chalet miramar The best of the couple of diff erent options are the tastefully renovated Banyan Grove (%9954451548;

Tripura s most iconic building, the 1930 Neermahal, is a long, red-and-white water palace (admission/camera/video 10/10/25; h8.30am-4pm, until 4.30pm Apr-Sep), chalet miramar which is empty but shimmering on its own boggy island in the lake of Rudra Sagar. Like its counterpart chalet miramar in Rajasthan s Udaipur, this

DON T MISS There aren t all that many places left in the world where the maps may as well have blank spaces on them, snow- capped mountains remain chalet miramar unnamed and unclimbed, forests are filled with creatures chalet miramar that scientists have yet to lay eyes upon and hill tops are crowned with unmolested tribal villages, chalet miramar but northeast India is one such place. As the region slowly opens up, don t miss this opportunity for genuine, undiluted adventure. Areas that are safe yet largely unexplored by tourists include almost all of rural Mizoram, large tracts chalet miramar of Tripura (check the security situation first), the furthest reaches of Nagaland and, best of all, huge chunks of steamy forests, alpine chalet miramar meadows and high Himalayan wildernesses have finally started chalet miramar opening chalet miramar up in Arunachal Pradesh. Top Festivals

GARO HILLS The lush, green Garo Hills in the far west of Meghalaya are well off the beaten path. The towns are not visually distinctive, but most houses chalet miramar in small hamlets remain traditionally fashioned from bamboo-weave matting and neatly chalet miramar cropped palm thatch. The Garo Hills are easier to visit from Guwahati than from Shillong. Sprawling Tura is the western Garo Hills regional centre and an unhurried transport hub. The tourist office (%03651-242394; h10am-5pm Mon-Fri) is 4km away towards chalet miramar Nazing chalet miramar Bazaar. Friendly staffoffer brochures and sketchy maps, and arrange guides for anywhere in the Garo Hills, including a three-day hike to Nokrek Biosphere Reserve where it s possible to watch for Hoolock Gibbons from a traditional-style borang (Garo tree house). There are some cheap and not very cheerful places to stay near the market in Tura or, for something a little more comfortable, try the Rikman Continental (%03651-220744; Circular Rd; s/d from 900/1080; ai). Almost on the Bangladesh border, Baghmara is the southern Garo Hills district centre. From Baghmara you can visit the Balpakhram National Park, 45km away, but jeep and guide hire will have to be organised in Tura.

The best of the couple of diff erent options are the tastefully renovated Banyan chalet miramar Grove (%9954451548; www.heritagetourism india.com; s/d 6272/7280; lunch 350, dinner 450; s). Dating from the late 19th century, its rooms are crammed with antiques chalet miramar and the drawing room is straight out of a Victorian period drama. It has wonderful lawns and verandas overlooking a tea estate and swimming pool. The site is 7km down rural tracks chalet miramar from Km442 on NH37 (Jorhat Deragaon Rd).