The  Seven Sister States of India on the northeast side are Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. Because of the alikeness between these states, in terms of geographical features, and interdependence between them, they are referred to as 'The Seven Sister States of India'. These states are home to astounding landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, lively and humble people, and rich cultural heritage. In this blog, I would like to give a fair idea about these seven states as much as possible. 

1. AMAZING ASSAM

Assam, popularly known as the land of “Blue Hills and Red River” {Red stands for the river Brahmaputra and blue for the hills in this place}, surrounded by seven Indian States and two countries Bhutan and Bangladesh, is the doorway to the northeastern states. Assam is abutted by hills, major rivers such as Brahmaputra & Barak and its tributaries, dense forest, tea gardens which magnify the scenic beauty of Assam.

           Traditional Assam Dress

Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. The Kaziranga National Park situated on the bank of the Brahmaputra River, and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, near the border with Bhutan, are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites. Assam's beauty has mesmerized everyone who has visited it. There are a lot of tourist places to visit in Assam. Assam has conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction, along with the pygmy hog, tiger, and various species of birds, and it provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant. The state is the last shelter for innumerable other endangered and threatened species. The state has the highest population of wild water buffalo in the world and the highest diversity of birds in India with around 820 species. Assam has a diverse range of orchid species, with the Foxtail orchid serving as the state flower. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is well known for its feral horses. Sal tree forests are most common in the state. 

Important Facts about Assam : 

• The name ‘Assam’ is related to the Ahom people, originally called Shyam. The official and most commonly spoken language of Assam is Assamese, followed by Bengali, and Bodo.
• Dispur is the capital of this state but the largest city of Assam is Guwahati.  There are 34 districts in Assam.
• Assam is very famous for its tea and silk. The state was Asia's first oil drilling location. When the laborers dug for oil, the Britishers were known to chant ‘Dig Boy, Dig,’ and that’s how the name Digboi stuck. Interesting, isn't it? 

•  The states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh are formed from Assam.
• Its economy is based on agriculture and oil. Assam produces more than half of India's tea and about 12% of its total petroleum.
• Some of the common and unique cultural traits in the region are peoples' respect towards areca-nut and betel leaves, symbolics (Tamulpan, Xorai, gamosa, arnai, etc.), traditional silk garments (e.g. mekhela chador, the traditional dress of Assamese women).
• Tamulpan (areca nut with betel leaves) and guapan (gua from Kwa) are regarded as gifts of dedication, respect, and friendship, coupled with the Gamosa (traditional woven cotton or silk fabric with embroidery).
• Bihu is Assam's most significant festival, which is held throughout the state. It is the Assamese new year celebrated in April of the Gregorian calendar.
• Kamakhya Temple, one of the oldest temples of India is dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya is present here.

Interesting facts about Assam:

1. Jorhat is called the ‘Tea capital of India’

2. Sualkuchi, a village in Assam is known as “Manchester of Assam”, because of its huge cottage and textile industry.

3. Assam is blessed with the world’s largest inhabited river island Majuli.

4. The Brahmaputra river is the only male river in the country. 

2.  ARUNACHAL PRADESH - 'LAND OF RISING SUN'

Arunachal Pradesh also called as ‘Land of Dawn-Lit Mountains’, shares borders with Assam and Nagaland in the south, Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east, and China in the north at the McMahon Line. Itanagar is the state capital. Till 1972, it was called the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Arunachal Pradesh is the largest among the Seven Sister States of Northeast India by area.

                                    There are 25 districts here. It is one of the lingually richest and most diverse regions in all of Asia, being home to at least 30 and possibly as many as 50 distinct languages in addition to numerous dialects and subdialects thereof.  In the Asian subcontinent, Arunachal is the only region dwelt by 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes. The official state animal and bird are Mithun bison and hornbill respectively. Can you see a Mithun bison head in the state emblem of Arunachal Pradesh in the picture below??

Tawang Monastery, which is the largest monastery in India and second-largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet is located in Tawang city.

Important Facts about Arunachal Pradesh : 

• Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest population density in India.
• Namdapha National Park, near Dibrugarh, has a wildlife sanctuary inhabited by tigers and leopards.
• Other places valued for their unique scenery and natural environment are Ziro, set in a leveled valley of west-central Arunachal Pradesh and covered on all sides by pine-clad, bowing hills, and Ganga Lake just outside of Itanagar. 

Interesting facts about Arunachal Pradesh:

1. It is believed that in parshuram Kund, lohit, lord Parshuram washed his sins of the killing of Kshatriyas.

2. Arunachal Pradesh has no functional airport.

3. MESMERIZING MEGHALAYA 

Abode of clouds, Meghalaya is bound to the south and west by Bangladesh and the north and east by Assam. The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong. Meghalaya currently has 11 districts. Tribal people form the majority of Meghalaya's population. The Khasis make up the largest group, followed by the Garos then the Jaintias. It is also called "Scotland of the East" because of its highlands, fog, and scenery.

• One can do many adventure sports here like mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, hiking, caving (spelunking), and water sports. 
• Living root bridges are also a tourist attraction, with many examples located near Cherrapunji.
• Meghalaya is home to many waterfalls including elephant falls, Nohkalikai Falls (highest plunge waterfall).

Important Facts about Meghalaya : 

• People believe that the hot springs at Jakrem near Mawsynram have curative and medicinal properties.
• Mawsynram is the wettest place on the earth receiving maximum rainfall around the year.  
• Mawlynnong, Asia’s cleanest village, is called ‘God’s Own Garden’.
• Meghalaya is also known for its "sacred groves".
• Who has not heard about the cleanest river of Asia-' Dauki' flows in Meghalaya. We can see from the picture below how enchanting this river is!!

Meghalaya has one of the world's largest surviving matrilineal cultures where lineage and inheritance are traced through women.

Clouded leopard and Hill myna are the state animal and bird respectively.

Interesting facts about Meghalaya:

1. People are not allowed to take anything from the sacred forest, not even the fallen leaves.

2. The villagers in Mawsynram use grass to soundproof their hut from the deafening rainfall.

4. ENTHRALLING NAGALAND 

Bordered by the state of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and Myanmar to the east, Nagaland is one of those few states where people highly respect and follow their ancient culture. They practice old ways and customs of living. Its capital city is Kohima but the largest city is Dimapur. There are 12 districts in Nagaland.

Important Facts about Nagaland : 

• Nagaland is home to the bhut jolokia or ghost pepper, one of the hottest chilis in the world at 855,000 SHU on the Scoville scale.
• Nagaland is also called the “land of festivals”. Hornbill festival is such a major festival of people here and it attracts a lot of tourists from India and worldwide.
• Nagaland is known as "the only predominantly Baptist state in the world" and "the most Baptist state in the world." Christianity is followed by more than 90% population here.
• The state is also known as the "falcon capital of the world." It is a region rich in heritage and surrounded by beautiful valleys. 

Interesting facts about Nagaland:

Nagaland is the first and the only state of India to Witness a population decline of 0.47% between 2001 and 2011.

5. LAND OF JEWELS- MANIPUR

Manipur, with the city of Imphal as its capital, is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west, and Myanmar to the east and south. There are a total of 16 districts in Manipur. The official languages are the Meitei language and English. Bamboo is common here and contributes to its cuisine and economy.

Important Facts about Manipur : 

• Manipur is the origin of Manipuri dance.
• The largest natural freshwater lake loktak is situated here.
• The seasonal Shirui Lily plant at Ukhrul, Dzüko Valley at Senapati, Sangai (Brow antlered deer), and the floating islands at Loktak Lake are among the rarities of the area.
• Polo, which can be called a royal game, originated in Manipur.
• Thang-Ta is the martial art form of Manipur.
• Yubi lakpi is a traditional game played in Manipur, using a coconut, which has some similarities to rugby.   

Manipur is famous for its women-only market. The local mothers who run the small shops at Manipur’s all-women market are referred to as Ima keithel.  Interestingly, no men are allowed to sell their products at this market. 

Interesting facts about Manipur-

1. Manipur is a dry state, however, people relish the country liquor made from Manipuri rice.

2. Foreign, as well as domestic tourists, need special permission to visit here.

6. MIZORAM- LAND OF THE MIZOS

Mizoram shares borders with three of the Seven Sister States of India, namely Tripura, Assam, and Manipur, and countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Aizwal is the capital city. It is the 2nd least populous state in the country. There are a total of 11 districts here. Mizo is the most widely used language for verbal interactions.

Important Facts about Mizoram : 

• The state is a bird watcher's destination. Different species of birds can be seen here. Mrs. Hume's pheasant is the state bird.
• Cheraw dance is a traditional cultural dance performed in Mizoram, consisting of mostly six to eight people holding pairs of bamboo staves on another horizontally placed bamboo on the ground. The male performers then clap the bamboos rhythmically while groups of female dancers dance in intricate steps between the beating bamboos. It is the most famous and beautiful dance in Mizoram and is the center of attraction during festive occasions ( as shown in the picture below).
• Chapchar Kut festival is celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task of Jhum operation i.e., jungle clearing (clearing of the remnants of burning).

Interesting Facts about Mizoram:

1. The state stands second in literacy after Kerala.

2. Tropic of Cancer passes through this state.

3. The state is the leading producer of bamboo in India, which is also the cause for a unique problem in the state called ‘Mautam’. Mautam is the Mizo word for ‘Bamboo Death.’ The synchronous flowering of bamboo sees an abundant supply of seeds which leads to a massive increase in rodent and insect population. The pests attack the crops and have been known to cause famines. The first famine was recorded in 1739 and the last one was between 2006-2007.

7. TANTALIZING TRIPURA

Tripura: The third-smallest state in the country and is bordered by Bangladesh to the north, south, and west, and the Indian states of Assam and Mizoram to the east. The Sanskrit name of the state is linked to the Hindu goddess of beauty; Tripura Sundari, the presiding deity of the Tripura Sundari Temple at Udaipur, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, and to the legendary tyrant king Tripur, who reigned in the region.

Agartala is the capital of the state. There are 8 districts in this state. Tripuri (Kokborok) is the Indigenous and official language of the state. However, Bengali is also the official and the most spoken language due to migration from the neighboring country Bangladesh. Tripura is very rich in culture and traditions. Different types of dance forms are performed in Tripura which includes Momita, Goria, Hojagiri, Lebang, Mosak Sulmani, etc. Tripura is very famous for bamboo and cane handicrafts.

Important Facts about Tripura : 

• Thadou, a nearly extinct language, is spoken by only four people in one village, as of 2012.
• Phayre's leaf monkey and Green imperial pigeons are the state animal and bird respectively.
• Unakoti is famous for images of various Hindu Deities etched on its rocks that back to around the 7th-9th century (Picture as shown below).

• Neer Mahal the only water palace in northeast India is in Tripura. It is built on Rudra Sagar Lake.
• State academy of tribal culture has a vast collection of tribal costumes, handicrafts, instruments, and utensils from around 19 tribes in the state.
• Ujjayanta Palace is famous for its striking architecture, a museum inside its premises, and different temples around this palace.

There are many more things to be explored about the Seven Sister States of India in the Northeast. I wish to write more about each state in detail in different blogs. Till then, stay tuned!! And thanks for reading.

FAQ: Seven Sister States of India

Q. Why 7 North-Eastern states are called the 7 sisters of India?

The 7 North-Eastern states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura are called the Seven sisters because they are interdependent on one another. These 7 states are connected to India by the Siliguri Corridor( known as Chicken's neck). Hence, that is the best way to arrive at the Seven Sister States.

Q. What are the Sister States of India?

The 7 North-Eastern states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are known as the Sister States of India.

Q. What is the capital of 7 Sisters?

The 7 Sisters and their capitals are - 

Q. Which state is the largest among the Seven Sister States in India?

Among the Seven Sister States, Arunachal Pradesh is the largest (area-wise) - 83,743 sq. It has 26 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes.