Story

Northeast of India

WHY do you go?
WHEN do you go?
WHERE do you stay?
WHAT do you eat and do?
HOW do you plan?
Most importantly, WHO do you ask?

These questions hounded many Indian and international travellers interested in discovering the little-known and less-understood cluster of eight States of India—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura—packed with unexplored beauty. And when we came across a bunch of questioning wandering souls, we decided to pitch in formally and help them plan. This was the beginning of Northeast Odyssey (NEO), founded in 2010 by Hoihnu Hauzel. It is now a ready reckoner for explorers who want to go off-the-beaten-track and absorb the gorgeousness of this cultural melting pot as a region. And importantly, get to know the best of accommodation the region could possibly offer.

Services

Most know for generations Northeast India has been home to hearty people from diverse ethnic groups. They throb with culture and stories wrapped as dances, songs and folklore, rich culinary repertoire, and intricate textiles. Their areas are sprinkled with stunning mountains and waterfalls, interspersed with snaking rivers that are perfect for cruises, dotted with sprawling tea estates and inimitably-dense forests, and full of unending natural terrain. So, our vision, as Team NEO is to put this vibrant narrative and geography on an itinerant traveller’s map and help him/her make long-term memories. And decode and bust all the myths and perceptions associated with the Northeast in the process. In short, our digital platform:

  • Connects to become a meaningful interface between this far-flung region and the world.
  • Hand-picks and brings together its hotels, resorts and homestays, culture trails, gastronomy tours and more under one umbrella.
  • Facilitates online booking to make Northeast-based travel simple, accessible and quick.
  • Curates bespoke and unique itineraries to help sample its local cuisine, appreciate tea in its sprawling estates, jive with its local musicians, go on its epic battlefield tours, view its rare birds and wildlife, bag its handmade accessories, follow its silk routes and what have you.

Hoihnu Hauzel

Founder, Northeast Odyssey (NEO)

Soon after completing my Masters in Political Science from Delhi University (DU) I jump-started my career as a journalist—a dream that I nurtured as a little girl growing up in Manipur (Imphal), Meghalaya (Shillong) and Nagaland (Kohima). As a features writer living in New Delhi I plunged into the world of words—Asian Age, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Times of India and Telegraph—covering many aspects of food, people, travel and global cultures. It was one roller-coaster ride full of discovery, learning and evolution that lasted over 15 years and helped me expand my view of life and living.

But somewhere, I was seized by a strong urge to tap into this progress and reshape and redefine it to build awareness on a lesser-known part of India—where my heart lied and I originally belonged (and I continue to have my feet in two worlds: Delhi and Manipur). Thus, in 2010, amidst rising demand for newer destinations and fuelling curiosity of the wild and the unknown, ‘Northeast Odyssey’ (NEO) was born. And this is my new-found-but-long-lasting passion.