14 Places to Visit in Assam, from Kaziranga to Majuli
14 places to visit in Assam by region: Guwahati, Kaziranga, Manas, Majuli, Sivasagar and more, with drive times, best months, time needed and local tips.
Shillong Trip Travel Desk · Updated · 9 min read
Anupom sarmah · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0The best places to visit in Assam are Kaziranga National Park for one-horned rhinos, Majuli river island for Vaishnava satras, Guwahati and Kamakhya Temple, Manas and Pobitora for more wildlife, Sivasagar for Ahom monuments, and tea estates around Jorhat and Dibrugarh. Visit from November to April, when the parks are open.
Key takeaways
- Assam's sights run along the Brahmaputra: Guwahati in the west, Kaziranga in the middle, and Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh in the east.
- Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Pobitora open fully from about November to April; ranges reopen in phases from October.
- No permit is needed for Assam; foreign nationals are registered by their hotel on Form C.
- Majuli is reached by a government ferry from Nimati Ghat near Jorhat, roughly one hour each way, with the last boats in mid-afternoon.
- Distances are long but flat: Guwahati to Kaziranga is about 195 km and 4.5–5 hours; Guwahati to Jorhat about 305 km.
- Fly into Guwahati and out of Jorhat or Dibrugarh to avoid doubling back along the valley.
On this page 12 sections
Assam is a long, flat valley with one river running through it, which makes it the easiest state in the Northeast to plan. Every place worth seeing sits within a few hours of the Brahmaputra, and the national highway joins them in a line from Guwahati to Dibrugarh.
We have grouped the state into four areas, west to east, so you can see what connects. Each entry gives altitude, distance and drive time from the nearest hub, best months, permits, time needed and one practical tip. Assam needs no special permit for Indians or foreign nationals; hotels register foreign guests on Form C.
Assam by area
| Area | Places | Hub | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guwahati and around | Guwahati, Kamakhya, Hajo, Pobitora | Guwahati | 1–2 |
| North bank and Manas | Manas, Tezpur, Nameri | Guwahati or Tezpur | 2–4 |
| Kaziranga | Kaziranga's four ranges | Kohora or Bagori | 2–3 |
| Upper Assam | Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Dibru-Saikhowa | Jorhat or Dibrugarh | 3–5 |
| Southern hills | Haflong | Guwahati or Silchar | 2 |
Guwahati and around
1. Guwahati
Altitude: about 55 m · From the airport: 22 km, 45 min · Best months: October to April · Permit: none · Time: 1–2 nights
The gateway city on the Brahmaputra, with the Assam State Museum, Umananda island temple, riverfront cruises and the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra. Guwahati is where almost every Northeast trip begins.
Tip: take a sunset cruise on the river; the city looks far calmer from the water.
2. Kamakhya Temple
Altitude: about 180 m, on Nilachal Hill · From Guwahati: 8 km, 30 min · Best months: October to March · Permit: none; the general queue is free, special darshan INR 501 · Time: half a day
One of the most important Shakti temples in India. Kamakhya closes to visitors during the Ambubachi Mela in late June, when crowds are at their largest.
Tip: book a general-queue slot online or join the line before the 8 am opening; lines grow long by mid-morning.
3. Hajo
Altitude: about 50 m · From Guwahati: about 30 km, 1 hr · Best months: October to March · Permit: none · Time: 2–3 hrs
A small town sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, with the Hayagriva Madhava temple and the Poa Mecca shrine on neighbouring hills. Hajo pairs well with a morning at Sualkuchi, the silk-weaving village.
Tip: go on a weekday afternoon; weekends and festival days bring long queues.
4. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Altitude: about 50 m · From Guwahati: 50 km, 1.5 hrs · Best months: November to March · Permit: none; entry and safari tickets · Time: half a day
A small grassland reserve with Assam's second-largest population of one-horned rhinos, packed into a small area. Pobitora is the quickest rhino sighting from Guwahati.
Tip: book the first jeep slot; rhinos are closest to the track at dawn.
North bank and Manas
5. Manas National Park
Altitude: about 85 m · From Guwahati: 170 km, 4 hrs · Best months: November to April (the park usually reopens in late September or October) · Permit: none; entry and safari tickets · Time: 2 nights
A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Bhutan border, with tigers, wild buffalo, golden langurs and river forest. Manas sees a fraction of Kaziranga's visitors.
Tip: stay at Bansbari and do one jeep safari plus a river-edge drive; the forest is denser than Kaziranga.
6. Tezpur
Altitude: about 70 m · From Guwahati: about 180 km, 4 hrs · Best months: October to April · Permit: none · Time: 1 night
A river town with Agnigarh hill, Cole Park and the ruins of Da Parbatia. Tezpur is the natural overnight between Guwahati and the Arunachal border.
Tip: the Agnigarh viewpoint at sunset looks straight across the Brahmaputra.
7. Nameri National Park
Altitude: about 100 m · From Guwahati: 215 km, 5 hrs · Best months: November to April · Permit: none; entry fees · Time: 2 nights
Forest on the Jia Bhoroli river, with guided walks, gentle rafting and a long bird list. Nameri is the park for birders and walkers rather than jeep safaris.
Tip: book the dawn walk with a forest guard; it is the best hour for the white-winged wood duck and hornbills.
Kaziranga
8. Kaziranga National Park
Altitude: about 60 m · From Guwahati: 195 km, 4.5–5 hrs · Best months: November to April · Permit: none; range entry and safari tickets · Time: 2–3 nights
Home to the world's largest population of one-horned rhinos, plus elephants, wild buffalo, swamp deer and tigers. Kaziranga has four ranges; Central (Kohora) and Western (Bagori) are the most productive for first-timers.
Entry is INR 100 for Indian adults and INR 650 for foreign adults, and a jeep for up to six costs from about INR 3,500 per safari. Elephant rides run only at Kohora and Bagori, early in the morning, with limited seats. Ranges reopen in phases each October, so check current status before you travel.
Tip: do the Western Range at dawn and the Central Range in the afternoon. Our Kaziranga safari guide covers zones and booking.
Upper Assam
9. Jorhat
Altitude: about 116 m · From Guwahati: 305 km, 6.5 hrs; flights to Jorhat · Best months: October to April · Permit: none · Time: 1–2 nights
The tea capital of Assam, with the Tocklai tea research station and heritage bungalows on working estates. Jorhat is the base for Majuli.
Tip: sleep in a tea bungalow rather than a town hotel; the price gap is smaller than people expect.
10. Majuli
Altitude: about 85 m · From Jorhat: 30 km including the ferry, about 2.5 hrs · Best months: October to March · Permit: none · Time: 2 nights
A large river island known for Vaishnava satras (monasteries), mask-making, Mising villages and wide sandbanks. Majuli comes alive in November for the Raas festival. Read our Majuli guide for ferry timings.
Tip: ferries stop in mid-afternoon; miss the last one and you sleep in Jorhat.
11. Sivasagar
Altitude: about 95 m · From Jorhat: 60 km, 1.5 hrs · Best months: October to April · Permit: none; monument tickets · Time: long day or 1 night
The old Ahom capital, with the Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar and Shivadol temple. Sivasagar also puts you close to the Charaideo burial mounds.
Tip: start at Talatal Ghar before 10 am, then Rang Ghar and Shivadol; they are close to each other.
12. Dibrugarh
Altitude: about 108 m · From Guwahati: 440 km, 9.5 hrs; flights to Dibrugarh · Best months: October to April · Permit: none · Time: 2 nights
A tea town on the Brahmaputra and the gateway to Upper Assam and eastern Arunachal. Dibrugarh has some of the best tea-bungalow stays in the state.
Tip: walk the riverfront in the evening, then drive to the Bogibeel bridge for the view at dusk.
13. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Altitude: about 120 m · From Dibrugarh: about 50–60 km via Tinsukia, 1.5–2 hrs to the Guijan ghat · Best months: November to April · Permit: none; entry and boat fees · Time: 1 full day
A river-island park explored by boat, known for feral horses, river dolphins and wetland birds. Dibru-Saikhowa floods every monsoon.
Tip: go early; the boats cover a lot of water and the light is best before 10 am.
Southern hills
14. Haflong
Altitude: about 680 m · From Guwahati: about 8–9 hrs by road, or by train via Lumding · Best months: October to April · Permit: none · Time: 2 nights
Assam's only hill station, in the Dima Hasao hills, with Haflong lake and the village of Jatinga nearby. Haflong is a quiet contrast to the plains.
Tip: the train ride through the hills is part of the trip; check the timetable before you plan the road.
Which order to see them
Assam rewards a one-way trip. Travelling west to east, you move along the valley without doubling back, then fly home from Jorhat or Dibrugarh.
| Trip | Route | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Short break | Guwahati, Kamakhya, Kaziranga | 3 |
| Wildlife | Guwahati, Pobitora, Manas, Kaziranga | 6 |
| Culture | Kaziranga, Majuli, Sivasagar, Jorhat | 6 |
| Tea and slow travel | Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh | 4 |
Timing matters more than route for the parks. Our best time to visit Kaziranga guide explains how the phased opening works each October and November.
Where to sleep in each area
- Guwahati: hotels near the airport road suit late arrivals; the Pan Bazar and riverfront area suits sightseeing and dinner walks.
- Kaziranga: stay at Kohora for the Central Range or Bagori for the Western Range, so you are minutes from the gate at 5:30 am.
- Manas: Bansbari, close to the main entry, has the widest choice of lodges and camps.
- Nameri: Potasali, by the park office and the river, where the eco-camps and walks start.
- Majuli: homestays and bamboo cottages in Garamur and Kamalabari, close to the main satras.
- Jorhat and Dibrugarh: heritage tea bungalows on working estates, usually 15–40 minutes from town.
Getting around Assam
The national highway along the south bank is the spine of most trips. It runs from Guwahati past Nagaon to Kaziranga, then on to Jorhat, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh, and it is mostly four-lane or good two-lane road. A private car with driver is the easiest way to link the places above, because parks, ghats and monuments sit a few kilometres off the highway and public transport rarely reaches their gates at the right hour.
Trains are useful for the long legs. Guwahati is connected to Jorhat (Mariani and Jorhat Town stations), Dibrugarh and Lumding, and the hill line through Dima Hasao is the most scenic way to reach Haflong. Flights are the time-saver: Jorhat and Dibrugarh both have direct flights to Kolkata and Delhi, which is why we route most Upper Assam trips as open jaws, in at Guwahati and out further east.
Buses run by the state transport corporation and private operators connect every town on the highway, and they stop at Kohora and Bagori for Kaziranga. They are cheap and frequent, but you will still need a jeep for safaris and a local taxi to reach Nimati Ghat for the Majuli ferry.
Assam through the year
- November to February: cool, dry, misty mornings on the river. Every park is open and migratory birds arrive in the wetlands. Nights can drop to around 8–10 °C in the east, so pack a warm layer.
- March and April: warmer days, tall grass being burnt back in the parks (which can improve sightings) and Rongali Bihu in mid-April, the biggest festival of the year.
- May: hot and humid, with pre-monsoon storms. The parks begin to close.
- June to September: monsoon floods across Kaziranga and Majuli, parks shut, and tea estates at their greenest. Kamakhya's Ambubachi Mela falls in late June.
- October: the valley dries out and parks reopen in phases. A good month for Guwahati, Sivasagar and Majuli if you do not mind limited safari zones.
Festivals move with local calendars, and Majuli's Raas celebrations in November draw big crowds to the island's satras. Confirm dates and book stays early if you want to catch them.
Food and local tips
Assamese food is gentler than most visitors expect. Try masor tenga (a light, sour fish curry), duck with ash gourd, khar, pitha rice cakes and black rice, and order local tea without milk to taste what the estates are known for. Most places in this guide have simple restaurants at best, so eat well in Guwahati, Tezpur and Jorhat.
A few habits help everywhere in Assam. Summer mornings start early, with light by 4:30 am in May, so parks and temples are best visited at dawn. Carry cash for park entry, camera fees and ferries; card coverage fades beyond the main towns. Mosquito repellent is essential in the parks and on Majuli in every month. And when you visit a satra on Majuli, remove your shoes, dress modestly and ask before photographing monks.
How we'd plan it
For a first trip of six nights, we start with a night in Guwahati for Kamakhya and the river, then two nights in Kaziranga for three safaris. From there we cross to Majuli for two nights, and finish with a night in a Jorhat tea bungalow and a day at Sivasagar before flying out of Jorhat.
That is the route of our Majuli, Sivasagar and Jorhat trip, from INR 26,500 per person. With only three nights, Guwahati and Kaziranga starts from INR 14,000. For a slower stay on the estates, the Assam Tea Bungalow Stay runs from Jorhat to Dibrugarh over four nights.
Prices are indicative "from" rates per person on twin sharing. Tell us your dates on our contact page and we will plan the order for you.
