Assam
Rhinos at Kaziranga, Kamakhya and the gateway to the Northeast hills. 4 places, grouped into circuits you can combine in one trip.
Kaziranga & Manas
Plan this circuitRhino and tiger country — open roughly November to April.
Kaziranga National Park
UNESCO-listed grassland home to most of the world's one-horned rhinos, plus tigers, elephants and wild buffalo.
Manas National Park
A UNESCO tiger reserve on the Bhutan border, with golden langurs, elephants and the Manas river.
Guwahati
Plan this circuitKamakhya, the Brahmaputra and the gateway to everything east.
Dima Hasao
Plan this circuitHaflong, Assam's only hill station.
Before you go
Assam: good to know
Getting in
Guwahati is the air and rail hub for the whole Northeast.
Permits and paperwork
No permit is needed. Kaziranga, Manas and the other parks are closed in the monsoon, roughly May to October; safaris are booked at the range offices or through your lodge.
Permit rules change. Treat this as a starting point and confirm before you travel.
Worth knowing
The Brahmaputra floods most years between June and September, cutting roads in the valley.
What to eat
- Assam tea
- Strong and malty; visit an estate if you can.
- Masor tenga
- A light, sour fish curry.
- Khar
- A dish made with an alkaline extract of banana peel, served at the start of a meal.
- Pitha
- Rice cakes, made in every home at Bihu.
- Duck with ash gourd
- A winter favourite.
Festivals and seasons
- Bohag BihuMid-April
- The Assamese new year: a week of song and dance.
- Magh BihuMid-January
- The harvest festival, with feasts and bonfires.
- Ambubachi MelaJune
- At Kamakhya temple; Guwahati is very crowded.
- RaasNovember
- Performed on the river island of Majuli.
Many of these follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move each year.
Assam: questions people ask
What are the best places to visit in Assam?
This guide covers 4 places in Assam, grouped into 3 circuits: Kaziranga & Manas, Guwahati and Dima Hasao. Each page says who the place suits and who it does not.
What is the best time to visit Assam?
November to March are the best time for most places in Assam. Seasons differ by altitude, so check each place.
Which places in Assam are easy for families and first-timers?
Guwahati & Kamakhya, Haflong, Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are rated easy and good with children.
What is the highest place in Assam in this guide?
Haflong, at 1,000 m.
Do you need a permit to visit Assam?
No permit is needed. Kaziranga, Manas and the other parks are closed in the monsoon, roughly May to October; safaris are booked at the range offices or through your lodge.
How do you get to Assam?
Guwahati is the air and rail hub for the whole Northeast.
What food should you try in Assam?
Assam tea: strong and malty; visit an estate if you can; Masor tenga: a light, sour fish curry; Khar: a dish made with an alkaline extract of banana peel, served at the start of a meal; Pitha: rice cakes, made in every home at bihu; Duck with ash gourd: a winter favourite.
What are the main festivals in Assam?
Bohag Bihu (mid-april), Magh Bihu (mid-january), Ambubachi Mela (june), Raas (november).