Assam
Gateway to Northeast India: Brahmaputra valley, one-horned rhinos at Kaziranga, river-island Majuli, tea gardens and Ahom heritage.
Assam is the gateway to Northeast India: Guwahati is the hub, with rhino safaris at Kaziranga, river-island culture on Majuli, Ahom heritage in Sivasagar and tea country around Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
Highlights: One-horned rhino safaris at Kaziranga · Majuli river island and its satras · Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati · Manas National Park (UNESCO) · Ahom monuments of Sivasagar and Charaideo Maidams · Tea estates around Jorhat · Hill town of Haflong · Brahmaputra river cruises
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Guwahati
Largest city in the Northeast and its main transport hub, on the Brahmaputra, home to Kamakhya Temple.
Majuli
Large river island in the Brahmaputra and India's first island district, centre of Vaishnavite satra culture.
Jorhat
Tea-country city in Upper Assam and the jump-off point for Majuli.
Tezpur
Riverside town on the Brahmaputra's north bank with ancient temple ruins, gateway to Nameri and Tawang.
Sivasagar
Former Ahom capital with amphitheatres, palaces and temples around the Sivasagar tank.
Haflong
Assam's only hill station, in the Dima Hasao hills, with a lake and Jatinga village nearby.
Kaziranga National Park
UNESCO World Heritage park on the Brahmaputra floodplain, home to about two-thirds of the world's greater one-horned rhinos.
Manas National Park
UNESCO World Heritage park and tiger reserve on the Bhutan border, known for golden langurs and the Manas river.
Top sights
Kamakhya Temple
Hilltop Shakti Pitha on Nilachal Hill, one of the most important goddess shrines in India and the focus of the Ambubachi Mela.
Assam State Museum
State museum at the southern end of Dighali Pukhuri tank with archaeology, sculpture, manuscripts and folk life collections.
Umananda Temple
17th-century Shiva temple built by Ahom king Gadapani on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra, reached by boat from Kachari Ghat.
Agnigarh
Hillock tied to the legend of Banasura and Usha, with a spiral stair, sculptures and views over the Brahmaputra.
Bhairabi Temple
Temple to the goddess Bhairavi with carved stones dating to the 9th century and views towards Kolia Bhomora Setu.
Navagraha Temple
18th-century temple to the nine celestial bodies on Chitrasal Hill, the second-highest hill in Guwahati.
Regional Science Centre Guwahati
Hands-on science centre at Khanapara with exhibition galleries and special shows.
Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra
Cultural complex at Panjabari, founded in 1988 and named after Srimanta Sankardeva, with a museum, open-air theatre and craft displays.
Nature and outdoors
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Small sanctuary about 56 km from Guwahati with one of the highest densities of one-horned rhinoceros anywhere.
Kaziranga National Park
UNESCO World Heritage park on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros; explored by jeep and elephant safari.
Manas National Park
UNESCO World Heritage site, tiger reserve and biosphere reserve on the Bhutan border with tigers, rhinos, clouded leopards and golden langurs.
Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden
The largest zoo and botanical garden in the Northeast, home to around 113 species.
Nehru Park
Small park opposite Cotton College at Pan Bazaar with a children's area.
Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary
Forest sanctuary of about 78 sq km on the eastern edge of Guwahati, known for birds and an isolated elephant population.
Kaziranga Central Range (Kohora gate)
The most visited Kaziranga safari zone, entered from Kohora on NH 37 with the most hotels and facilities.
Kaziranga Western Range (Bagori gate)
Second most popular Kaziranga zone, entered from Bagori on NH 37 and often combined with the Central range.
Things to do
Where to eat
Shaikh Brothers
Bakery at Pan Bazaar founded by Golam Ibrahim in 1885, known across the Northeast for pastries, cakes, bread and cookies.
Momo Ghar
Budget Chinese eatery at Bharalumukh.
JBs
Bakery with sweets on GS Road, Christian Basti.
Gam's Delicacy Restaurant
Ganeshguri restaurant known for ethnic Assamese food; Incredible India recommends Delicacy for masor tenga.
Heritage Khorikaa
Restaurant at Silpukhuri known for ethnic Assamese food.
Khorikaa
Assamese restaurant at Ulubari known for thalis; named by Incredible India for an authentic Assamese thali.
Maach
Christian Basti restaurant known for its many fish dishes.
Mast Biryani
Biryani restaurant on Zoo Road.