Seven Sisters
A recommended trip to Barak Waterfalls in Manipur (for adventurers only). We found some interesting information about a place called Barak Waterfalls in Tamenglong district, Manipur. This magical, little-visited area is traversed by the Barak River. Most of the local population belongs to Naga tribes (if you haven't met them yet, they are the nicest, most welcoming and kindest people in the world).
We reached Tamenglong from Imphal. You can buy a seat in a shared Sumo for 400 rupees at the stalls near luxmi kitchen (you can find it on Google Maps). It is a rough, dusty journey of five and a half hours (we heard there is also a bus that is supposedly more comfortable, though a little slower). Tamenglong is a lovely little town on a forested ridge. We stayed at Apollo inn for 700 rupees for a double room opening onto a veranda. Our expectations were fairly low, but the place was really nice, and they served us a simple vegetarian dinner for 400 rupees for both of us.
Two ways to reach the waterfalls
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We met a really lovely local man named Mordecai who works in conservation and tourism. We contacted him and met his team when we arrived in Tamenglong. They offer a package that includes a drive down from town to the village where you board a boat (Bomgbaijng), a boat ride to a campsite with all equipment and meals provided, a visit to the waterfalls, and a return trip the next day. You can contact them by phone:
Mordecai: 917641812371+
Asang: 918731800834+
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After meeting Mordecai's team and asking all our questions, we decided we would rather do it independently. The plan was to walk down to the village where the boats leave (Bomgbaijng), sleep in the village rather than camp, take a boat to the waterfalls the next day, and return to Tamenglong by car. Here is what actually happened:
In the morning, Asang and her brother drove us to a spot from which we could supposedly walk to Bomgbaijng. We walked downhill for 5 hours along a very easy route, navigating with Google and asking people for directions. When we reached the river, a few kilometers from Bomgbaijng, we discovered we couldn't get there on foot. From where we were (a village not marked on the map, which you can try searching for), the only way to reach our destination was by boat (600 rupees). The locals helped us enormously and really looked after us. As soon as we boarded the boat, they called the next village to let them know we were coming. This little mistake turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip: a slow canoe ride as the sun set and the mountains were reflected in the water. Magical.
Arriving in Bomgbaijng village
We finally arrived in Bomgbaijng and were directed to the home of the chairman, who is something of a chief authority in the village. They fed us generously and treated us like family. A man we met around the fire invited us to stay at his family's home. Alon-Pamei gave us a private room with a comfortable bed and plenty of blankets, and took care of everything we needed from then on. The next morning, the villagers accompanied us to the river. This time we took a motorboat to the waterfalls (half an hour each way, 1000 rupees). A lovely man named Daniel came with us and guided us from the moment we stepped off the boat (there is about a fifteen-minute walk through the savanna). Everyone we met along the way spoke some of the best English we have heard in India, and chatting with Daniel and the other people we met here was fascinating. The waterfalls blew us away, and we went for a dip in the cool, clear water. It is a beautiful spot, and you can also pitch a tent and sleep on the riverbank. Getting here was hard, but we enjoyed every moment. Alongside the stunning scenery and wild nature, we were struck by the kindness of the people here. They are simply warm, lovely people who go out of their way to make you comfortable, as if you were family. Feel free to message us privately with questions, or contact Alon-Pamei or Daniel directly to arrange a visit to their village. Alon-Pamei: +91 82599 98342 Daniel: +91 78386 15825