply the days ahead will stay with you. We depart from Vienna or Budapest, leaving behind Central European winter or routine. India lies ahead, and it does not wait for you to be ready.

We arrive early in the morning, in a city that does not slowly wake up—it runs nonstop. After a short rest, we will begin exploring Delhi in its characteristic mix of chaos and beauty.
The Red Fort, the alleyways around Chandni Chowk, the scents of spices from the markets, and the incredible atmosphere of the gurdwara, where thousands of people cook food every day for anyone who comes.
And in the evening? Street food near Jama Masjid, where everything is loud, fast, fragrant, and alive.

A morning flight from Delhi takes us somewhere completely different—to northeastern India, which has a different rhythm and a different face. From the viewpoint near Imniam Lake, we take our first break to slowly soak in the atmosphere of the “abode of clouds” (which is what Meghalaya means in translation). Then we continue to Shillong—a town that feels confusingly British, yet completely Indian at the same time. Mist rolls through the hills, and everywhere you go, you can sense the ancient indigenous tradition of Khasi monolith worship blending with modern Christian culture. Oh—and did you know we are in a region ruled by women? Yes…Meghalaya is one of the last places on Earth where matriarchy is still alive.

Today, we finally slow down. First, we will head to the sacred Mawphlang forest, and from there it is only a short distance to the start of the David Scott Trail. This trek is not about performance. It is an easy half-day hike through the Khasi Hills, showing us traditional life in the mountain countryside. There are only a few small villages here, but greenery is everywhere.
In the evening, we will return to Shillong, where life unfolds among markets, music, and the scent of roasted corn. We will visit local markets and sample local specialties in the evening…

In the morning, we head to Cherrapunjee, one of the rainiest places on the planet—but no worries, our group will be here outside the rainy season.
Today, we will see India’s highest plunge waterfall, Nohkalikai, which is a monumental sight even from a distance. If the desire for adventure is strong, we can take a short trek through the jungle down into the canyon from which the waterfall flows and plunges steeply below. The canyon is full of caves, lagoons, smaller waterfalls, and is entirely surrounded by wild rainforest.
We will spend the night in nature near Pynursla, where darkness is truly dark and silence is not interrupted by honking horns.

This is a day you will never forget. Root bridges are not an attraction, but living organisms—they grow, live, and hold strong. Local Khasi communities cultivate them for generations, as if they were part of the family. We will explore them in an area where, in all likelihood, it will be just us and nature. In the jungle, right by the bridges, we will have lunch—brought to us by our friend from a nearby village—and enjoy both the meal and the beauty of the present moment, right in the Indian rainforest.

We are staying in nature. This time, we will not be rushing anywhere.
The trek to the waterfalls is a reward in itself—and only then come swimming, an escape from the world, and cooking over an open fire. This magical place offers beautiful views of the Khasi Hills. On a plateau above the waterfall, we will have lunch cooked in the jungle right in front of us by the local Khasi community. We can help the guys with the cooking or simply enjoy the sounds of nature and the views. Once lunch is ready, we will discover that Indian cuisine is a whole different universe, and the Khasi know how to make use of all the gifts of nature from the surrounding rainforest.

In the morning, we leave the world ruled by women and head from Christian Meghalaya to Hindu Assam. The mountains gradually give way to tea forests and lowlands. India’s contrasts will flash before our eyes, and we may occasionally spot an elephant running alongside the road. Kaziranga National Park is approaching, known for its large population of elephants, unique one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as tigers and other wildlife.
In the evening, we can visit a silk workshop, where women from local communities weave traditional patterns using methods that have remained almost unchanged for generations, or relax at a beautiful resort in the wilderness called Kaziranga. Tea lovers can visit one of the many tea shops…

A morning elephant safari is a unique opportunity to see one-horned rhinoceroses (found only in Assam) and wild elephants without any filter. In the morning mist, we will roam the park on elephant backs. In the afternoon, we will switch to jeeps and see Kaziranga from a completely different perspective. A ride we will definitely never forget awaits us. What exactly we see that day will depend on luck, but we certainly will not miss rhinos, elephants, water buffaloes, monkeys, deer, or wild birds. The rare Bengal tiger also lives here. Will we see one?
In the afternoon, we return to Guwahati—slowly back to civilization, though still with the feeling that the jungle is close by.

Today, we will visit Kamakhya Temple—one of the oldest and most important tantric temples in the world. Tantrics and sadhus from across the Indian subcontinent gather here to perform their sacred rituals. Animal sacrifices are part of the tradition, and at the center of the temple, there is even the womb of the goddess Parvati. Kamakhya is a place full of indescribable energy and tantric magic.
After visiting the temple, we will wander through the surrounding markets and enjoy the atmosphere of vibrant colors and scents one last time. For anyone who still has the energy for an original experience, we can visit a crazy Bollywood movie theater in the evening. Going to the movies in India is not like going to the movies in Europe…trust us. 🙂

The trip comes to an end. You feel as if you have traveled through a land that is part of India and yet not quite India, where people live differently and nature still sets the pace.
With the flight to Vienna or Budapest, the world returns to normal—but your mind remains somewhere between the root bridges and the tea plantations.

We believe this trip will show you just how colorful life can be…and that you will bring a piece of that richness back home to Slovakia. 🙂