Black magic at Mayong, Hogwarts of India
Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Incredible India podcast series. I'm Tim.
Speaker 2:And I'm Debbie.
Speaker 1:Today, we've got some really fascinating material you brought in, info about a black magic at Mayong And Wildlife tour from Five Senses tours.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It looks like a really unusual one.
Speaker 1:It does. So we're gonna really dig into what makes this part of India and, well, this specific tour so unique.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And what's so interesting is how it jams together these two almost opposite things. You know? You've got Mayung famous or maybe infamous for black magic.
Speaker 1:Right. The Hogwarts of India nickname.
Speaker 2:Uh-huh. And then right nearby, Pobetura Wildlife Sanctuary, which is all about rhinos, like tons of rhinos.
Speaker 1:Okay. So quite the mix.
Speaker 2:Totally. So our mission today really is to understand the history, the culture behind Mei Yong's magic stuff
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And how that sits next to the natural side of things at Po Batoro.
Speaker 1:And ultimately, what kind of journey this offers someone who's curious about, well, both the strange and the wild.
Speaker 2:Precisely. What you might get out of it.
Speaker 1:Okay. Let's start with Mayong then. That Hogwarts label definitely, grabs your attention. It does, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:The info paints it as this village steeped in, well, centuries of witchcraft and sorcery.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And the tour even mentions you might meet locals, hear stories about old sorcerers Yeah. What they supposedly did.
Speaker 2:Sounds like stepping right into a legend.
Speaker 1:It really does. And this reputation, it's not new. We're talking centuries of stories, folklore.
Speaker 2:Not just whispers, but real beliefs.
Speaker 1:Apparently so. Beliefs in sorcerers doing, you know, incredible things, making people vanish, turning into animals.
Speaker 2:Woah.
Speaker 1:Even taming wild beasts supposedly. That Hogwarts thing, it's kecky, but it hints it's something genuinely old and deep rooted there.
Speaker 2:It's amazing to think a place carries that kind of, well, mystical weight for so long. And you mentioned it even links back to the Mahabharata.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That's a key point in the material. It connects Mayom's magic to Katukkatcha.
Speaker 2:Right. From the epic.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Suggesting this place was seen as the source of his supernatural powers.
Speaker 2:So that really anchors it, doesn't it? Takes it beyond local legend into something, well, fundamental to Indian tradition. Gives it real historical depth.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. That connection is, I think, really important. It it suggests this reason's reputation for unusual power goes back millennia. It shapes its identity.
Speaker 2:And it's not just stories passed down, is it? There's a museum.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh. The Mayan Museum? Yeah. And the stuff inside sounds pretty intense.
Speaker 2:Like what?
Speaker 1:Ancient manuscripts, apparently skulls, ritual objects, even mentions tools potentially used for human sacrifice.
Speaker 2:Okay. That's that's pretty dark. Very tangible link to the past, though.
Speaker 1:It is. It makes it feel much more real than just legends, you know, seeing actual artifacts.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And it's not all just the sort of scary stuff. There are other historical things too. Stone statues, old coins, even jewelry made from bone and shell gives you a broader picture.
Speaker 2:So the museum is where you can really confront this history, the mystical reputation made physical. Fascinating, maybe a bit unsettling.
Speaker 1:Definitely. And something else mentioned is the Mayan Central Museum and Emporium preserving texts on Tantric Kriya.
Speaker 2:Tantric rituals.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And also Ayurveda.
Speaker 2:Ah, okay. So magic and traditional medicine.
Speaker 1:Exactly. It suggests this interesting blend, doesn't it? The spiritual, the healing, all kind of mixed together.
Speaker 2:That intersection is really interesting. It points towards a more maybe holistic view back then where magic and healing weren't totally separate.
Speaker 1:Seems like it. So while we hear black magic, the reality might have been more complex. These manuscripts suggest deep knowledge in healing and spiritual practices too.
Speaker 2:Right. It's not just the spooky stuff. There's a tradition of knowledge there, preserved. We need a more nuanced view maybe.
Speaker 1:Good way to put it. It wasn't just one thing.
Speaker 2:Okay. But then the tour pivots. Right. Away from the magic and history.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Complete change of scene. Heads over to the Pobetoro Wildlife Sanctuary. Which is famous for? Rhinos.
Speaker 1:Specifically, the one horned rhino. And apparently, it has the highest density of them anywhere in the world.
Speaker 2:Wow. Okay. So you go from ancient magic texts and potentially human sacrifice tools
Speaker 1:To seeing rhinos roaming free. It's a deliberate contrast.
Speaker 2:A very vivid one. From the mystical and historical to the very real, very present natural world.
Speaker 1:Yeah. You could explore the reserve too. Options for an elephant safari or a jeep ride.
Speaker 2:So in one day, you could be contemplating, you know, sorcerers turning into tigers, and then later, you might actually see a massive rhino up close.
Speaker 1:Exactly. That's the whole point of this tour, it seems. That incredible range of experience packed into just hours.
Speaker 2:It really showcases the diversity of that region, doesn't it? Culture, history, nature, all right there.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's a slice of Indies complexity, really. The ancient and the wild side by side.
Speaker 2:Now going back to May Young for a sec, the information suggests these traditions aren't just history lessons. People still practice forms of it.
Speaker 1:That's right. It mentions how things have adapted. Yeah. Many villagers now are healers using that traditional knowledge.
Speaker 2:So incorporating bits of what used to be called black magic or witchcraft into healing.
Speaker 1:Seems so. They call the practitioners bez or oja and they use herbs, natural stuff, but also ancient mantras drawing on that same historical knowledge base.
Speaker 2:Interesting. So the tradition evolves.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It suggests it's found a new sort of purpose. Focus on healing, on well-being for the community.
Speaker 2:So maybe the fear around the black magic label has faded a bit, but the underlying knowledge, the tradition itself is still valued, just used differently.
Speaker 1:Exactly. It's treated more like a cultural treasure now, maybe, but one with practical applications in traditional medicine.
Speaker 2:That makes sense. It's not just disappearing, it's transforming.
Speaker 1:Which makes it fascinating for, you know, researchers, history buffs, just curious travelers. It's a living tradition in a way.
Speaker 2:Definitely paints compelling picture. And the tour logistics sound pretty smooth too.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It seems well thought out. An eight hour guided tour, private car, pickup and drop off in Guwahati.
Speaker 2:Covers the travel, the guide, entrance fees, even lunch takes the hassle out of it.
Speaker 1:Right. They mentioned an Innova for bigger groups, sedan for smaller ones, or a single person makes it comfortable.
Speaker 2:The pricing seems tiered.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh. RS 6,500 per person if you have four or more. RS 8,000 each for two or three people, and RS 12,000 if you're going solo.
Speaker 2:Okay. Good to know. And the schedule.
Speaker 1:Looks like an 8AM start from your hotel in Guwahati. Head to Pobator First for the wildlife.
Speaker 2:See the rhinos.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Then over to Mayom to explore the village and its history and back to your hotel by around 5PM.
Speaker 2:Sounds like a full day, but manageable. Covers a lot of ground, both literally and, thematically.
Speaker 1:Exactly. You get a solid taste of both the wildlife and the unique culture in one go. Pretty efficient if you're based in Guahati.
Speaker 2:So let's wrap this up. Thinking about everything we've discussed from the sources, what's the big takeaway about Mayung and Pobetora?
Speaker 1:I think it's that convergence really. History, spirituality, nature
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All woven together in this one small area is quite unique.
Speaker 2:Yeah. The contrast is stark, but also intriguing. The ancient magic story is right next door to this incredible wildlife sanctuary.
Speaker 1:It definitely challenges your expectations, doesn't it? It offers a glimpse into a part of India where these different worlds coexist.
Speaker 2:For sure. So for anyone listening who's had their curiosity piqued, maybe by the Hogwarts of India idea or just the thought of seeing those rhinos?
Speaker 1:Well, Five Sense's tours offers this specific way to experience it all firsthand.
Speaker 2:Right. If you are interested in booking this Black Magic at Mayong And Wildlife tour or if you just have more questions.
Speaker 1:You can email them. The address is contact@5centstours.com. That's the numeral five.
Speaker 2:Contact at five cents tours dot com.
Speaker 1:Got it. Or you can call or send a WhatsApp message. The number is 919845677446.
Speaker 2:Okay. 919845677446. We'll make sure those details are available.
Speaker 1:Sounds good. It's clear this region has some amazing stories.
Speaker 2:It really does. It makes you think, doesn't it? What stands out most to you listening right now about this blend of magic and nature? It definitely puts a different spin on what incredible India can mean.
