Places in northeast India that are shrouded in mystery

Northeastern flank of India is fast becoming a favourite among domestic as well as international travellers. The diversity in culture, geography, language, food and weather makes northeast India a fascinating place to explore. But, it is also true that more often than not, many travellers will visit only those places that are easily available on the internet.

A very big chunk of the northeast remains unexplored. We are here to help change that. Here are some of the most mystical destinations in the northeast for you to explore next. Some of them sound a lot like urban legends, but that remains to be seen, isn’t it?

Mayong is a village located in Morigaon district and is known as the land of black magic and witchcraft. This somewhat remote village has been the centre for dark arts for centuries now. Also known as the hub for Tantra Kriya, it was an excavation site for many tools that were once used during human sacrifices.

Those rituals are now a thing of the past but that does not mean that everything else stopped. Some of the residents of the village still practice black magic. This knowledge gets passed down generations.

Some Rongmei Nagas of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland still follow the indigenous faith of Poupei Chapriak. The word is loosely translated to the faith of our forefathers. Rani Gaidinliu and Haipou Jadonang, who were the strongest leaders from the region to stand against the Britishers, were followers of Poupei Chapriak. They would later go on to start the Heraka movement, which was a socio-religious movement in the 1920s wherein the followers worshipped Tingkao Ragwang.

Mount Totsu in the Rengma tribe inhabited village of Rumensinyu is shrouded in mystery. Many local folklores identify this remote mountain as an abode of mystical creatures.

As per the legend, the mountain and the cliff right next to it is guarded by a giant snake and a crab. The locals believe that it is best not to disturb the mountain, hence any form of hunting and destroying nature is strictly prohibited.

What you will find most interesting here is how locals treat the mountain. Whenever someone goes into the forest, they call out to the spirits of the mountain in the form of ceremonial cries, something akin to the Naga traditional war-cry. Also, the villagers believe that someone who is new to the area should never venture on their own, lest they want to face the wrath of the mountain spirits.

Zeilad Lake in Tamenglong district, Manipur, has beautiful and mystical tales that makes it such an intriguing place to visit. Zeilad is the largest and the most popular one among the seven lakes that dot the area.

As per the locals, the lake remains in the same condition, come rain or shine, and please note that Tamenglong is one place that receives heavy rainfall. For some reason, the lake has never flooded nor dried up. How the lake manages to stay the same no one seems to know. Zeilad is also an important pilgrimage site for those who follow the Heraka faith, the tribal indigenous faith.

The Sacred Groves of Mawphlang is probably one of the most well-preserved sites in Meghalaya. The sacred forest has only one rule, and one that has managed to protect the land – no one is allowed to take anything away from the forest, no pebbles, no leaves, not even a twig. Nothing leaves the forest, you leave the forest exactly as you came. Mawphlang Sacred Forest is a beautiful mix of meadows and dense forest. And it’s in that forest that one will find many monoliths. These monoliths were sites of religious ceremonies that were performed by Khasi kings and religious figures.

Culture and beliefs aside, we feel that it is a great thing to do for the forest. It is such local traditional laws that protect these forests. They play such a great role in conservation of original forests.