center hill chalets From the main bus station (Mancotta Rd) both ASTC and private buses depart for Sivasagar ( 51 to 69,

than a geographical area. Most foreigners fly into Imphal; it is also possible to drive in from Kohima (Nagaland) or Silchar center hill chalets (Assam) if you have a guide. Travelling east of Kakching towards the Myanmar border is not permitted.

For many a year accommodation in Mon meant the friendly, but sadly very scrappy center hill chalets and slightly overpriced Helsa Cottage (%9436433782; r from 1000) run by Aunty. At the time of research Aunty was about to shut the old place down and open a new (as yet unnamed) hotel near the market area. Another venture center hill chalets is the confusingly named Helsa Resort (%9436000028; r 1000), center hill chalets a couple of kilometres out of town on the road to Myanmar. It consists of four traditional thatched Konyak huts with springy bamboo floors, sparse furnishings and hot water by the bucket. Its generator is a huge plus. All the accommodation options serve meals.

Travelling to Dibrugarh ( tea-city ) usefully closes a loop between Kaziranga and the Ziro Along Pasighat route and is the terminus (or starting point) for the fascinating ferry ride along the Brahmaputra to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Dibrugarh is a rapidly growing city with a new road and rail bridge being built at Bogibeel Ghat (originally scheduled to open in 2008, it s now unlikely to be ready for some years to come) that will extend the railway system to north of the Brahmaputra.

From the main bus station (Mancotta Rd) both ASTC and private buses depart for Sivasagar ( 51 to 69, two hours, frequent center hill chalets 6am to 9am), Jorhat ( 130, three hours, frequent 6am to 9am), Tezpur center hill chalets ( 260, six hours) and Guwahati ( 380, 10 hours).