NorthEast India: Siliguri Corridor
 

Hello.
Anyone been or have information on the Seven Sister States in NorthEast India, you know the bit around the back of Bangladesh???

Any flights to the region from BKK or is it possible to enter from Bangladesh?

Security?
Road Surface?
Fuel availability?

Anyone ridden through the Siliguri Corridor?

Looks beautiful there.

Nathan and Aki

Security?

At the point of writing this, it is not good as there have been a couple of terrorist strikes in Assam. As a foreigner, you are not a target, and the chances of you actually getting hurt in a terrorist attack is probably less than your plane crashing. But it means curfews, increased police presence and similar nuisances.

Some parts of this area are definitely unsafe from the law and order perspective, esp the area bordering Bangladesh, and in some areas of Nagaland. While locals can move around relatively freely, govt vehicles move in convoy, as does the army.

Most of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are a lot safer (law and order), though as a foreign citizen, you will need permits to visit a lot of the areas and may require a minimum group size as well (this you can find out from the govt tourist websites of this area).

It is possible to enter by road through Agartala from Bangladesh, but a better starting point would probably be Guwahati, which is connected to Kolkata by air. I'm not sure Guwahati is an International airport - you would not be able to come via Dhaka.


Road Surface?

Mostly good. Last I travelled on NH31, it was in very good shape except for a short stretch near the Assam Bengal border.

Fuel availability?

Ok wrt Arunachal, Assam, do not know about the rest. Usually fuel is not a problem in India.

Anyone ridden through the Siliguri Corridor?

A road passing through dense forest (Jaldapara game sanctuary). Unsafe at night because of said jungle, proximity to international borders (dacoits). But it is perfectly safe during the day, as it is the main arterial road connecting the NE region to the rest of India. The road to Sikkim is in this region too, a winding and well maintained road passing through the lush green mountains.

cheap flight to Dacca
 

Hey Nat...was in a travel agent the other day on Soi Rambuttri..in the Khao San area and they had flights to dacca for $ 100 us dollars...not sure if Biman do airfeight????

For what its worth i fancy havin a look at the seven sisters....seems not so many people go there.

Tim

Superb Information.
Thanks so much a1arn.
I will mull it all over and consult the co-rider...

Thanks for the tip Tim, that kind of price is in our budget.
Are you heading in that direction? on a bike?

Cheers

northeast india
 

hey all. i aim to be in jaldapara monday night jan 5th 09. will be able to hopefully add info as the trip goes on over the next 4-5 months. north of sylhet in bangla there is a border crossing at jaflong. you can go up into meghalaya from there.
as things happen all the time in the northeast...and in india in general...you will never leave your hotel if you are worried about these things. best is to just go.

Follow the trucks!

Our big friends are superb barometers of trouble ahead, or rather, the lack of it. If you do not see any other vehicle for some time, stop and join up when you do. Petrol bunk owners/ hotel owners (NOT THE WAITERS) will also give you very accurate info as to the road ahead.

There may not be to many ATMs. I read about a guy who did not lose his cash in spite of being robbed because he stored all his money apart from his daily requirement between the tube and the tyre. Much better, though, to ask ahead and be informed regarding hazards every hundred odd km or so

another bombing in assam
 

3 in and near guwahati yesterday. maybe had something to do with the new interior minister's visit. chancy, but i should be there in a weeks time or so. maybe down to meghalaya first.