Northeast India

Northeast India, officially called the North Eastern Region (NER), is a vital geographic and political division. It sits at the easternmost edge of India. This region is composed of eight distinct states. Seven of these are often called the "Seven Sisters." These are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

The state of Sikkim is considered the "Brother" state. The region is incredibly diverse in its languages. It is one of the most linguistically diverse areas on Earth. This diversity reflects a long history of different groups settling in the land.

The geography of the region is defined by dramatic changes in elevation. Much of the area consists of hilly terrain. These hills are broken up by valleys and plains. Two major river systems, the Brahmaputra and the Barak, flow through the region.

The Brahmaputra Valley is a significant flat area.

The climate is mostly humid and subtropical. This means summers are hot and humid. The region also experiences severe monsoon seasons. In the high mountains of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, the climate is montane. This results in cold, snowy winters and mild summers.

Northeast India holds a very important position globally. It shares a long international border of 5,182 kilometers. This border touches five different countries. To the north is China. To the east lies Myanmar. To the southwest is Bangladesh. To the west is Nepal. Finally, Bhutan sits to the northwest. Because of these neighbors, the region is highly strategic. A narrow strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor connects the NER to the rest of India. This corridor is essential for movement and trade.

The history of the region involves many different migrations. Early settlers may have been Austroasiatic speakers from Southeast Asia. Later, Tibeto-Burman speakers arrived from China. Around 500 BCE, Indo-Aryan speakers arrived from the Gangetic Plains. Kra–Dai speakers also moved from southern Yunnan and Shan State. These diverse groups brought different plants and crops. Because of this biodiversity, researchers believe early settlers domesticated many important plants.

Even ancient Chinese explorer Zhang Qian noted trade routes through this area around 100 BCE.

Ancient records provide glimpses into the past. The *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea* mentions a people called the Sêsatai. They lived between Assam and Sichuan and produced malabathron. This was an aromatic leaf used as a flavoring agent. In the 2nd century CE, Ptolemy called the region Kirrhadia. This name likely came from the Kirata population. In the 7th century, the Chinese monk Xuanzang visited the kingdom of Kamarupa. He described the people as having a different speech than those in mid-India.

During the 19th century, the British Raj changed the political landscape. The region became more isolated from traditional partners like Bhutan and Myanmar.

The region has also been a site of intense conflict. During the Second World War, the area saw fierce fighting in 1944. This was the Battle of Imphal and Kohima. Japanese forces and Allied forces engaged in a pitched battle. This conflict resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides. Later, in 1962, the Sino-Indian War occurred. This war involved disputes over the North-East Frontier Agency, now Arunachal Pradesh.

These historical events shaped the modern borders and political identity of the states.

Natural resources and biodiversity are central to the region. Northeast India is very rich in mineral wealth. It contains significant reserves of petroleum and natural gas. In fact, these reserves might make up one-fifth of India's total potential. The first oil well in India was drilled in Digboi, Assam, in 1865.

The region also hosts some of India's last rainforests. These forests support many unique animals. You can find the one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park.

Other animals include the clouded leopard and the red panda.

The mountains also offer extreme heights. Kangchenjunga is the third highest peak in the world. It rises to 8,586 meters and sits between Sikkim and Nepal.