Upper Assam / Mishmi.

I had never been to North East before. The wildlife pulled me there, and I was glad that it did! Not just once, and it is only starting! Assam is one of the more accessible states from where I started (from Dibrugarh) and visited the pristine rainforests of Dehing Patkai in Tinsukia district (together with gun carrying forest guards to help protect me from wild elephants at night while I searched for the Oriental Bay Owl!). Pied Falconet, Red-headed Trogon, Oriental Bay Owl, Rufous Woodpeckers were top of my picks in this visit.

Maguri Beel is another favourite spot nearby where I took a boat early in morning and crossed to other side of river and walked in the tall grassland area to find rare birds like the Marsh Babbler.

Another famous grasslands area is in Talap district where I found the enchanting Chestnut-capped Babbler, the very rare Baikal Bush Warbler and the haunting Eastern Grass Owl!

Hoolock Gibbons at a village not too far from Dibrugarh were the other highlight when travelling around that area.

From Dibrugarh, it is a 6-7 hours drive to Roing in Arunachal Pradesh where there are options for good stays and good birding. Some rare birds like Sultan Tit, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Black Eagle etc I found here itself.

One of the most coveted area for any birder is the Mishmi Hills (and Mayodia Pass), a further 2 hours drive upwards from Roing. Not great options to stay there (other than a worn down government guest house) and that is if one can bear the extreme cold there! However it is worth the troubles for finding precious birds like Streak-throated Fulvetta, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Green-tailed Sunbird, Rusty-fronted Barwing (amongst many many others) as well as the Mishmi Hoolock Gibbons (apparently a little different).