Assam
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Northeast India · State

Assam

Rhinos, river islands and tea country

Photo: Diganta Talukdar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Capital

Dispur

Best time to visit

November to April

Getting there

Guwahati has the region's busiest airport and railway station. Kaziranga is about a five-hour drive east.

Ideal trip

5 to 7 days to cover the highlights

About Assam

Assam is the gateway to the Northeast, shaped by the wide Brahmaputra. It is famous for its tea gardens, one-horned rhinos and the Satriya culture of Majuli.

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Popular cities in Assam

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DibrugarhGuwahati (Gauhati)JorhatKazirangaSilcharSivasagar (Sibsagar)Tezpur

Top places in Assam

Kaziranga National ParkPhoto: Diganta Talukdar, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kaziranga National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site that holds the majority of the world's one-horned rhinos. Jeep and elephant safaris run from November to April.

Best time: November to AprilBase: Kohora2 daysWildlifeNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Kaziranga National Park is a national park and World Heritage Site in the Golaghat, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Nagaon districts of the Indian state of Assam. Located on the edge of the Brahmaputra River, it encompasses dense tropical moist broadleaf forests interspersed with tall elephant grass and marshland surrounding numerous beels. This habitat hosts populations of the Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, tiger and fishing cat.

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Video by Walk Into The Wild on YouTube

Kamakhya TemplePhoto: Devkmaravi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kamakhya Temple

An important Shakti peeth on Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, busiest during the Ambubachi Mela in June.

Best time: October to AprilBase: Guwahati1 daySpiritualHeritage
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From Wikipedia

Kamakhya Temple is a Hindu temple at Nilachal hills in Guwahati, Assam is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practices, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. The temple is the centre of the Kulachara Tantra Marga and the site of the Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival that celebrates the menstruation of the goddess. Structurally, the temple is dated to the 8th-9th century with many subsequent rebuildings—and the final hybrid architecture defines a local style called Nilachal.

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Video by Travelxp on YouTube

Guwahati

The gateway to the Northeast, with Brahmaputra sunset cruises, Umananda island temple and busy local markets.

Best time: October to AprilBase: Guwahati1 dayCityFood
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From Wikipedia

Guwahati, formerly known as Gauhati, is the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is the 10th busiest in India, and the busiest in the Assam and North-East of the country.

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Tezpur

A riverside town of legends and ancient ruins, close to Nameri National Park and the road to Tawang.

Best time: October to AprilBase: Tezpur1 dayHeritageNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Tezpur is a city in Sonitpur district, Assam state, India. Tezpur is located on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, 175 kilometres northeast of Guwahati, and is the largest of the north bank cities.

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MajuliHidden gemPhoto: Dhrubazaan Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0

Majuli

One of the largest river islands in the world, home to centuries-old Vaishnavite satras, mask-making and slow village life.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Jorhat2 daysCultureNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Majuli is the largest river island in Assam, a state in Northeast India. It is bordered by the Brahmaputra River to the south and east, the Subansiri River to the west, and an anabranch of the Brahmaputra to the north. The island is inhabited by members of the Mising, Deori, and Sonowal Kachari tribes, and serves as a hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture. It is accessible by ferry or boat from Jorhat, which is located approximately 250 kilometers northeast of Guwahati.

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Video by Antara Bagaria | Solo Female Traveler on YouTube

Manas National ParkHidden gemPhoto: AmAnand, CC0

Manas National Park

A UNESCO-listed tiger reserve in the Himalayan foothills, quieter than Kaziranga and rich in birdlife.

Best time: November to AprilBase: Barpeta Road2 daysWildlifeNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Manas National Park is a national park, Project Tiger reserve, and an elephant reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it borders the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. It also hosts the only known population of pygmy hogs in the world. Manas is also famous for its population of the wild water buffalo.

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Video by IndianWildlifeClub - Nature Lovers Who Care on YouTube

SivasagarHidden gemPhoto: Shyam Kaanu, CC0

Sivasagar

The old Ahom capital with Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar and huge temple tanks from the 18th century.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Sivasagar2 daysHeritage
Directions
From Wikipedia

Sivasagar is a city and headquarter of the Sivasagar district, Assam. Sivasagar City It is well known for its Ahom palaces and monuments. Sivasagar is an important centre for tea and oil industries today.

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HaflongHidden gemPhoto: JyotiPN, CC BY-SA 4.0

Haflong

Assam's only hill station, with a lake, green ridges and the famous mountain railway through Dima Hasao.

Best time: October to AprilBase: Haflong2 daysMountainsNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Haflong is a town and the headquarters of the Dima Hasao district of the northeast Indian state of Assam. It is the only hill station in the state.

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Dibru-Saikhowa National ParkHidden gemPhoto: Dhruba Jyoti Baruah, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

Riverine islands and grasslands known for feral horses, river dolphins and hundreds of bird species.

Best time: November to AprilBase: Tinsukia2 daysWildlifeNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national park in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, Assam, India. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765 km2, including a core area of 340 km2 and a buffer zone of 425 km2. It is located at an average elevation of 118 m, ranging from 110 to 126 m. The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru River in the south.

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Food to try

Assamese thali, masor tenga (sour fish curry), duck with ash gourd, pitha, Assam tea

Where to stay

Guwahati as the hub, Kohora for Kaziranga, Garamur on Majuli, Jorhat for upper Assam

Getting around

Trains and buses link the main towns; ferries cross the Brahmaputra to Majuli

Good to know

Kaziranga closes from May to October. Visit during Bihu in mid-April or January for festivals.

Assam: quick answers

What is the best time to visit Assam?

November to April

How do I reach Assam?

Guwahati has the region's busiest airport and railway station. Kaziranga is about a five-hour drive east.

How many days do I need for Assam?

Plan 5 to 7 days to see the highlights, such as Kaziranga National Park, Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati.

What food should I try in Assam?

Assamese thali, masor tenga (sour fish curry), duck with ash gourd, pitha, Assam tea

Where should I stay in Assam?

Guwahati as the hub, Kohora for Kaziranga, Garamur on Majuli, Jorhat for upper Assam

Neighbouring states

Timings, fees, permits and road conditions change. Please check official sources before you travel.