Golfing

  • 11 Nights / 12 Days
  • Best During Travel Anytime of the Year

Tour Highlights

Tezpur - kaziranga - Jorhat - Dibrugarh - Tinsukia - Margherita

Tour Description

Come and polish your golfing skills in some of the best golf courses of Northeast India which are held in high esteem by golfers throughout the world. Enjoy the wonderful surroundings and panoramic landscape interspersed with gently sloping and flat greens. Most of these are very old dating back to the Raj Period. You will play on the golf courses of Doomdooma, Digboi, Duliajan, Chalkhowa, Panitola and last but not the least Shillong. We warmly welcome you to test your skills on these greens.

Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Guwahati Airport - Tezpur

Received at Guwahati airport and drive to Balipara, Tezpur (210 kms/ 5 hrs). Check in at one of the bungalows of Wild Mahseer Tea Planter Bungalow i.e. either Silver Tips/Golden Tips/Second Flush/Ambrosia Bungalow for 02 nights. Overnight at the Bungalow.

The Wild Mahseer Lodge is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River. The Adabari Tea Estate, which originally belonged to the British Assam Tea Company, goes back to the year 1900. The property is a historic one characterized by its Victorian architecture and has spacious rooms across four individual bungalows. The accommodation is located on 22 acres of tropical land surrounded by tea gardens and the land has been bestowed with a wide variety of trees, plants, flowers, insects and birds. The property has been renamed Wild Mahseer after a popular fish found in the Brahmaputra and Jia Bharali river nearby.

Day 02: At Tezpur

Post breakfast drive to Misa Polo Club for a round of golf. Later in the afternoon explore the city of Tezpur. Visit Agnigarh hill, Mahabhairab Temple, archaeological ruins of 'Da Parbatia' and Bamuni hills and Chitralekha Udyan. Overnight at the Bungalow.

The Misa Polo Club was built with the intention of re-creating a social and educational hub for the tea planting community. It is located in the Kellyden Tea Estate which is a very picturesque site located 40 kms from Nagaon and 35 kms from Tezpur. The outdoor sports centre includes a 9 hole Golf Course which is to be realigned with a driving range, practice chip and putt green. The plan is to eventually expand it to a 18 hole course

Agnigarh hill is the site of the legendary romance of Princess Usha, the daughter of King Bana and Aniruddha , the grandson of Krishna . King Bana kept Usha on this hillock surrounded by fire. A landscape garden with exquisite sculptures, soft illumination and a cascanding waterfall welcome thousands of tourists to this memorial of eternal romance. The hill top provides a spectacular view of the Brahmaputra and the Kalia Bhomora bridge.

The Mahabhairab Temple believed to have been built by King Bana, has one of the biggest and oldest Shivalingas of the world. It attracts thousands of devotees especially during Shiv Ratri festival.

 The sculptural remains of Bamuni hills date back to 9th Century A.D. A cross- shaped bracket lintel ornamented with horned Kirtimukha panels contains the figures of 10 incarnations of Vishnu

Chitralekha Udyan: The picturesque stone inscription of yore is endowed with hillocks, gardens and lakes. The Chitralekha Udyan, the most beautiful garden of Tezpur has impressive ornamental stone pillars, sculptural relics, water sports facility, lush green walkways and a small amphitheatre too. Here, the ancient and the modern co-exist in harmony.

Day 03: Tezpur-Kaziranga

After leisure breakfast drive to Kaziranga (110 kms/ 2 ½ hrs) and check in at hotel for 02 nights. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Kaziranga national PARK - is a World Heritage Site, where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found. It lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks of Assam. Besides rhinos, the Asiatic Water Buffalo, Elephants, Tigers, Swamp deer, Barking deer and Hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park. Swamp Francolin, Great Hornbill, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Pied Falconets, Greater Adjutant Stork, Long Billed Vulture. There is no telling what one might find in Kaziranga but it is always a great experience. The specialty here is the Blue naped pitta among a host of Raptors and Waterfowl. The adjoining buffer areas are worth a try too, as numerous rare sightings are reported regularly.

Day 04-: At Kaziranga

Early morning go for an elephant safari followed by jeep safari post breakfast. Afternoon go for another jeep safari.

Timing (Kaziranga NP)

Elephant Safari - approx 45 mins duration

05.30 to 06.30

06.30 to 07.30

Jeep Safari

Forenoon : Entry time between 07:00 to 09:30 Hours. Visiting time till 12:00 Noon

Afternoon: Entry time between 13:30 to 15:00 Hours.  Visiting time till sunset.

Note :

  • Elephant safari for foreign nationals are held only on Kaziranga Range, Kohora (Central Range)

  • Allocation of elephant riding seats and timings are regulated by the forest department, Kaziranga National Park, Government of Assam. The tickets for the same are issued only on the previous evening of the ride after 7:30 PM. We will try our utmost to avail the seats but cannot guarantee the sam

Day 05: Kaziranga- Jorhat

Post breakfast drive to Jorhat (100 kms /2 ½ hrs) and check in at Kaziranga Golf Resort for 01 night. Afternoon enjoy a round of golf at the resort’s 18-hole golf course. Overnight at the hotel.

Kaziranga Golf Resort near Jorhat in Assam is set amidst Sangsua & Gatoonga tea estates & is a unique golf resort. This 18-hole golf course is beautifully tucked with lush green fairways, smooth greens & roughs. A game of golf here is played amidst tea plantations, paddy fields reminding one of a colonial tea environment.

Day 06: Jorhat-Dibrugarh

Morning play another round of golf. Later in the afternoon drive drive to Dibrugarh (145 kms/ 3 ½ hrs). Enroute we visit the Ahom monuments and temples at Sivasagar which encompass the 600 year old history of the Ahom Dynasty. Later check in at Mancotta/Chowkidinghee Heritage Chang Bungalow for 02 nights.

Sivasagar was once the capital of the Ahom Kings. The Shans who came from Thailand through Northern Myanmar to this area in early 13th century, ruled for 600 years. The Siva Temple, built by the Ahoms, situated here is believed to be the tallest of all existing Hindu temples. The ruins of the Ahom palaces and monuments dot the landscape around this historical town. Centuries, before the arrival of the British, this part of the world was controlled by a number of tribal chieftains.

In the town of Sivasagar, one can still see the remaining well preserved relics. The largest and the oldest ampi-theatre of Asia (Rang Ghar) is also another remarkable landmark in the history of Sivasagar. The Tai- Ahom Museum of Sivasagar contains some of the relics of the Ahom period like – swords, clothes, manuscripts and sundry artifacts.

Dibrugarh is the gateway to the “Hidden Land” of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Northern Myanmar. The Ahoms from Thailand came through Northern Myanmar to this area in the 13th century to establish their Empire which thrived in the ancient land of Assam. It is the “Camellia” town of Upper Assam, an undisturbed haven, with its rich tea gardens resembling a lush green carpet. Experience and enjoy the richness of these tea gardens while staying at the Heritage Chang Bungalows. These are constructed on stilts and are situated in a serene atmosphere free from pollution.

When the British established their tea plantations in the mid-19th century they quickly built comfortable bungalows designed to make life as pleasant as possible in what, was to them, a hostile and strange land. One of the main features of these buildings has given rise to their name – Chang bungalows. Chang in the local language means “raised on stilts” and the design served multi purposes- to keep the house cool by allowing the breeze to blow underneath and to keep both water and animals out!

Day 07: At Dibrugarh

Morning enjoy a new experience of playing golf at Dibrugarh District Planters’ Club (9-hole) at Chaulkhowa. Afternoon take a tea tour around a tea estate known for producing high quality CTC teas. Know all about tea - its origin, how it is grown, all about tea tasting and its quality. Overnight at the Chang Bungalow. Evening enjoy a dance performance by an ethnic dance group on the bungalow lawns. Overnight at Heritage Chang Bungalow.

A tea tour through a 157 years old heritage tea garden gives an insight into the different activities that vary from season to season. It teaches us all about tea- its origin, how it is grown, tea tasting and its quality. During the winter months the dormant bushes are pruned to ensure vigorous growth during the warmer months. Once the rains begin, and the temperature rises, the gardens come alive with teams of colourfully dressed tea pluckers, predominantly ladies as they are said to be better able to pluck the delicate buds and leaves. The harvest, which goes on continuously from March to November, is taken everyday to the factory where it undergoes an age old process of being turned into the finished product. All stages of the process are carefully controlled to ensure that the tea that leaves the factory is only of the highest quality, a quality that has made Assam tea world famous.

CTC (Crush, Tear and Curl) tea is a method of processing tea. In this process the leaves instead of being rolled, are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of small sharp "teeth" that Crush, Tear, and Curl.

This style of manufacture has the advantage that the finished product brews quickly, gives a dark infusion rapidly, is well suited for tea bags, and yields more cups per kg. In the Indian domestic market, this type of manufacture has virtually taken over - over 80% of tea production is of the CTC type.

CTC teas produce a rich red-brown color when they are boiled, which adds a beautiful color to tea made in the Indian style. This is done by boiling leaves in a mixture of milk, water and sugar and some spices (producing Masala Chai). With this production method, the tea does not get bitter, and its red colour comes through the white of the milk.

Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. The people of Assam are very proud of its unique position among all other such dances of India. Except Bhangra (the popular folk dance of Punjab), no other folk dance in India can compete with the rhythmic exuberance of the Bihu dance. ‘Bihu’ performed by young men and women reflects youthful passion and joy rejuvenating life during the spring season, accompanied by songs woven around the theme of love and physical yearning. The dance is performed by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Note: Visit to tea factory is subject to being operational on the day of the visit. There is no tea plucking between December till mid March and hence the actual manufacturing process of tea cannot be demonstrated when one visits the factory during this period. Factory also remains closed on Monday’s of the week.

Day 08: Dibrugarh – Tai Phakial Village- Tinsukia

Today post breakfast we drive to Tai Phakial village (60 kms/01 ½ hrs) - an ethnic village whose kith and kin date back to the Ahom period. The villagers still maintain their age-old culture - a village worth exploring. Later check in at Heritage Wathai Bungalow, Limbuguri TE, Tinsukia for 04 nights. Overnight at the Bungalow.

Namphake Village is the largest of the Tai-Phake villages in Assam, boasting 70 odd families, which trace their ancestry to the great Tai race. The village folk speak a dialect similar to the language in Thailand and still follow the traditional customs and dress code of the great Tai race. The hamlet is also home to the Namphake Buddhist Monastery, one of the oldest and most respected Buddhist Monasteries in Assam. They are Buddhist in religion. They have their own separate scripts and has also preserved in a few manuscripts, which are mainly religious scriptures. These manuscripts are written in Tai-scripts, which are preserved in their village Vihars.

Steal yourself away to a ‘Wathai Heritage Bunglow, Limbuguri Tea estate- this plinth  bungalow will allow you to rejuvenate your senses. Located just 5km from Dibru Saikhowa National Park, it is the ideal retreat for a birding break. This  ‘Managers Bungalow’,  defines serenity and you will most certainly leave revitalized. It has been recently renovated and is the ideal base whether on a quest for quietude or seeking refuge whilst on an explorative ornithological voyage at the neighboring Dibru Saikhowa National park . Although reverine in nature, this park remains open most of the year with innumerable varieties of colourful birds chirping at various pitches and hopping from branch to branch. It is indeed an orinthologist’s delight. Endangered species like Gangetic Dolphin and Feral Horses are common sights in Dibru- Saikhowa.

 Fresh tea can be enjoyed in the ‘jali room” to the front of the bungalow in a peaceful atmosphere overlooking the manicured gardens, while meals are served in the spacious dining room complete with an original fireplace. The family room and two large bedrooms complete with ensuite enables eight people to sleep here very comfortably.

Day 09: At Tinsukia

Today morning we visit Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Beel for a full day birding programme. We take several boat rides on the Dibru River, go for jungle walk, bird and Gangetic Dolphin sighting. Overnight at Wathai Heritage Bungalow, Limbuguri TE.

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has the most distinct and vibrant wilderness on earth and is known for its pristine scenic beauty. The forest in this park ranges from semi-evergreen to deciduous to littoral to swampy marshes with patches of wet evergreen jungles. Dibru-Saikhowa is a safe haven to many rare and endangered species of over 350 birds and is a must visit site for target-list birders. The big four here are Jerdon's Babblers, Jerdon's Bushchat, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Marsh Babbler. Several other rarely observed species can be found in the extensive grasslands, wetlands, and riverine forests. These include Baer's Pochard, Bengal Florican, Pale-capped Pigeon, Lalcated Duck, Baikal Teal, Chinese Spotbilled Duck and Rufous-vented Prinia etc. Dibru Saikhowa is a haven for an incredible no of Waders, Ducks, Raptors and its speciality grasslands birds.

Day 10: Tinsukia – Digboi - Tinsukia

Today post breakfast we drive to Digboi (50 kms/1 hr), the first oil town of South Asia. Visit the Oil Museum and the 2nd World War Allied Forces Cemetery where 200 graves are permanently maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Later in the afternoon have the pleasure of playing a round of golf at 18-hole Golf Course of Digboi amidst the vast expanses of dense forests and exquisite tea estates, considered to be the best golf course in the whole of Upper Assam. Return to Wathai Heritage Bungalow, Limbuguri TE for overnight

Digboi: Digboi is a small but wonderful town in Tinsukia district in the north-eastern part of the state of Assam, India. Petroleum oil was discovered here in late 19th century and the Digboi oilfield is one of the oldest oil fields. With a significant number of British professionals working for the Assam Oil Company as late as until the decade following the independence of India, Digboi had a well developed infrastructure and a number of bungalows unique to the town. It has a world class golf course with 18 holes as part of the Digboi Club.

Note- Digboi museum remains closed on Mondays.

Day 11: Tinsukia-Margherita-Dibrugarh

Post breakfast drive to Margherita Golf Club (65 kms/ 1 ½ hrs) to hit a round of golf at the golf course. Later drive back to Dibrugarh (90 kms/ 02 ½ hrs) and check in at the Mancotta Heritage Chang Bungalow for an overnight.

The Margherita Planters Club Golf Course is situated at Namdang Tea Estate of Mcleod Russel India Limited under the Williamson Magor Group of Enterprises. The course is supposed to be one of the best in Assam with its topography, undulating fairways, the surrounding scenery & the hills on the north.

Day 12: Dibrugarh- Fly Out

In time drive to Dibrugarh airport (20 kms/ ½ hr) to board flight for onward destination

Inclusions

Exclusions

Cancellation Policy