north east india travel guide book

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Northeast India 2 (Lonely Planet Northeast India) Paperback – October 27, 2009

• Print length 384 pages
• Language English
• Publisher GeoPlaneta
• Publication date October 27, 2009
• Dimensions 5.04 x 0.79 x 7.76 inches
• ISBN-10 174179319X
• ISBN-13 978-1741793192
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ GeoPlaneta; 2nd edition (October 27, 2009)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 174179319X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1741793192
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.5 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.04 x 0.79 x 7.76 inches
• #1,205 in General India Travel Guides

About the authors

Joe bindloss.

Joe Bindloss has been writing travel books for more than a decade, roaming across India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and Australasia. As well as writing guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, Joe writes for numerous newspapers, magazines and websites, including the Guardian, the Independent, Wanderlust and Real Travel. Joe was born in Cyprus but grew up in rural East Anglia. He studied science and journalism in Brighton and London. Since then, Joe has lived all over the place, including in Chicago, Manila and Melbourne. He is currently based in Northeast London with his partner, press photographer Linda Nylind.

Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott is an English travel writer best known for travel books and articles on Azerbaijan, and for unusual map-based route guides for Asia. His first major work, Asia Overland, (co-authored with Wil Klass) was an ultra-budget manual for those wishing to cross the continent in the pre-Internet era. It garnered something of a cult following among overland travellers of the day as did the 2003 regional follow-up, Southeast Asia Graphic Guide. Elliott has contributed to around 50 Lonely Planet books covering destinations from Bosnia to Belgium, Iran to Taiwan.

Paul Harding

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Patrick Horton

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Travel Itineraries | Luxury Travel | Travel Tips

15 days in North East India | A Travel Guide and Itinerary

Jack Kerouac in his book On the Road , says, “There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” Traversing through majestic mountains and lustrous valleys in the middle of nowhere while admiring the flawless creations of nature seems like an idea, too good to be real for now. But it is wise enough to find respite from mundane schedules by making a virtual tour of destinations in your bucket list and plan for future travel.

North East India is known to be in the bucket list of many discerning travelers. The alluring beauty of nature and rich culture intertwine to make the North East a top pick for many. The eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim constitute the North East region in India.

The vas t region with countless idyllic travel destinations requires you to spend months there to be able to explore the region well but in reality, this is not something everyone can possibly do. But setting aside 15 days in a year to head to the rather unexplored part of India is something doable. Hence, I am compiling this 15-Day Travel Itinerary comprising of 3 states in the North East – Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

If you are someone who had always wished to wander through the winding roads in the North East and jump into the pools of hidden waterfalls but never found a perfect itinerary to make the best out of your available time, this itinerary is for you. Go ahead to read and plan your next trip to the North East.

How to reach Shillong?

Where to stay in shillong, where to eat in shillong, how to reach cherrapunjee, where to stay in cherrapunjee, nohkalikai falls, mawsmai caves, arwah caves, how to reach nongriat, where to stay in tyrna, how to reach tezpur, tezpur to kaziranga, where to stay in kaziranga, how to book a jeep safari, where to stay in tezpur, how to reach dirang, where to stay in dirang, dirang dzong, dirang monastery, explore dirang on foot, how to reach tawang, where to stay in tawang, things to do in tawang, how to reach bomdila, where to stay in bomdila, things to do in bomdila, how to reach guwahati, where to stay in guwahati.

Day 14 : Explore Guwahati

Day 15 : Fly out from Guwahati

North East Itinerary – In brief

Tips to remember while planning the trip, share this:.

A detailed 15-day Travel Itinerary for North East

Day 1 : Guwahati to Shillong

To start your journey in the North East, you’d have to fly to Guwahati in Assam, which serves as the base for almost all routes.

• Hire a vehicle from Guwahati Airport or Guwahati Railway Station to Shillong. It would ideally cost you about INR 2000 for a drop off at Police Bazar, Shillong or your Hotel.
• You can also hop onto a shared sumo/taxi from the airport or railway station which would cost about INR 300. If you do not find shared vehicles there, you can head to Paltan Bazar in Guwahati from where you’d easily find shared vehicles for Shillong.
• You will also find buses for Shillong from ISBT, Beltola in Guwahati.
• The journey is approximately 3 hours long.

Backpacker’s Hostel : Silver Brook

Home-stays : Mid Pine Homestay

Hotels : Windermere Inn | Hotel Polo Towers | Rockski Boutique Bed and Breakfast | The Loft Executive Inn

Dylan’s Cafe | ML 05 Cafe | Cafe Shillong

Tango Restobar and Lounge | Deja Vu |  The Evening Club

If you manage to reach Shillong by afternoon, you can easily take a short tour of the city. Hire a local cab to visit Elephant Falls and Shillong Peak, which are within 15 kms distance from the central part of the city. Ward’s Lake is right in the heart of the city and you may stop by to spend some quiet time by the lake.

In the evening, take a stroll in the Police Bazar area and check out the amazing cafes and restaurants in the area.

Day 2 : Shillong to Cherrapunjee

• Private cabs can be booked from the main market area, known as Police Bazar.
• There are shared vehicles available too which are available from Bara Bazar Area . Usually these are Tata Sumos or Altos that ply between Shillong and Cherrapunjee. Cherrapunjee and Sohra are the same places. Do not get confused if the taxi drivers are calling out for passengers for Sohra.
• It takes about 2 hours to travel the distance of 52 kms.

Homestays : Goshen Homestay | Aisha Guest House | Shalom Guest House  

Hotels : Coniferous Resort | Polo Orchid Resort | Sulawado Resort

Things to do in Cherrapunjee

Make sure you start early from Shillong so that you may reach Cherrapunjee by first half of the day. You may hire a local cab to take you around the famous spots in Cherrapunjee. Here’s a list of things you can do at Cherrapunjee:

Visit the tallest plunge waterfall in India, Nohkalikai Falls , which has a height of 350 metres. There is an entry gate from where you can reach the mouth of the waterfall by following the trail. The view point of the waterfall is about 4-8 kms from Cherrapunjee, depending on where you start your journey from.

Take a tour of Mawsmai Caves , located about 6 kms away from Cherrapunjee. The cave is made of limestone and is home to unique flora and fauna. Once you enter the cave, you are only allowed to walk up till 150 metres inside the cave and the rest of the cave is not open for visitors.

Arwah Caves is a hidden gem in Cherrapunjee. This cave does not have well demarcated trails and thus, it is advisable to take a guide along with you. You need to take a detour from the main road and cover a muddy patch of road to reach Arwah Cave. Before you reach the entrance of the cave, you’d find a beautiful bridge. You would spot limestones and fossils inside the cave. A visit to Arwah Cave would be an adventurous activity. But considering the fact that you only have one day to visit all these places, you might have to pick one between Mawsmai and Arwah Caves as they are located in the extreme opposite locations outside Cherrapunjee.

Day 3 : Cherrapunjee – Tyrna – Nongriat – Tyrna

Start your day early as you have to trek the most talked about Living Root bridge of Meghalaya in Nongriat on this day. 

• Take a private taxi from Cherrapunjee to drop you at Tyrna , the starting point of the trek.
• It would cost you about INR 500 or a little more for this distance.
• From Tyrna Village , your downward hike for Nongriat starts .
• It is advisable to take a porter if you have a heavy rucksack. A porter would charge INR 500 a day.
• It usually takes about 2 hours for the downward hike. But you may finish the hike faster depending on your speed.

After crossing many suspension bridges and root bridges along the forest trail, you’d reach one of the major highlights of Meghalaya, the Double Decker Living Root Bridge. Only when you see the marvelous creation, you’d know how beautiful and powerful nature can be, if utilised well. Sit by the natural pool and soak in all the energy of the forest.

You can also ask your guide to take you to the Rainbow Waterfall , located a short hike away from Nongriat village. There are also a number of gorgeous natural pools which are untraceable and only known by the locals. If time permits, pay a visit to these naturals pools to make your day even more exciting.

By afternoon, start your upward hike back to Tyrna. The upward hike may take a longer time. Reach back to the starting point and stay at Tyrna, to get an experience of the rural side of Meghalaya.

Delight Homestay | Royal View Resort

Day 4 : Tyrna to Shillong

On the fourth day of your trip, head back to Shillong and spend a day in the Scotland of the East.

• Travel to Cherrapunjee from Tyrna in a reserved cab , following the same route.
• From Cherrapunjee, you can hire a vehicle for Shillong or take a shared vehicle .

Upon reaching Shillong, spend the day to explore the famous spots of the city if you had missed them on the day of your arrival. 

Day 5 : Shillong – Tezpur – Kaziranga

This will be a long day on the roads as you head back to Assam from Shillong. To proceed with your journey to the North East, you’d need to head to Tezpur in Assam from where you will further head to Kaziranga National Park.

• The first and the most comfortable way to travel to Tezpur from Assam is to reserve a vehicle. But it will cost you a whopping INR 5000-6000. If you are traveling in a group and would not want to compromise on comfort, you may choose this option.
• There are bus services between these two places. The buses would take about 7 hours to cover the distance and the schedule can be checked and tickets can be booked on the Assam State Transport Corporation ‘s website .

Tezpur to Kaziranga is a 40 kms journey that takes about 1.5 hours. It’s best that you move to Kaziranga from Tezpur and spend the night there because the safaris start very early in the morning. You need to spend a night in a nearby homestay or resort in order to make it to the morning safaris, which are most preferred. Staying in a cottage or homestay in Kaziranga will also give you a taste of the Assamese culture and daily life.

• You will find Assam State Transport Corporation Buses from Tezpur to go to Kaziranga. 
• You can also reserve a cab to drop you off till your accommodation this being a short distance. It will make your travel easier.

You can put up in the cottages that are run by the Kaziranga National Park. But do note that they are more on the expensive side for solo travellers. Works fine if you are in a group.

You can also opt to stay in a cottage near the National Park, which are more budget friendly. Some options are listed here:

Dhanshree Resort |   Kaziranga Florican Lodge | Kaziranga Resort

End the day and get some good sleep as you reach your destination as the day starts very early the next day.

Day 6 : Excursion to Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park, well known across the country for being home to the one-horned rhino is one of the Best National Parks of India. Not only the one-horned rhino, but you can also spot Royal Bengal tigers, swamp deer, wild water buffaloes and Asian elephants in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spread over 430 square kilometers, Kaziranga National Park houses unique flora and fauna. 

There are two ways you can take a tour around in this place. The first is an Elephant Safari and the other is a Jeep Safari. An Elephant Safari starts as early as 5:30am in the morning and you need to book them a day prior to when you want to go for the safari. The slots for Indians are way too less than the number of slots reserved for foreigners. Also, not many people personally prefer Elephant Safaris on grounds of morality. But even if you want to, you may not get a chance at this because of the one day prior booking policy.

The best way to explore the Kaziranga National Park is to opt for a Jeep Safari which has many slots, even in the afternoons. Please note that Kaziranga National Park is only open during the months of November to April so plan your travel accordingly  if you don’t want to be disappointed at the last moment.

• The tickets can be booked from the counter on the same day on first come first served basis.
• The Safaris are about 2 hours long. You can check the schedule of the Jeep Safaris beforehand.
• You cannot book a seat but will have to book the entire Jeep and pay an extra amount for cameras. If you are traveling solo, the best is to wait and join another group and split the cost.
• An entire Safari costs between INR 1550-2750. There are different price ranges for different circuits. For cameras, you need to pay INR 100 extra per camera; INR 200 for foreigners.
• From your stay, you will need a vehicle to drop you at the starting point of the Safari. You can ask your hosts to arrange for this and they’d be glad to help you out.

If you take a morning safari, you will have ample time to head to the Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park . The biggest Orchid park in the North East belt in India, this park hosts 500 varieties of wild orchids, 132 species of fruits and vegetables, various species of bamboo, cane and other plants.

After a tour of the Orchid park, you can head back to Tezpur from Kaziranga and spend the night in Tezpur.

Homestays :  The Bhowmick’s Bungalow  

Hotels : Hotel Gateway Tezpur | Hotel Palazzo Prime | Dayal Residency  

Day 7 : Tezpur to Dirang

Dirang is a picture perfect town in West Kameng District in Arunachal Pradesh, often chosen as a transit point by traveler. Dirang is quite unexplored till this point of time probably because its counterpart, Bomdila is known more in the travellers circuit. Surrounded by tall mountains, beautiful monasteries and crystal clear river waters, a stop at Dirang would be the best way to start your trip to Arunachal Pradesh.

• There won’t be shared cabs specifically  meant for Dirang but you can hop onto one going to Tawang and get down at Dirang.
• Shared Sumos are found at ASTC bus stand in Tezpur and they leave around 6am. Check for the Tata Sumo Counter for Tawang as you reach there. Make sure you reach well ahead of time to find yourself the best seats, else you will end up stuck at the last row with no legroom for this long journey.
• The shared Sumo fair for Tawang from Tezpur is usually INR 750 per person . Dirang would cost you lesser than that. But post pandemic, the costs are expected to go higher.
• A reserved vehicle from Tezpur to Dirang would cost somewhere around INR 8000 . If you are in a group, you may opt for this as you won’t be compromising on comfort.
• The distance is about 200 kms and it takes around 6 hours to cover.

J L Homestay | Pemaling Lords Inn Homestay | Tenzing Dolma Homestay | Keeduk Inn

After having completed a long and bumpy ride, take rest in your hotel/homestay.

Day 8 : Explore Dirang

Even though Dirang has gained popularity only among travelers only in the recent years, there is a lot to explore in this quaint village. One day is never enough to explore the place to the fullest. Still, something is better than nothing so you can utilise the day to the fullest and go around and breathe the fresh air of this surreal destination, your first stop in Arunachal Pradesh.

Things to do in Dirang

Visit Dirang Dzong located on the banks of Dirang Chu (river), an outstanding remnant of the rich cultural history of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a small village with a few houses that are more than 500 years old. Dirang Dzong also has a prison which dates back to 9th century. Walk through the houses and alleys and interact with the locals to know more about the ancient architecture, traditions, art and culture. It is located about 3-4 kms from the main town of Dirang. You can take a local cab but the distance is walkable if you are comfortable walking.

Originally known as the Thupsung Dhargye monastery, Dirang Monastery is a rather new monastery and recently renovated. The monastery is surrounded by manicured gardens and the view from here is serene. Spend an hour at this place to experience tranquility. It is located right in the heart of Dirang.

There is no better way to explore a place than to explore the place on foot. Walk around the town, the river banks and drink tea with the locals. You will know a lot more about the history and culture than what the internet tells you about a place.

Day 9 : Dirang to Tawang

• The shared sumos start very early in the morning. Talk to your hotel/homestay management to find out if you can book a seat the previous way. There is no straightjacket formula to traveling in public transports in the North East.
• The shared sumos would cost around INR 450 from Dirang to Tawang and travel time would be around 6 hours. 
• You can also join other groups if they are booking a private vehicle and share the expenses.
• Ask the driver to stop at Sela Lake for tea. That way you get a glimpse of the splendid Sela Lake.

Dondrub Homestay | Hotel Tawang Heights | Hotel The Oak | Hotel Tawang Centre Point

Spend the evening strolling around the town of Tawang or head to Dharma Coffee House for a cup of hot chocolate.

Day 10 : Explore Tawang

To explore the various places in Tawang, the only option is to book a local cab for sightseeing. If you are traveling solo, you would probably have to join another group. But there is no issue if you are in a group. In the local taxi stand, you will find local drivers who conduct these Bum La Pass, Sangetsar Lake, P T Tso Lake sightseeing trips. You will need a permit from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Tawang District to visit Bum La Pass . But not to worry, the driver can arrange that for you easily. Make sure you make this arrangement right on the day you arrive. A full day trip will cost you between INR 5000-6000.

• Visit the Tawang Monastery , the largest monastery in India and the second largest in the world. Situated at a height of 3000 metres, this three stories monastery is postcard perfect and one of the main highlights of your trip to Tawang.
• Visit the historically significant Urgeling Gompa , the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama.
• Head to Tawang War Memorial , which commemorates the martyrdom of 2140 Indian soldiers of the Indo-China War.
• Explore the popular Bumla pass , located at an altitude of 4633 meters in  the Indo-China border.
• Stop by Sangetsar Lake,  more famously known as Madhuri Lake after a Bollywood movie starring Madhuri Dixit was shot here. A walk around the lake will be enough to refresh your mind and soul.
• Visit the P T Tso Lake , another famous spot in this circuit. With crystal clear waters and mountains on all sides, you will find this lake a rejuvenating escape.

Head back to your hotel/homestay and rest in the evening.

Day 11 : Tawang to Bomdila

This day holds a long journey for you. The shares Sumos for Bomdila leave very early in the morning and hence, you’d have to be prepared to leave early. 

• Hop onto a shared Sumo from Tawang.
• It takes between 7-8 hours to cover this leg of the journey, depending on the conditions of the road.
• The fare for a seat in a shared vehicle is around INR 600.
• Reserved Vehicles would cost about INR 10000 (Xylo/Innova).

Holiday Hills | Hotel Tashi Den | Doe-Gu-Khil Guest House

Spend the day rest of the evening strolling around the streets of Bomdila or stay back at your hotel/homestay.

Day 12 : Explore Bomdila

Bomdila is another transit point apart from Dirang, between Tezpur and Tawang. Bomdila is known more and opted by the travelers because of its easy accessibility with other places. Situated amidst lofty mountains and home to beautiful monasteries, Bomdila truly deserves the attention of the travelers. There are many things you can do in this quaint town. Some of the places of interest are listed here.

• Head to the highest view point of Bomdila, RR Hill to witness a unparalelled views of Bhutan and Tibet.
• Visit the gorgeously built Bomdila Monastery . Built in 1965, this monastery is divided into three segments, the Upper Gompa, the Middle Gompa and the Lower Gompa. The Upper Gompa is situated on a steep mountain slope and is the biggest among the three.
• Hire a vehicle and head to Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary, located 20 kms outside the town. It is a great spot for bird watchers.
• Head to the apple orchards of Bomdila and pack some apples for your journey backwards.

Day 13 : Bomdila – Tezpur – Guwahati

• There are two possible ways to reach Guwahati.
• You will find direct buses that go to Guwahati but they are extremely long and tiring. A 15 hours of journey through the bumpy roads would be no less than a pain. But you may still opt for this if you are used to traveling in buses.
• The alternative option is to break the journey at Tezpur . First take a Shared Jeep to Tezpur that’d cost you INR 350 . From Tezpur, you may either take another Sumo or get onto an ASTC bus towards Guwahati. Take a seat in the front of the bus and it will be quite a comfortable journey.

TRAVEL TIME:

Bomdila to Tezpur – 4.5 hours

Tezpur to Guwahati – 4.5 hours

(It is always best to keep some buffer time and not having anything booked in advance)

Backpackers Hostels : Gibbon Backpackers Hostel | Cupidtrail Backpacker’s Penthouse  

Mid-Ranged Stays : Magnolia Inn | The Riverside Lodge | Hotel The Kalyaniz

Luxury Stays : Vivanta Guwahati | Radisson Blu Guwahat i | Novotel Guwahati

After a long day of travel, retreat to sleep early as you approach the last day of your trip.

Though the itinerary starts from Guwahati, you technically do not get to spend a day in Guwahati, often considered a gateway and junction to travel to all other destinations in the North East region. It is thus advisable to dedicate a leisurely day to explore the city at your own pace. There would be no checklists to follow or rush to visit all possible points. Just take a walk, spend the afternoon at a cafe or engage in some shopping at Fancy Bazaar or The Maati Centre .

But if you are still keen on visiting some popular spots in the city, you may head to Assam State Museum or stargaze at Guwahati Planetarium.

If you want to add on a few extra days to the itinerary and explore some more places in Assam, you must check these 6 jaw-dropping locations in Assam that should be on your list.

Fly out or take a train back from Guwahati with bag full of memories.

Day 3 : Cherrpunjee – Tyrna – Nongriat – Tyrna

Day 4 : Tyrna – Cherrapunjee – Shillong

Day 6 : Excursion at Kaziranga National Park – Transfer to Tezpur

Day 13 : Bomdila -Tezpur – Guwahati

• It is best to travel in the months of November to early December or March-April . The itinerary covers high altitude destinations like Tawang and you would not want to get stuck due to excessive snowfall during winter months or landslides in monsoon.
• Traveling to Arunachal Pradesh requires an Inner Line Permit which maybe applied online and obtained beforehand. The fee is INR 100 for Indians and is valid for 30 days.
• You will be on the roads on almost every day of the trip. It is advisable to carry water bottle and dry fruits so that you can stay hydrated and have something to munch on.
• Please avoid carrying snacks in plastic packs . Most of these locations are in remote places and they do not have a recycling system. If at all you produce plastic waste, carry them till Guwahati and dispose them at Guwahati .
• Always keep some buffer time when you travel in public transports . You never know what unforeseen circumstances may arrive.
• Reach the booking counters well before time so that you may find the front seats in the Tata Sumos . If possible, book both the seats so that you can travel comfortably.
• Respect the culture of the locals and thank them for every service.

Also, check these articles if you want to travel further to other places in the North East:

• 5 Offbeat Destinations in Meghalaya
• A 10-Day Travel Itinerary to experience Community Tourism in Sikkim
• 7 Day Arunachal Pradesh Itinerary
• A Comprehensive Travel Guide for Nepal
• A Guide for spending 2 days in Pokhara
• A 7-Day Travel Itinerary for Bhutan
• Thimpu City Guide
• 10 Offbeat Himalayan Destinations in West Bengal
• 7 Day Meghalaya Travel Itinerary

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Hailing from the foothill town of Siliguri, Michelle takes keen interest in storytelling, through words and photographs. Having a home so close to the mountains is what she considers a gift. A law student and freelance content writer at present, she often takes time out to travel to the mountains and pen down her experiences. She believes in giving back to the community through volunteering in local projects and strongly supports community tourism.

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The Northeast Travel Guide

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The least explored, most mysterious and arguably the most beautiful region of India , the Northeast, known as the “Seven Sisters”, is connected to the rest of the country by a narrow stretch of land between Bhutan and Bangladesh, and was all but sealed off from the outside world until relatively recently. Arunachal Pradesh shares an extremely sensitive frontier with Chinese-occupied Tibet and, together with Nagaland , Manipur and Mizoram , a 1600km-long border with Myanmar.

Places to visit in Northeast India

Northeast india’s top cultural attractions, best time to visit northeast india, food and drink of northeast india, access, permits and tour operators.

Many insurgencies, caused by a vast ethnic diversity, have fractured the region since Independence, with tribal groups pushing for autonomy as well as fighting each other. A huge influx of Bangladeshis in the last decade and the displacement of many indigenous people has created further tension. Though there has been improvement in security in some areas, others remain disturbed with occasional clashes and armed conflict on the fringes. Permits are required for travel in certain regions, notably Arunachal Pradesh, while some other areas, such as the Manipur Hills and Nagaland’s eastern fringes, have open access but remain highly volatile. Tourists, however, are not a target of violence and the extraordinary diversity of peoples and spectacular landscapes make a visit to the region well worth the effort. One of the world’s wettest monsoon belts, the area also boasts an astounding array of flora and fauna, estimated to represent fifty percent of India’s entire biodiversity.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for India, created by local experts

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The flat, sunburnt plains of the Ganges River are India's breadbasket: a densely populated area, it is home to many of the country's greatest sights. See Delhi and all its treasures, then fly to Varanasi, the most sacred stretch of the Ganges and one of India's most intense and atmospheric places.

Tailor-made trips for   India

Until the 1960s the region comprised just two states, the North East Frontier Agency – now Arunachal Pradesh – and Assam , but separatist pressures further divided it into the seven states, now officially joined by an eighth – Sikkim. Assam consists of the flat Brahmaputra valley. Its capital, Guwahati, has two of India’s most important ancient temples and is the gateway to the region, while an encounter with a one-horned rhino in the magnificent Kaziranga National Park is a highlight of any trip to the Northeast.

The other six states occupy the surrounding hills, and are quite distinct from the rest of India in landscape, climate and peoples. Meghalaya has beautiful lakes and includes the wettest places on earth, Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram. Its capital, Shillong, retains some of the colonial atmosphere from its days as east India’s summer capital. Majestic Arunachal Pradesh , one of India’s most remote states, is inhabited by a fascinating range of peoples, many of Tibetan origin. In the state’s northwestern corner, close to Bhutan, lies the Buddhist monastery of Tawang, in sight of the mountainous border with Tibet, while in the far northeast is the remote wilderness of Namdapha National Park. To the south, the lush mountains of Nagaland are home to fourteen distinctive tribal groups. Mizoram , in the Lushai Hills, is predominantly Christian and has one of the highest literacy rates in India.

Manipur is perhaps the most fractured of all the Northeast states and unsafe for travel off the beaten track, wracked by numerous insurgencies and inter-factional disputes. Tripura , on the other hand, with its long history of insurgency, is far more settled today, with plans for a major rail link and an improved road system; that said, you are still advised to exercise caution if travelling in the eastern hills. The people of Manipur are closely related to the neighbouring Burmese population. Tripura, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides (having been cut off from the Bangladeshi plains during the 1947 Partition), is distinctly Bengali to the west, while hill tribes make up the majority in the east.

Spot the rare one-horned rhino on a dawn jeep safari deep into the jungle where, with luck, you can see wild elephant or even tigers.

In India’s wettest state, entwined roots of the rubber tree form magnificent natural bridges, some centuries old, across waterways.

In a remote corner that was once Tibet, the largest Buddhist monastery in India maintains an ancient, unbroken tradition. The quiet chapel commemorating the sixth Dalai Lama lies close by.

A beautiful, remote wildlife park, bordering Burma, with habitat from steamy foothills up to the snow line, and home to a huge variety of wildlife including the Hoolock gibbon and elusive big cats.

An unmissable occasion and the highlight of the Northeast calendar, bringing together all the Naga tribes in their finery with music, dance and martial art displays.

Trek to a remote plateau of rolling green hills that is carpeted with flowers in the wet season.

Weather conditions are best from November to April, although the high-altitude areas of Arunachal, Meghalaya and Nagaland are extremely cold by December, and winter fog can disrupt road journeys. It rains heavily from May to the end of September, particularly in Meghalaya, but travel during this period has its own charm. In major cities such as Guwahati, Tezpur and Shillong, accommodation rates are not affected by the low season, but Kaziranga, Manas and the remote parts of Arunachal, Nagaland and Assam do offer off-season discounts.

Festivals in Northeast India

Religious festivals.

Manipur’s version of Holi is celebrated with the thabal chongba folk dance.

Konyak festival in the Mon region of Nagaland marking the arrival of spring.

The major festival of Assam, celebrated with singing, dancing and feasts in the villages, to mark the New Year and the onset of spring.

In spring before the new sowing season begins, this is the biggest harvest festival in Mizoram.

Celebrated by the Ao tribe in Nagaland after the sowing season.

The Apatanis of Ziro in Arunachal observe this agrarian festival in which animal sacrifices are common.

In Meghalaya, the Khasi tribe give thanks for the harvest over five days. Young men and women in traditional attire and heavy ornaments perform songs and dances at Smit, near Shillong.

Arunachal Pradesh festival of the Monpa people in Bomdila and Tawang, with colourful chaam (masked monastic dances) and religious ceremonies.

Music and cultural festivals

Four-day Central Arunachal outdoor music festival with apong (rice beer) and indie music, camping under the stars in the Ziro Valley.

This popular multiday urban music festival held its first Shillong edition in 2015 and is now slated to be an annual feature. Indian indie and global artists spanning genres of rock, funk, electro and more perform on various stages.

Held annually in Nagaland at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, this is among the Northeast’s largest occasion , showcasing the dance, music, food, games and intriguing culture of different local tribes.

Meat-based dishes, smoked, dried and pungent flavours, a liberal use of chilli and the distinct lack of typical Indian masala defines cuisine in the Northeast. The food is mostly mild, owing to the lack of spices that grow in the region, aside from some local herbs. Rice is a staple and the Tibetan momos and thukpa are ubiquitous. For drinks, salty yak-butter tea and local brews (known by various names including raksi , chang and apong ) made of millet, maize or rice are recommended to keep off the chill.

In Assam, try the xaag (leaf vegetables), fish tenga (a souring agent), pitika (a pungent vegetable mash) and khorika (meat on a skewer). Meghalaya tends to go heavy on the pork, with dishes such as doh neiiong (pork with black sesame seeds) and the staple jadoh (rice cooked in meat stock with pork). Meghalayan cooking also features liberal use of seasonal mustard leaves and mushrooms. At local markets in Arunachal you’ll find strings of churpi (fermented rock-hard yak’s cheese), lai patta (mustard spinach) and dried river fish. Churpa, popular in Arunachal kitchens, is a pungent cheese stew with meat and vegetables. Naga cuisine consists of smoked, dried meats, bamboo shoot, anishi (dry yam leaves) and akhuni (fermented soy bean); wild herbs are used as flavouring agents. The star, of course, is the bhut jolokia or the king chilli, among the hottest in the world. Thalis are common in Manipur, with side dishes such as singju (raw papaya and chickpea salad) and iromba (fish and veg chutney) accompanying rice and fish or meat curries.

Mizo cuisine is fairly bland, consisting of forest vegetables and smoked meats; bai (vegetable stew with dry soy bean) is a staple.

Fish is abundant in Tripura , and berma , a pungent fermented fish paste, is used as flavouring.

The Indian Government is currently investing to boost both local and international tourism to the region, and regulations have become quite relaxed. However, check the latest information with the Indian Embassy, Consulate, tourist office or visa agency before travelling. It is best to get permits while in India through a tour operator or by yourself in Guwahati.

Currently Arunachal Pradesh is the only one of the seven states that requires foreign visitors to obtain Restricted or Protected Area Permits (US$50 for a maximum of thirty days) prior to entry. Parties should theoretically consist of a minimum of two, accompanied by a travel agent, though in practice you can get away with saying the second person was “delayed”. Allow up to five working days to obtain the permit. Mizoram and Manipur currently only require registration on arrival at the entry point at the border. Indian nationals do require Inner Line Permits for Nagaland if travelling beyond Dimapur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh prior to entry. Those Indians travelling to Mizoram by road will also need an ILP, but for those arriving by air, permits are issued on arrival. ILPs for Arunachal can be obtained online .

Make several photocopies of your passport and permits while travelling through the region. To obtain Inner Line Permits, Indian citizens should apply with two passport photographs to representatives of the state governments concerned. Applications should only take a day to process, and can be extended for up to six months in the relevant state capital. Passes are valid for the full period they are allocated for, no matter how many times you enter and exit a state.

Recommended tour operators

• Explore Nagaland Well-organized tour operator whose services range from arranging local guides to entire itineraries.
• Greener Pastures Experienced tour operator with fixed and tailor-made eco-friendly tours that focus on wildlife, tribes, Buddhism and trekking.
• The Holiday Scout Arunachal-based tour operator organising a range of excellent customised tours, from rural homestays to photography tours and women-only adventures.
• Himalayan Holidays They focus on western Arunachal and Tawang but have a good network throughout the Northeast and offer a number of treks.
• Jungle Travels India Offering wildlife and tailor-made tours, including luxury river cruises through its sister outfit, Assam Bengal Navigation .
• Purvi Discovery Upmarket operator that specializes in tea tours as well as wildlife, birding, golf, riding and tribal culture.

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written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Northeast India

Northeast India is perhaps the country’s most underrated and incredible adventure. It’s a region that is so often overlooked by travellers because of its complicated past and its highlights are rarely promoted on any travel platform or guide. However, it’s a unique slice of Asia that is home to fascinating tribes, beautiful and varied landscapes and attractions that you can’t see anywhere else. 

With limited information available online or in guide books, this is a detailed post on everything you need to know about travelling in Northeast India, including the places to add to your itinerary and how to get around.

If you’re up for an adventure like no other, then keep reading to find out why you should go to Northeast India and what to expect if you do.

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links which means I get a commission if you buy a product through my link at no extra cost to you. By doing so, I can keep this blog going and continue to create helpful guides for you. Read more:  Privacy Policy

About the Northeast region of India

The Northeast region of India is an oddly shaped piece of land wedged between Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Nepal and connected to India by a skinny corridor of West Bengal state. For a long time the region was off limits to tourists, as its precarious security situation left India’s central government struggling to control and unite the different tribes and ethnic groups. 

It’s a part of the country that has been characterised by violent independence movements led by insurgent groups, drug trafficking, foreign incursions and border disputes over time. It’s also home to varied cultures and religions, from the Christian-majority Mizos and Nagas to the Buddhist Monpas in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as many tribes who still practise animism. For these reasons, the region’s seven states, known as the Seven Sisters, are India’s least visited and often most misunderstood.

Why you should go to Northeast India

I could list a hundred reasons why you should go to the Northeast, but I’ll try and summarise it for you here. Exploring this region is a true adventure and although the words ‘off the beaten track’ get overused these days, Northeast India is the epitome of what that truly means. It’s the India that most people don’t know exists. It’s far less crowded and hardly visited by foreigners and the people that inhabit the region are very different.

Moving from one state to another in the Northeast, the ethnic groups, religion, language and culture changes quite dramatically. Even within the states themselves, the individual tribes differ from place to place. The whole region is so rich in culture and tradition despite taking up such a small size on the map. 

Regardless of how small the region appears, it can take months to get around to all of the areas. The landscape, and sometimes climate, is so challenging that infrastructure is limited and travelling from one place to another takes a hundred times longer than expected. 

It’s certainly not for the faint hearted and I wouldn’t recommend you go if its your first backpacking trip or first time to India. From the winding mountain roads that make any stomach hurl, to the food delicacies like smoked beef heart. From the rural villages where boys carry rifles over their shoulders to the cities which get locked down when a protest breaks out. From being crammed in the back of a shared jeep for eight hours to no transport turning up at all for multiple days straight. I’m not lying when I said it was a true adventure.

However, if you’re prepared for all of this, and, if meeting remote tribes and travelling in isolation for weeks gets you excited, then the Northeast may just be the best travel destination in Asia.

When to go to Northeast India

The Northeast can be visited all year round. The main months people visit are between  October and May . However, the cold winter months from December to February make some parts difficult to visit such as in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland. If you bring warm weather gear though, you should be fine. 

The rainy months are from  May to September , but for most of the region this hardly affects travel. Except, Meghalaya which is one of the wettest areas on earth, so expect rain for days on end in the wet season there.

Festivals in Northeast India

Many of these states also have fascinating cultural festivals, which are good to time your visit around. The most interesting of these festivals are:

First day of the lunar Tibetan calendar –  Losar (Tibetan New Year) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh 

14th April –  Bohag Bihu (New Year) in Assam

5th July –  Dree Festival in Arunachal Pradesh (particularly Ziro Valley)

September –  Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh 

Second week of November –  Wangala festival in Meghalaya

1st – 10th December –  Hornbill Festival in Nagaland 

December –  Lossong (start of harvesting) in Sikkim

Best places to visit in Northeast India

When it comes to deciding on where to go, the seven states all have their challenges and merits and it really depends on how much time you have and what your main interests are in travelling there. 

At the moment, the most visited of the seven states are Assam and Meghalaya. The rest still remain off the radar for most people and hardly any foreigner would be able to recognise the attractions or highlights in the others. I spent over three months covering all seven of the states, plus Sikkim, and I can say that they all boast plenty of sights to see.

Assam is the largest of the states and is probably the most similar to the rest of India in terms of culture, people, religion and food.

It’s the most well known of the Seven Sisters thanks to its huge tea production, but Assam also has some worthwhile sights. Kaziranga National Park is a favourite for most foreigners, however, Majuli Island on the mighty Brahmaputra River is an underrated highlight. It was once the world’s largest river island and is home to unique neo-Vaishnavite satras.

Read next: How to Get to Majuli Island

Meghalaya has risen of late as an up and coming destination in India because of its picturesque living root bridges. Deep in the jungle of the Khasi Hills is where you can hike to these root bridges made by the local Khasi people and they have become the sort-of poster child for the entire Northeast region.

You can hike to villages in the dense jungle and stay in homestays completely cut off from technology and modern luxuries. On the other hand, its capital, Shillong, is also one of the most trendy and popular cities in the region.

Read next: How to Get to Nongriat and the Living Root Bridges

Arunachal Pradesh

The last frontier of far eastern India with a precarious border to China, Arunachal is an incredibly wild, yet beautiful state. It’s home to the second-largest Buddhist monastery in the world at Tawang, which is worth all the effort of getting there, and the snow-capped mountains mean the Himalayas are not too far away. 

It’s also home to fascinating tribes in the Ziro Valley, which along with Nagaland offers one of the most unique cultural experiences in the region.

Read next: How to Get to Tawang Monastery

The real tribal state of the Northeast, Nagaland is known for its fearless and still traditional tribes that inhabit the lawless border regions near Myanmar. Its rolling hills are difficult to navigate with the limited infrastructure but the rewards of spending time with some of the Naga tribes is unforgettable.

The Konyak tribe is the most well-known with villages around Mon welcoming tourists to experience some of the remaining ancient culture.

Read next: How to Get to Longwa Village

This was once considered India’s most dangerous state and, although it still sees regular protests, it has some incredibly beautiful landscapes to explore. The most striking attraction is Loktak Lake, the world’s only floating body of water and national park. The people are also incredibly welcoming and friendly, despite their national reputation and I enjoyed my time there immensely.

This small state actually boasts quite a few significant sights plus a relatively well-organised tourism department with accessible information and government lodges. At the same time, it’s also one of the least visited states in all of India and you’ll most likely not see another foreigner.

The carved faces in the rocks at Unakoti are worth seeing, plus the beautiful architecture of the Neermahal at Melaghar and the grand palace in the capital Agartala reminded me of Rajasthan without the crowds.

Perhaps the most isolated of the seven states, Mizoram is difficult to reach by road but the green, lush rolling hills makes all the long travel days seem worthwhile as the views are spectacular. It doesn’t have much in terms of sights but the people are friendly and it’s one of the only places in India where you can still see completely untouched nature.

Read next: A Travel Guide to Mizoram and Tripura

Often added on to the group of seven states in the Northeast is  Sikkim . Although divided from them by a part of West Bengal, its different culture and turbulent history have led to many considering it an extra sister to the Northeast states.

Sikkim was once a mountain kingdom until it became a part of India in 1975. It has a strong Buddhist culture and many descendants of Tibetans live in the sparsely populated villages. Most of the state is designated national park, home to the third highest mountain in the world, and it’s been a completely organic state since 2016.

Read next: A Travel Guide to Sikkim

Safety and security concerns

Although the Northeast was once considered off limits to foreign travellers, it’s certainly much safer now to explore. To be honest though, the insurgent groups seeking independence, the drug trafficking across international borders, street protests and border disputes are all ongoing issues in the region. 

Still, as a foreigner, you will seldom notice any of this, other than significant military presence in some areas. The locals will repeatedly tell you how safe it is. Many of them are sick of the central government and others labelling the region as unsafe or unstable and I was treated with the utmost respect and care by everyone I dealt with in my time there. 

Protests, which do occur occasionally, are mostly in Manipur but also sometimes in Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam. They are often politically motivated and directed at the central government. They are generally peaceful and sometimes lead to strikes when everything comes to a standstill and people don’t open their businesses for a day or two. This is never targeted at foreigners or tourists, though, so don’t be alarmed, it can just be inconvenient to travel plans sometimes.

Drug trafficking is a major issue, particularly on the Myanmar border. However, generally as a tourist you would never encounter or see this, even if you visit some of the Naga villages like Longwa (although you will likely see drug  use  though).

The border region with China in Arunachal Pradesh is especially precarious, and technically, both countries do not agree on the borderline. China has made incursions there in the past, and you will notice a heavy military presence and many checkpoints on the main roads. This is why a  permit  is still needed to visit the state. However, unless a sudden move by China was to happen, the area has been relatively peaceful for some time now. 

Regional politics

Politics in the Northeast is an extremely complex affair and I couldn’t possibly summarise it here and nor do I claim to fully understand the region’s politics. However, there are a few things I will note because they were significant issues that local people frequently engaged in conversation with me.

Corruption is a common political issue across all of India but in the Northeast many people brought it up with me in conversation. It’s not necessarily worse than in other states, it just often enrages people on top of other grievances that they have with the central government.

Independence struggles are still alive and well in most of the states in the Northeast. In particular, Mizoram was where I had people openly express there wishes to be separated from India. In fact, in one shared jeep ride from Lunglei to Aizawl, a man spent hours explaining to me the history of Mizoram in order to demonstrate to me that they did not belong with India. 

Citizenship has recently become one of the biggest political issues in India with Modi’s controversial Citizenship Bill. While I was in Manipur, for example, the entire state shut down for two days in protest to the Bill. It’s likely to be the biggest grievance of the Northeast states in the future, although it’s unlikely the central government will make any changes.

Religion in Northeast India

Religion is an interesting feature of Northeast India. For such a small area of the subcontinent, it’s religious makeup is so varied and complex, perhaps more than anywhere else in the country.

Hinduism still dominates overall, but only by a small margin and certainly less so than other parts of India. Hinduism is the major religion in only Assam (with a huge Muslim ‘minority’), Sikkim (although the Buddhist influence is quite stark there) and Tripura. 

Arunachal Pradesh is mostly Christian , although it’s also well known for its Buddhist population who live around Tawang.

Manipur is very divided between Christianity and Hinduism , with almost an equal number of both.

On the other hand, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya have a large majority Christian population, who are also very devout. You’ll find that in these three states, Sunday being a ‘rest day’ in the Christian religions is taken very seriously. You won’t be able to travel anywhere, you won’t be able to eat anywhere and you certainly won’t find any people in the streets unless they are going to church. Okay, that might be slightly exaggerated, but when I was in Kohima the capital of Nagaland on a Sunday, it was very close to this. I saw no vehicles, every shop had their roller door shut and the only place I could eat in the city was at KFC! So plan travel days accordingly. 

There are also still many tribes who practise animism to a certain degree. This is perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of the region, as many of these tribes have either turned to religion rather recently after the work of missionaries or developed a sort-of mixed beliefs system.

Female travellers in Northeast India

Female travellers shouldn’t be concerned about travelling here any more than they do in other parts of India. In fact, I found as a solo female that people were very welcoming and friendly towards me, perhaps even more so than other parts of the country. It might have something to do with the various religions and different cultures that can be found in the Northeast, but I certainly never felt in danger because of my gender.

In fact, people were extremely helpful in general and I often had people approach me in the streets to offer help or ask if I was okay. In the Northeast, people are genuinely kind and rarely expect money in return, which was refreshing. I think it largely came down to the fact that because the area sees much fewer tourists they are desperate to prove that the region is safe for us to visit. 

In saying that, the usual travel precautions should be taken, particularly in the large cities like Guwahati and Shillong where you’ll likely find some men staring or saying rude comments to female travellers. It pays to be aware of where you are and cautious of arriving anywhere at dark, unless you have accommodation pre-arranged. In general, however, crime is not a huge issue there, although I would still be careful of your personal belongings, as you should anywhere.

It might be interesting to note, that for female travellers visiting Meghalaya and particularly Cherrapunji and the Khasi Hills is fascinating. The Khasi tribe is traditionally  matriarchal  and it’s a refreshing and interesting experience to witness this different culture in India. I highly recommend it.

In terms of clothing, I would keep it relatively modest and similar to what you would wear anywhere in India. I never showed my legs in the Northeast and always had them covered with either pants or a skirt. I found leggings were perfectly acceptable when hiking around the Khasi Hills and I often wore a t-shirt on warm days. A scarf is always handy for when you want or need to cover up a bit more.

Travel permits for Northeast India

Gone are the days that you need to apply for annoying permits for most of the Seven Sister states. As of 2020, there is only one state left that still requires a permit and that is Arunachal Pradesh. For the other states, having a valid  Indian visa  is all you need.

Arunachal Pradesh permit

For Arunachal Pradesh, foreigners are required to get a Protected Area Permit (PAP) . This can be obtained from the Deputy Resident Commissioner Office of Arunachal Pradesh in Guwahati, Assam or Kolkata, West Bengal. I got mine at the Deputy Resident Commissioner Office in Guwahati. It was a fairly painless process and you simply need to answer a few questions about the purpose of travel and where you intend to go. They also require a photocopy of your passport and visa. It’s not cheap though and it costs around 3500 rupees as of 2020. 

Note that  solo travellers  are only permitted to visit Tawang, Dirang, Bomdila and Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. So, when applying as a solo traveller do NOT mention if you have plans to travel outside of these areas. If you want to travel away from these places, you’ll have to find at least two other foreigners to form a group to apply for a permit together.

Sikkim permit

For visiting  Sikkim , foreigners require an  Inner Line Permit  (ILP) for most of the state and a  Protected Area Permit  for visiting North Sikkim and border regions. You can apply for an ILP online  here  or at one of the government-approved offices in Darjeeling, Siliguri, Kolkata and New Delhi.

I got mine in Darjeeling at the Deputy Commissioner Office and its a simple process which can be done on the spot. You need to bring a couple of passport photos and photocopies of your passport and visa. The ILP is free.

International borders

The borders in Northeast India are quite precarious and heavily guarded. The Northeast area is bordered with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, with the China-India border in Arunachal Pradesh particularly disputed.

Before crossing into India through one of these border crossings, you should check first if you can cross with an e-visa or whether you need to have an official visa processed through an embassy or consulate. For example, the Myanmar-India border at Moreh-Tamu required me to have a proper Indian visa from my consulate at home and a Frenchman with an e-visa was denied entry.

IMPORTANT:  Please note that the information below about border crossings is as of February 2020. Immigration requirements and border crossings can change frequently so it’s best to check up to date and most recent information on official websites if possible, before heading to a border.

It’s certainly not the easiest part of the country to cross overland into other countries but it is possible. I crossed from  Myanmar  to Manipur in Northeast India at the Moreh-Tamu border crossing. There is also a crossing between Myanmar’s Chin state and Mizoram in Northeast India at Zokhawtar-Rikhawdar, but the terrain and limited or almost non-existent public transport in that area would make it a more difficult choice.

Read next: How to Cross the Myanmar-India Border

To cross into  Bangladesh , most foreigners will need a pre-arranged visa from a consulate or embassy as most crossings do not issue visas on arrival (although this changes often). People have reported getting visas in Agartala in Tripura state, or otherwise, Kolkata would be your next best option in eastern India. The Akhaura border crossing is just 3km from Agartala and is the best option for the Northeast region as there are regular trains from Akhaura to Dhaka on the other side.

There is also another border crossing into Bangladesh from Meghalaya called Tamabil, which is only 2km from the town of Dawki in Meghalaya. It’s not as popular for tourists because its close to coal and rock mines meaning that the border is mostly full of trucks.

It is surprisingly possible and easy to cross into  Bhutan  from Northeast India, as long as you have everything organised. As a foreigner, you must be on an organised tour approved by the Bhutanese government prior to arriving in the country. There are a few nationalities with exceptions such as Indians but generally, this rule applies to everyone.

As part of the tour you can request to cross the borders but you must be met by your Bhutanese guide at the border crossing. There are two land borders between Bhutan and Assam in Northeast India at Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu.

The border crossing into  Nepal  from India is likely to be the easiest out of all the other country options as visas can be arranged on arrival for most nationalities in Nepal. One of the most common border crossings in eastern India into Nepal is from Siliguri at Panitanki-Kakarbhitta. I used this border crossing in early 2019 and it was a breeze. Although this is technically in West Bengal, it’s easily accessible from Guwahati in Assam or Gangtok in Sikkim.

Read next: How to Cross the India-Nepal Border

As far as I know, the border crossings with  China  are closed to foreigners. The Arunachal Pradesh border is heavily disputed and China considers it part of southern Tibet, so there is no cross border activity between India and China there.

The Sikkim and China border at Nathula Pass in northern Sikkim is one of only three open trading posts between the two countries. However, it is not allowed to be visited by foreigners, although it’s a popular tourist attraction for Indian nationals.

Money and budget

The Northeast states use the Indian Rupee like the rest of the country. However, you’ll find that your budget will be slightly more compared to the rest of India. With a very limited tourist infrastructure around, especially for budget travellers and backpackers, hotels remain the only official accommodation options, of which choices can be limited and prices are high (even when quality is not). A standard, cheap single room goes for around 1000 rupees or AUD$20. I paid this amount time after time for many places and it seems to be a standard for cheap hotels.

In saying that, you can sometimes find cheaper options by walking around and asking directly at reception desks because a lot of hotels are not listed on sites like  Booking.com . I paid as little as 400 or 500 rupees by going into a random hotel not listed online. At the same time, I was often in places where I couldn’t find anything cheaper than 1500 rupees or AUD$30, so your budget certainly won’t be like Rajasthan where you can get a dorm bed for 200 rupees (AUD$4) for example.

On a more positive note for budget travellers, food is as cheap as other states in India so you can find a good meal like a thali for about 100 rupees (AUD$2).

Transport is another slightly more expensive factor about the Northeast, simply because you often have very limited choices and sometimes the only option being a shared jeep which is more than a public bus or train. Saying that, in Tripura and Assam you can use the train network and find tickets for as little as 100 rupees (AUD$2).

The official national language in India is Hindi, but you’ll find a host of other languages within the area with some estimates declaring that there are over 200 languages between the seven states. Official languages amongst the states include English, Assamese, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Bengali and Nepali. 

However, you’ll find that a lot of people speak English, especially those who are university educated or amongst the younger generations. I had no problem getting by, although you’ll find shared jeep drivers, taxis and rickshaw drivers often speak little or no English and the same with many local restaurant staff. But basic words will be understood and most people are happy to try their best to help.

Internet and SIM card

Unlike the other far north in Kashmir where a different SIM is required, a normal Indian SIM card will work relatively well in the Northeast (although naturally in the remote areas it will be limited coverage). It is generally accepted that the best SIM to get in India is  Airtel  and you can pick one up in any of the official Airtel offices which are usually in the major cities. Unofficial phone shops will likely not issue a foreigner a SIM because of the paperwork involved, however, if you ask around you may find someone who will do it for you. 

Otherwise, WiFi can be found in most hotels throughout the region. However, if you are interested in going to places like Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh or Majuli Island in Assam, then I would recommend you get a SIM so you don’t have to rely on WiFi.

Transport in Northeast India

Transport in the Northeast is fairly limited when compared to other parts of India. Buses and shared jeeps will be your only way of getting between most places.

The national train network mostly comes to an end in Guwahati, Assam, with the train station there a huge national hub serving many of the big cities in the rest of the country. However, it does continue to other cities in Assam and down into Tripura and I would highly recommend using it there. 

Other than that, there are the state-run government bus companies which operate between most major cities and towns. They generally run to a timetable and you can purchase tickets the day before or on the day from the counters at the main bus stations.

In the Northeast, these buses are generally old, run-down and extremely slow, with the exception of Assam which has newer buses and more frequent services. However, overall the bus travel experience in the Northeast is quite memorable and certainly… an experience.

Shared jeeps

The best option for transport, and which you’ll likely have to use quite often if you plan on reaching some more remote areas, is the shared jeeps, often referred to as sumos. They are four-wheel drives that fit three people in the front, four people in the middle and four people in the back, and when I say ‘fit’, I really mean squash. If you want to have a half comfortable ride, I recommend trying to secure the front seats next to the driver, or window seats in the middle section. The back is notoriously the worst seats to get. 

These jeeps tend to go to most places and congregate around a parking area or garage where you’ll also find counters that you can buy tickets from. Depending on the journeys, they usually release tickets the day before (or sometimes earlier) and it’s always best to purchase at least the day before if you want to get a decent seat.

The tickets usually quote a departure time and then a time when you have to be at the parking lot ready to board, which is usually 30 minutes before departure. Of course, this is either adhered to or not, it really depends on the driver! Sometimes they leave on time, other times they’ll leave two hours late or they’ll wait until the jeep is full which could be even longer. You’ll get the hang of it!

Food in Northeast India

The food in the Northeast is not really anything to write home about. Although India is known for its incredible food, the Northeast is not particularly known for its cuisine. You can find thalis in Assam and on many roadside restaurants where the shared jeeps stop, although they can be rather basic and just include rice, dahl and a veg curry. 

In the major cities like Shillong and Guwahati you can find cuisine from all over India, including some good South Indian restaurants. 

You can certainly try some interesting food in the region though. For example, Nagaland is known for its extremely spicy food, often with boiled meat as the main base. I also tried smoked beef heart in Longwa village at my homestay family, so you can be as adventurous as you like there. 

Majuli Island is well known for its red rice and I had delicious red rice thalis at the local restaurants there. In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, Tibetan food is a big favourite with momos and soup found in most restaurants. In the Khasi Hills, I had rice with interesting vegetables from the jungle that I didn’t even know exactly what they were.

It’s best to be open to trying whatever is available as some of the small towns have very limited supplies.

Accommodation

Accommodation options are generally limited to hotels, as hostels are not a ‘thing’ in the Northeast. You can also find some family-run guesthouses which can be a good experience.

However, my favourite kind of accommodation and which certainly led to many of my most memorable experiences in the Northeast was  homestays . There are definitely some great homestay initiatives in the region which I would highly recommend if you want to get the most out of the experience and immerse yourself in some of the most fascinating tribes and people you’ll find in Asia. They generally can’t be found on Booking.com, although that is starting to change as more tourists come to the region.

Some of the best places to try homestays include:

• Nongriat in Meghalaya
• Loktak Lake in Manipur
• Longwa Village in Nagaland

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Guide to North East India States and Places to Visit

Northeast India is made up of seven separate but adjoining states, as well as standalone Sikkim, and is the most tribal region of India. Although the mountainous scenery is arresting, the Northeast region remains the least visited part of India. This has been due to its remoteness, and also the permit requirements placed on tourists . Ethnic violence, as well as the northeast's sensitive location bordering Bhutan, China, and Myanmar, remain issues. Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura are regarded as relatively peaceful though. Tourist numbers to the region have been dramatically increasing in recent years. Find out about what to see there in this guide to Northeast India states.

Want to Take a Tour of the Northeast Region?

Going on a guided tour is recommended as a hassle-free way of seeing the Northeast. Kipepeo is involved in sustainable and responsible tourism, and capacity building in local communities. The company offers a wide range of custom and flexible departure trips and homestay accommodations. Root Bridge is a responsible tourism company that endeavors to tell the untold stories of the Northeast. North East Explorers , The Holiday Scout and The Greener Pastures are recommended too.

Arunachal Pradesh

Until recently, travel to Arunachal Pradesh was highly restricted to foreigners due to its proximity to China. The Indian government has relaxed permit requirements somewhat, and added new tourist circuits, bringing the total number to 12. Limitations on independent travel, the places that can be visited, and the high cost of travel does discourage foreign tourism to the state though. However, adventurous young Indian backpackers are starting to flock there. Tawang Monastery is the state's most well-known attraction. Perched at 10,000 feet above sea level, it overlooks the Tawang Valley near the border of Bhutan. The monastery is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. It also has a fascinating collection of thangkas (Tibetan paintings). If you can, visit it during the Torgya Festival in January or Tawang Festival in October. Other attractions include pristine national parks such as Namdapha, and remarkable tribes. In the Ziro district, the annual Dree festival (early July) and Myoko festival (late March) of the Apatani tribe, and Ziro Music Festival (late September) are popular too. The Mopin Festival of the Galo tribe is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh in early April.

Assam is the largest and most accessible of the northeast India states. It's best known for its tea, and around 60% of India's tea is grown there . The capital and gateway of Assam is the sprawling and rather unattractive Guwahati. Most people spend a few days there though, as it's the best place to organize tours around Assam and the other Northeast India states. There are also several temples of interest in Guwahati. However, the most famous attraction in Assam is Kaziranga National Park , home to the rare Great Indian One-Horned Rhinocerous. Smaller and lesser-known Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is an excellent place to see these animals as well. Also, don't miss visiting beautiful Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island .

Meghalaya used to be part of Assam. Known as the Abode of the Clouds, it's one of the wettest places on earth . So, do choose the time when you visit wisely! Capital Shillong was a popular hill station during colonial times, with leftover features being a championship golf course and polo ground, Victorian bungalows, and churches. Concrete buildings have sprouted since then, but the charm hasn't been completely lost. The abundant natural attractions in Meghalaya include caves, waterfalls, lakes, and ancient living root bridges . In fact, Meghalaya has the largest number of known caves in India. Check out these top places to visit in Meghalaya for nature lovers and Shillong hotels with a difference.

There are 16 major tribes in untamed Nagaland, which shares a border with Myanmar. Relatively new to tourism, the people are curious, warm, informal -- and open to attracting visitors. You'll never feel alone when visiting villages in Nagaland. Plus, there are tourist lodges with cultural programs in almost every location in the state to accommodate you. However, what's really placed Nagaland on the tourist map is the vibrant tribal Hornbill Festival (first week of December), Moatsu Festival (first week of May), and Aoling Festival of the Konyak tribe (first week of April). Read more about Nagaland's tourist districts and exploring Nagaland.

Manipur, located on the far northeast border below Nagaland, has been described as the Jewel of the East because of its picturesque hills and valleys. The capital, Imphal, is surrounded by wooded hills and lakes. Loktak Lake, with its multitude of floating swampy islands, is remarkable for being the only floating lake in the world. Stay at Sendra Park and Resort for the best experience of it. Manipur has recently begun taking steps to develop its tourist potential, which is essential as the state struggles to overcome poverty in rural areas and rebellions between ethnic groups. A Lemon Festival is held every January in Kachai and the Kang Chingba Festival is also a big event.

Mizoram juts out at the bottom of the Northeast region, finger-like in its form. Its landscape is stunning and varied, with dense bamboo jungles, plunging gorges, rivers, and lush paddy fields. Mizoram will hold a great deal of appeal for those who enjoy the great outdoors. The state's festivals provide a good dose of culture as well, with the Chapchar Kut being one of the most popular.

Tiny Tripura, almost surrounded by Bangladesh, is the second smallest state in India. Heavily forested, it's renowned for its vast array of bamboo products. Handloom weaving is also a significant industry there. The mixed European-Mughal style Ujjayanta Palace is of interest in Tripura's capital, Agartala. However, as it's occupied by the State Legislative Assembly, only the grounds can be explored. Tripura's star attraction, however, is the lake place of Neermahal. It was constructed as a summer resort in 1930 by late Maharaja Birbikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. There's a boating facility on the lake. Tripura also has a number of Buddhist temples, giving it appeal as a Buddhist pilgrimage place. Unakoti, a Shiva pilgrimage site, is notable for the largest rock-cut images and stone idols of Lord Shiva in India.

The ​Himalayan state of Sikkim was recognized as part of Northeast India in the 1990s. Bordered by China, Nepal and Bhutan, Sikkim has long been regarded as one of the last Himalayan Shangri-las. There's something very soothing to the soul about the mountainous beauty and ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture in Sikkim. Find out more about Sikkim's top places to visit.

Permits for North East India and What You Need to Know

India Travel: Issues to Know at Top Tourist Places

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Top 5 Places to Tour Tribal India

13 Popular North East India Festivals

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12 Top Things to Do in Sikkim, India

12 Major Mountain Ranges in India

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8 Books to Read Before Visiting Northeast India

Northeast India is a region comprised of eight states. Even though they’re often clubbed together, the culture of each state differs vastly from one another. Here are some great books that will help you experience the history and traditions of this fascinating land .

These hills called home: stories from a war zone, temsula ao.

While the rest of India was celebrating their newfound independence from the British rule, Nagaland was fighting the Indians for their own freedom. For decades, the underground rebellion forces from Nagaland engaged in a bloody battle against the Indian Army, trying to establish their own separate nation. The violence that took place during this struggle and the atrocities the common people faced is poignantly laid out by Temsula Ao in this book of short stories. A young woman singing, even as she is being raped, is just one of them.

Apart from the Nagas, the memories of this tragic past are unknown to most, even within India. Ao’s book is definitely not an easy read but it’s an important one in understanding the turbulent history of Nagaland .

On the morning of July 15, 2004, 12 elderly women met at the Kangla Fort in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, stripped off their clothes and shouted ‘Indian Army Rape Us. Eat our Flesh.’ The Meira Paibis , or women torchbearers of Manipur, were protesting against the brutal rape and murder of 32-year-old, Thangjam Manorama by the soldiers of the 17th Assam Rifles. The merciless troops had even riddled her genitals with several bullets. In Manipur, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been in place since 1980, giving the army the power to shoot, arrest and search without a warrant.

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The Mothers of Manipur , by renowned journalist, Teresa Rehman, delves into this heartrending incident 13 years later and tells the story of how these ordinary women made the nation stand up and take notice of a harrowing act, which otherwise would have been brushed aside, as most events from this region are.

When the River Sleeps, Easterine Kire

When the River Sleeps tells the tale of Vilie, a Naga hunter who is on a quest to find something called a heart stone, which provides its owner with boundless powers. He encounters a fair share of supernatural elements along the way including forest spirits and a vindictive sorceress. When The River Sleeps may seem like a folktale, but the book is also a social commentary. Through Vilie’s fantastic journey across the scenic forests and mountains of Nagaland, Easterine Kire draws readers into the unique culture of her homeland where humans and nature have coexisted for centuries. This novel was also the winner of the 2015 Hindu Literary Prize.

Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in Northeast India, Nandita Haksar

Nandita Haksar is a lawyer and human rights activist who has worked in Northeast India for over three decades. In this travel book, Haksar sets off on a road trip with her husband Sebastian Hongray across the Chicken Neck, which is a slim strip of land about 33 kilometres long, that connects the entire Northeast to the rest of India. During their journey, the couple traversed over 15,000 kilometres in four months. They met and spoke with locals from all the different states of the region and collected invaluable narratives, which unlike most other books, provide insight into the history and culture of the land.

The Legends of Pensam, Mamang Dai

Mamang Dai is a beloved poet from the easternmost state of India, Arunachal Pradesh . Although a collection of short stories, in The Legends of Pensam, Dai has used every bit of her poetic skills to make the book almost lyrical. The stories are focussed on the Adi tribe, who belong to the beautiful Siang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, which is now a popular trekking destination. Through fascinating myths and legends , the writer highlights the age-old customs and beliefs of her community. As it is with most cultures of Northeast India, the Adi tribe also follows an oral tradition and through this book, Dai has made an attempt to preserve her heritage, which has been so influential in shaping her as a writer.

Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom, Andrew Duff

Before its annexation to the country in 1975, Sikkim was a tiny Himalayan kingdom that functioned as a semi-sovereign entity of India. Sikkim shares its borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan, placing it in a very sensitive geopolitical location. Set against the backdrop of Cold War conspiracies in Asia, Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom relates the failure of a small realm trying to survive against a much bigger nation despite the best attempts of its charismatic ruler, King Palden Thondup Namgyal, and his American wife, Hope Cooke. With the help of 5,000 troops and within 30 minutes, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had managed to bring Sikkim under her command.

Anyone who wants an insight into the history of Sikkim should read this book, which provides dramatic details about the last days of the Himalayan kingdom. The political schemes almost feel like a thriller genre, making the book a highly enjoyable read.

Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends, Kynpham Singh Nongkynrih

Khasis are an indigenous ethnic group from the state of Meghalaya , who have a rich story-telling tradition. Almost every aspect of their lives is connected with a fascinating legend. It is believed that the members of the tribe would gather around a hearth and listen to the village bard narrate tales. The title of the book derives from this very practice. The stories in the book are those that the author himself had heard from his mother and his close relatives when he was a child. He has transformed these folktales by adding new characters and dialogues, but without changing the essence of the story. The collection of 20 folktales in Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends make for a highly engrossing read.

The Maharaja’s Household, Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi

The Maharaja’s Household is written by Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi, a princess of the erstwhile royal family of Manipur. The essays in the book were first published in a local newspaper and their immense popularity led to the creation of this book. While the royal history of places, like Jaipur, have been well documented, few would even know that a kingdom existed in this part of the country. Binodini provides an intriguing account of life in the royal household on Manipur, which includes equestrian sports and elephant hunts as well as the continuous opposition to British influx. She also outlines rituals unique to Manipur in the book. The Maharaja’s Household is a one-of-a-kind book drawing readers into a world that has long since vanished.

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Best Northeast India Travel Guide – Things to Know Before You Go (FAQs Answered)

Northeast India , Featured

Last Updated on: Jul 16, 2023  

This is the place for those who want to go a little off-the-beaten-track. For travel to Northeast India is definitely going to be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Here, the landscape is as varied as the culture. It is a land full of surprises. Jaw-dropping sceneries, the gracious hospitality of the locals, the diverse traditions and culture along with a rich history and the eco-friendly way of life have made Northeast India one of the most unique and special travel destinations in India .

Northeast India is undoubtedly one of our favourite destinations and we keep going back there whenever we can. We have been often asked by our readers about Northeast India Tourism and travel. The result of all such questions is this article, the comprehensive Northeast India travel guide where we have tried to answer the travel related queries and have given important tips regarding travel to Northeast India.

Northeast India travel has never failed to surprise us. Be it chasing the clouds and waterfalls of Meghalaya or attending the colourful festivals of Northeast, each time we visited the land we were overwhelmed by the natural beauty, tribes and culture of the northeast Indian states. And the best thing is that Northeast India is one of the few places where the people still respect nature and live in perfect harmony with them. Of late, the states of northeast India has come on the tourist map because of various annual festivals like Hornbill , NH7 Weekender, Ziro Music Festival, Sangai, Dambuk Orange Festival and others. But believe me, northeast is much more than these colourful festivals.

You must have understood by now that we love Northeast India. Agni also has his roots in Assam, one of the northeast states. Our first trip to the northeast was in 2012 when we visited Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh . That was the first time I was introduced to this exotic and brazen land that is so rich in history and culture.

Where is Northeast?

Northeast India consists of 8 states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. Earlier the northeast Indian states were known as the Seven Sisters and included Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It was only in 2002 that Sikkim was added as the member of Northeast Council and became the eight state of Northeast India and is known as the only Brother of the Seven Sister States.

The Indian Prime Minister has also regarded the eight northeast Indian states as the Ashta Lakshmi , which means the eight forms of goodness and wealth.

The 8 northeast states have a common border with foreign countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, China and Nepal.

Northeast India states only 2% of their border with mainland India and the remaining 98% is linked with international boundary.

Quite obviously, the influence of these neighbouring countries is more in this region than that of mainland India. And so it might also seem that this region is quite different from mainland India as well. The Seven Sister States are connected with the rest of India by a thin strip of land of about 22 km (14 miles) known as Chicken’s Neck of Bengal or the Siliguri Corridor. Nepal and Bangladesh are on either side of the Chicken’s Neck. Sikkim lies on the other side of the Chicken’s Neck.

A Very Brief History of Northeast India

I believe that a place and its people cannot be fully understood if we do not know its history. So here is a little bit of history about the land.

Northeast India is considered to be a Neolitic enigma for the archaeologist. The area is yet to be mapped and documented in a proper way by the archaeologists mainly because of the wild forests and rugged terrains that make excavation difficult. It is now known that the Neolithic life in the region dates back to at least 6000 years !

Coming back a little later in time, the Ahom kingdom was established in the Brahmaputra valley in the first half 13th century by the Shans who had migrated from Upper Burma. The Ahoms were the undisputed rulers in the region for almost 600 years and even the Mughals were unable to invade the region.

The Mughals tried to capture the Ahom kingdom time and again and failed miserably each time. They tried for the last time in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 when the Mughals were beaten by the Ahoms.

However, with time, the might of the Ahom rulers waned and in 1818, disturbed by the repeated Burmese invasions, the Ahom King requested the assistance of the British East India Company to teach the Burmese a lesson. The British East India Company fought the war and defeated the Burmese resulting in the Treaty of Yandaboo , by which the Burmese agreed to withdraw from Assam and the Ahom Kings ceded a part of their territory to the British East India Company. This is how the British finally entered the Northeast region. Till 1947, the northeast region faced the expansion of the British rule along with social, economic and political changes in the region.

At that time, all seven states did not exist. Assam existed as a large land region and was known as the Assam province. Later the hill kingdoms of the Khasi and Jaintia were annexed and hilly areas like the Lushai Hills (Mizoram) and Naga Hills (Nagaland) were added to the Assam Province.

After the Indian independence, the northeast region consisted of the Assam province and the princely states of Manipur and Tripura. The first state to be carved out of Assam was Nagaland in 1963. Later Meghalaya became a separate state in 1971 and Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were carved out of Assam in 1987. Sikkim was once a princely kingdom and was annexed to India in 1975. Later in 2002, Sikkim was made a part of the Northeast Regional Council.

The northeast India had always been a part of major and minor trade routes from India to various other countries like Tibet, Myanmar and China.

That was quite a bit of history lesson. Now let us delve into all the necessary and relevant information about Northeast India trip that nobody had told you before.

Northeast India Travel Guide

Northeast India is still considered remote and difficult terrain. The roads are a bit difficult and there is a lot of space for improvement of the infrastructure. As for the accommodations, you will get good hotels and resorts in the main cities. Homestays are also available. You can check Cozycozy to look for stays in the main tourist destinations. The remote areas, however, has basic stay options.

What the region lacks in luxurious comfort is totally fulfilled by the stunning and virgin landscapes, friendly locals and the vibrant culture. No two states in the Northeast are the same. You will find a variety in every state, every part of the region. It is like visiting a different place in every single state of the northeast. You might be tempted to call it the hidden utopia of India.

However, if you are planning a Northeast India travel and a visit this untouched paradise of India, there are certain facts and things you must know before your Northeast trip. So if you are thinking of adding Northeast India in your India guided tour , then simply read on!

What is the best time to visit North East India?

The best time to visit the northeast region is from October to mid-May. This is the dry period though you can get occasional showers in this time as well. Due to its varied geography, the temperature of the region varies drastically depending on the altitude. The northern part is influenced by the Himalayas and the temperature usually remains cold. Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are mostly influenced by this and have a colder climate.

The summer temperature in the hilly areas remains around 15 to 20 degrees while it can go to subzero during the winters. The higher altitudes of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim often witness snowfall in the winters.

The plains of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura have warmer climates. In summer, the temperature ranges from 30-35 0 C and about 20 0 C in the winters. The hilly areas of Nagaland and Mizoram have a cooler temperature.

The monsoon in Northeast India can be quite heavy with torrential rains in most of the areas. The monsoon coincides with the summer season and is from June to September. The latter half of May can also witness rainfall. Monsoon is not a very good time to visit the region as landslides are common during the monsoon. Roads can also be disrupted during the monsoon.

However, Meghalaya is a good place to visit during the monsoon. Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on the earth with Mawsynram receiving the highest rainfall in the world. We had visited Meghalaya in August and had a great time chasing the rains and waterfalls of Meghalaya.

I would not say the same thing about Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Sikkim. Landslides in monsoon are very common in Sikkim and Arunachal. Sometimes, you can be stuck for a day due to landslide and bad roads in Arunachal. The Brahmaputra plains of Assam gets flooded every year in the monsoon and hence best avoided during this time.

How do I get permits for Northeast India?

To visit some of the Northeast India states, you need to get an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indian nationals. Foreign tourists also need ILP and Protected Area Permits (PAP) or Restricted Area Permits (RAP) for visiting the northeast India states. These permits are required because of the strategic and sensitive positions of these states as they share their border with other countries. However, in recent days, the government of India has relaxed some of the rules of ILP and PAP to promote Northeast India tourism.

There are some places which are completely off bound to both Indian and foreign tourists while in some places, foreign tourists are not allowed. Here I will provide the information about each of the states.

Arunachal Pradesh : ILP is required for Indian tourists and PAP for foreign tourists.

Assam : No ILP and PAP is required to visit Assam

Manipur: ILP is not required for Indian tourists visiting Manipur. However, wef January 2020, the ILP system came into effect in Manipur. The process and procedure to obtain ILP for Manipur is still not clear. I will update it as soon as we come to know about this. Foreigners do not require PAP to visit Manipur.

Meghalaya: No ILP and PAP is required to visit Assam

Mizoram: Indian tourists require an ILP to visit Mizoram. Foreign tourists do not require any PAP to enter Mizoram.

Nagaland: Indian tourists require an ILP to visit Mizoram. Foreign tourists do not require any PAP to enter Mizoram.

Sikkim: Indian tourists do not require ILP to visit Sikkim except certain areas like North Sikkim, Tsomgo Lake, Nathula Pass, Menmecho Lake, Singalila area and Dzongri area. Foreign Tourists require a permit to enter Sikkim. This permit can be readily obtained at the Melli and Rangpo border-crossing checkpoint on producing valid Indian Visa. Foreigners are not allowed to visit Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim, Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass in East Sikkim. For Tsomgo Lake, Yumthang, Chopta Valley, foreign tourists require PAP. Trekking permits are required for trekking in Singalila, Dzongri and Goechela area.

Tripura: No ILP and PAP is required to visit Assam

For getting an ILP, you generally require a photo identity proof, an address proof and a photograph. The cost of ILP varies from state to state. You can read all the information needed for getting an ILP for Northeast India states here.

How do I get to Northeast India?

Guwahati in Assam is the gateway to Northeast India. Guwahati is well connected by flights and trains from all the major cities in India. From Guwahati, you can visit all the Seven Sisters by either by air or by road. There are overnight bus services to reach the Seven Sister states from Guwahati.

Reaching Sikkim is comparatively easier. Sikkim now has an airport at Pakyong, but the number of flights to Pakyong is quite less. It is better to fly into Bagdogra in West Bengal and then travel to Gangtok in Sikkim. You can also travel by train to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) and then travel to Sikkim.

Train service is available in Assam and Tripura and you can reach to various parts of these states by train.

How to get around Northeast India?

Shared jeeps and sumos are available in all the 8 Northeast India states for getting around different towns and villages. Bus services are also available at some of the states, however, you will not find Volvo bus services to reach each state. For a Northeast India trip, you can either go for a booked tour or can backpack across the region on shared vehicles.

Before planning your Northeast India trip, you have to keep in mind the distances between two destinations and the conditions of the roads. The roads in most parts of Northeast India are not in a very good state, especially in parts of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram. Even the remote areas of Meghalaya have bumpy roads.

In general, the roads in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura are in good condition and quite smooth . We had done a bike trip across Meghalaya a few years back and found the roads to be quite good. Assam and Tripura, too have nice roads. The road conditions in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim leaves much to be desired. Most of the roads are in sorry conditions and you will generally have a bumpy ride. However, these states have a robust sumo system, especially Mizoram and Sikkim that can connect to every part of the state.

Getting around Tripura is comparatively easier because of the availability of train services. Local buses are also available that can take you across the main towns and places of attractions.

How is the infrastructure in Northeast India?

The infrastructure in Northeastern states has improved a lot in the present years. Roads are being built and electricity has reached most of the villages. However, the remote areas are still lacking in these basic facilities. In general, Meghalaya has proper roads, hotels for tourists, electricity in the villages and other basic amenities. However, when we had visited Mawlyngot , we found a village that could be only reached by climbing down almost a thousand stairs from Mawlyngot. The villagers are used to climbing up and down for their daily needs. There are other such remote villages all over Northeast states.

Mobile network and wifi are good in the cities and the capitals of the states. But once you venture to the remote areas, mobile network invariably fails. We hardly got Vodafone connection in Basar, Mawlyngbna and even in some remote parts of Sikkim like Martam . You will probably get BSNL connection in these remote areas. But it would be foolhardy to expect good wifi in these areas. Poor mobile connectivity is a blessing in disguise for these areas. These are the places where you can enjoy nature and the landscape to the fullest. The joy of missing out on the worldly news is great in these areas.

Where do I stay in Northeast India?

Hotels are available in main cities and the popular tourist destinations of Northeast India. You will get luxury hotels with a high standard of service in big cities like Guwahati, Shillong and Gangtok. These places have witnessed tourism for a long time and so are more developed. Of late, accommodation options have increased with the increase in tourism in Northeast India. Now places like Majuli , Cherrapunjee,  Kohima, Tawang, Tura in the Garo Hills have hotels of various categories. Resorts have also come up in a few areas like Cherrapunjee, Tura, Langkawet and many tourist spots in Sikkim.

But if you choose to visit the offbeat destinations, then expect basic accommodation. Hotels, if available will not be luxurious ones and often the standard of service is not up to the mark.

We, however, recommend you to stay at homestays when you visit Northeast India. Homestays are the best way to experience the lifestyle of the locals. Infact, the locals are very friendly and welcome you with open arms as well as hearts. We had the most amazing stays in homestays at Martam and Dzongu (Sikkim), Mawlyngot, Cherrapunjee and Tura in Meghalaya and at Basar in Arunachal Pradesh.

In fact, most of the remote and offbeat areas in Northeast India rely on homestays for accommodation and hospitality. These places do not have hotels. The locals have developed community-based tourism and have opened their homes for the tourists. We would always recommend you to stay at homestays. Not only will you get an awesome experience, but you will also do your bit to help the locals to boost their economy.

Mizoram has a great network of Government-run tourist lodges in all the major locations. Those are the best places to stay in Mizoram.

Where to visit in Northeast India?

Northeast India is an unexplored paradise in India. To be honest, the region does not have many architectural masterpieces that you can find in rest of India. Apart from Sivsagar in Assam and Kangra Fort in Manipur, there are hardly any architectural gems. But what Northeast India lacks in architecture, it fulfils in its surreal landscape, colourful festivals and the diverse tribes.

As I had mentioned before, each of the states is different from the other. While you can explore the Buddhist monasteries and way of life in Sikkim and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the tribal life of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are fascinating. While Tripura boasts of a rich heritage in its archaeological sites like Unakoti, Chabimura and Pilak, Mizoram stuns with its stunning vistas. Meghalaya is in its own world of clouds and rains, while the river plains and rural beauty of Assam are totally bewitching.

It would be very difficult for me to write down about all the places that you can visit in Northeast India. I have taken each state and have written briefly about the places you can visit. For more details about these places, you can read individual blogs.

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is the easternmost state in the country and it is said that the first rays of sun fall at Dong in Arunachal . The place is captivating with its mountain ranges, captivating valleys, vast forest cover, exotic wildlife, unexplored trails, Buddhist monasteries and an incredible cultural variety. There are 26 tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes in Arunachal Pradesh . The eastern and central part of Arunachal is mainly influenced by animist traditions. They are the worshippers of Sun and Moon God – Donyi Polo and Abo-Tani. The major tribes in this region are the Apatanis, Adi, Akas, Galos, Mishmis, Nyishis and Thangsos. The western part of the state has Monpa population and they mainly follow Mahayana Buddhism.

Places not to be missed in Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang circuit: The main destination is Tawang and you will also visit Bhalukpong, Bomdila, Dirang on the way.

Ziro and Mechuka circuit: This is where you will see the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh – Apatani, Adi, Galo, Nyishi and Mishmis. Along with Ziro and Mechuka, also visit Dapoiji, Along and Pasighat.

Trek to the Namdhapa National Park .

How to reach Arunachal Pradesh?

There are no direct flights to Arunachal. The nearest airport to Itanagar, the capital city is Lilabari in Assam. From Itanagar, eastern and central Arunachal is easily accessible. Similarly, if you want to visit Tawang then the nearest airport will be Tezpur in Assam.

Trains are also available from Guwahati to Silapathar, Naharlagun and Dibrugarh, which are the nearest entry points to Arunachal Pradesh.

In Assam, the Brahmaputra river not only dominates the landscape but also the lives of its people. Both the environment and culture of Assam is shaped by the Brahmaputra River. Assam is famous for its tea gardens, wildlife, its countryside and the Assamese Silk.

Places not to be missed in Assam

Guwahati: The largest city in Assam is also the largest city in Northeast India. The city being the gateway to the other six states is also famous for its temples and attractions.

Wildlife of Assam: Your visit to Assam cannot be completed without a visit to Kaziranga National Park that is famous for one-horned rhinoceros. Wildlife enthusiasts should not miss visiting Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Manas National Park , Hoollongapar gibbon Sanctuary, Nameri National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park.

Majuli: This is the largest river island in the world also famous for its Satras, the monastic traditions started by Sri Shankaradeva. Know more about Majuli here.

Sivsagar: The place where the Ahom kings ruled is known for the Shivadol, the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Haflong: The only hill station in Assam is also known for the curious case of Jatinga birds .

How to reach Assam?

Guwahati in Assam is well connected by flights and trains from the major cities of India. Assam also has domestic airports in Jorhat (nearest to Majuli), Dibrugarh (for visiting Sivasagar, Digboi), Silchar, Tezpur and Lakhimpur.

Manipur literally means the land of jewels. The state is absolutely beautiful with stunning landscapes, gentle rolling hills, emerald green valleys and the dark misty mountain ranges. The Loktak Lake is the only floating national park in the world and the place is known for the elusive Sangai Deer, found only in this region. The modern-day polo also has its roots in ‘Sagol Kangjei’ , a traditional sport in Manipur. The state is also famous for the captivating and charming Manipuri dance.

Places not to be missed in Manipur

Imphal: The capital city is charming in its own way.

Loktak Lake & Moirang: The largest floating national park in the world and also the habitat of the Sangai deer.

Ukhrul: Known for its natural beauty, caving and trekking.

How to reach Manipur?

Reaching Manipur is easy. Direct flights to Imphal are available from the major cities of India like New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Hyderabad. You can also reach Guwahati and then take a bus to Imphal.

Hidden between the hills of the lower Himalayas, Meghalaya is the place between the heaven and earth, where the clouds dwell. Meghalaya is perhaps closest to Guwahati. It takes only 3-4 hours to reach Shillong from Guwahati. The roads are also smooth. Perhaps this is the reason why Meghalaya is relatively famous on the tourist map than the other remote states. Meghalaya is known for its rainfall and rock music. But the place is

much more than that. Waterfalls, nature, sacred groves, crystal clear rivers, living root bridges , natural caves and picturesque villages abound in the state and they will simply mesmerize you.

Meghalaya is the home to three tribes – Khasis, Garos and Jaintias. Each of the tribes has their own distinct culture and traditions. The Khasis occupy the Khasi hills of central Meghalaya; Garos occupy the western Garo Hills while the Jaintias occupy the Jaintia hills of eastern Meghalaya. The common trait binding all three communities is its matrilineal system in which the family linage is taken from the mother side.

Places not to be missed in Meghalaya

Shillong: The capital city is known for its quaint cafes, NH7 Weekender Music Festival, lakes and Jadoh, a traditional Khasi dish.

Cherrapunjee: The place of eternal beauty known for its waterfalls and natural caves. Cherrapunjee cannot be described in a line. You need to head over to this post on Cherrapunjee to know more.

Mawlynnong: This quaint village is the cleanest village in Asia.

Dawki: Located near the India-Bangladesh border, Dawki is known for the crystal clear waters of Umngot River .

Tura: Tura is the headquarters of Garo Hilla and you need to visit this place to explore the Garo Hills. You can visit Nokrek Reserve, Siju caves and the beautiful waterfalls.

How to reach Meghalaya?

Meghalaya is easy to reach. You can fly into Shillong. You can also reach Guwahati and take shared sumo to Shillong. It takes only about 4 hours to reach Shillong.

Mizoram is also known as the land of blue mountains after Phawngpui Peak , the highest peak in the state. Mizoram is perhaps the remotest state of India and hardly sees any tourists. Mizoram is covered with lush green forests, mountain peaks covered with a blue haze and a colourful culture. Mizoram is also famous for caving activities.

Places not to be missed in Mizoram

Aizawl: The capital city is a quaint town sitting by the Durtlang Hills known for its churches and memorials.

Champhai: The border town is also known as the Rice Bowl of Mizoram. You can visit the Rih Dil Lake from Zokawthar, about 20 km from Champhai. The Rih Dil is the most important lake for the Mizos, however, it lies in Myanmar. Champhai is also famous for its vineyards and wines.

Thenzawl: This is the handloom centre of Mizoram and Thenzawl is also known for its waterfalls and lush landscape.

Reiek: Trek to the Reiek Peak and enjoy the great views of the valleys.

How to reach Mizoram?

You can fly into Aizawl, which is connected to most of the major cities of India. From Guwahati, you can take an overnight bus to reach Aizawl, but the journey is going to be a long one. You can also take shared sumo from Silchar in Assam.

The land of the Nagas is undoubtedly the wild east of India. Known for fierce warriors and hunters who have been eulogized by the folk songs, Nagaland is the home to 16 tribes . Each tribe can be distinguished by their own colourful costumes and jewellery and beads they adorn. Nagaland is brought on the tourist map of India by the annual Hornbill Festival held in December.

Places not to be missed in Nagaland

Kohima and around: The capital city Kohima is beautiful in its own way.

Khonoma: Khonoma is known for its greenery, beautiful landscape and unspoilt nature.

Mokokchung: One of the liveliest districts of Nagaland, Mokokchung is the home to the Ao Naga tribes.

Mon: Mon belongs to the Konyak Nagas, the fascinating and brave head hunters of yesteryears.

Dzukou Valley: A short and beautiful trek through the lush Dzukou Valley.

How to reach Nagaland?

Dimapur in Nagaland has both an airport and a railway station. Dimapur is connected by flight from the major cities of India like New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Trains to Dimapur run from Guwahati. Kohima, the capital city is about 70 km from Dimapur. You can also take an overnight bus from Guwahati to Dimapur/Kohima. But be prepared for a long and bumpy ride.

Sikkim has been added to Northeast India states only in 2002. Sikkim lies on the other side of the Siliguri Corridor or the Chicken’s Neck. Sikkim is definitely a more popular tourist destination, perhaps because it is relatively easier to reach. Sikkim has a charm of its own . One of the smallest states in India, Sikkim is nestled in the eastern Himalayas with the Kanchenjunga ranges looming over its landscape. The Sikkimese considers the Kanchenjunga as their guardian deity .

Sikkim is an adventure enthusiast’s delight. The state has some of the best and unexplored trekking trails. The Goechela trek is one of the best high altitude Himalayan treks where you can see as many as 14 summits.

Sikkim is divided into 4 district – east, west, north and south. Tourism in Sikkim can also be divided accordingly.

Places not to be missed in Sikkim

East Sikkim: Gangtok , Aritar, Tsomgo Lake, Nathula Pass and the Silk Route.

West Sikkim: Pelling, Pemyangtse, Tashiding and Yuksom.

North Sikkim: Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar Lake , Yumthang Valley and Dzongu .

South Sikkim: Ravangla, Namchi and Temi Tea Garden.

How to reach Sikkim?

The nearest international airport to Gangtok is at Bagdogra near Siliguri in West Bengal. The nearest Railway station is at New Jalpaiguri near Siliguri. You can take shared vehicles and well as rented ones from Bagdogra, NJP or Siliguri to Gangtok.

Recently, Pakyong Airport has been opened at Gangtok. But flights to this airport are not regular yet.

Tripura tucked away in a corner of the seven sister states was once a princely state. And the magnificence of the kings can be still seen in the building, roads and even in the people of Tripura. The princely state of Tripura never came directly under the British rule and acceded to the Indian Union in 1949. The state has a unique combination of nature, history and wilderness.

Places not to be missed in Tripura

Agartala: The capital city has a charm of its own. The grand Ujjayanta Palace standing right in the middle of the city is a testimony to the royal past of Tripura.

Udaipur: Not to be mistaken with Udaipur of Rajasthan, this place is also known for its lakes and temples.

Melaghar: Known for Neermahal , the exquisitely beautiful summer palace of the Tripura kings.

Unakoti: The place is known for its bas-relief structures on the face of the mountain ranges. Unakoti is shrouded in forests and vegetation has interesting mythology behind it.

Chabimura: One of the hidden gems of Tripura, Chabimura is known for the image of Devi Chakrama on the rock face of the mountain beside a river.

Pilak: One of the important archaeological sites of Tripura.

Jampui Hills: Enjoy the nature and serenity at this hill station of Tripura.

Dumboor Lake: The largest lake in Tripura, the place is an absolute beauty for the eyes.

How to reach Tripura?

Agartala is well connected by flights from the major Indian towns. Agartala also has a railway station that is connected with trains from Guwahati, Silchar and Sealdah.

Northeast India travel is like reading a good book. They don’t reveal their secrets at once.

The People of Northeast India

I have always believed that a place can be best understood through its people. But before visiting northeast India, we would recommend you to learn something about the tribes and locals of the place. The tribal communities usually have a different lifestyle, food habits, rituals and traditions. Respect their traditions and lifestyle. You will be able to enjoy your trip in a much better way if you do so.

For example, while travelling in Sikkim, the popular tourist destinations like Gangtok and Pelling have amenities catering to the facilities of the tourists. But when we visited Dzongu, the Lepcha Reserve in North Sikkim , we found that the locals there are early risers and have their lunch by 10.30 and dinner by 7.30 pm. Our host wanted to change the rules for us, but we decided to have food with them. This made our hosts extremely happy and we spent some of the best times in Dzongu.

The people of Northeast India are very warm and friendly. They can go out of the way to help you and make you comfortable. Our guide in David Scott Trail was a shy young boy. Once he was comfortable, he was full of stories and anecdotes about Meghalaya and the Khasi Hills.

Wildlife of Northeast India

Northeast India has one of the highest forest covers in India. Quite naturally, the region rich with natural splendour is also the home to abundant flora and fauna. The wilderness of the region also adds to its aura and those who have a penchant for wildlife would not be disappointed. There are many national parks, wildlife sanctuaries in Northeast India that are home to many endangered and exotic species of animals.

If you are looking for tigers, you will not find it here. What you will find here is the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Almost 2/3 rd of the rhino population in the world are found in this region. Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam are the home to these one-horned rhinos.

Arunachal Pradesh is one of the rare places where seven types of wild cats are found – tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, snow leopard, leopard cat, marbled cat and the golden cat. Namdhapa National Park and Mouling National Parks are the best places for wildlife.

Keibul Lamjao National Park is the world’s only floating National Park and is the home to the e ndangered Sangai deer or dancing deer of Manipur .

Hoolock gibbons are found in abundance in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Meghalaya, Hoolongapar Wildlife Sanctuary near Jorhat in Assam, Murlen National Park in Mizoram, Trishna WLS and Sepahijala WLS in Tripura. Tripura is also the home to the cute looking Phayre’s Langoor or the Spectacled monkeys . Nagaland is known for its birds – the great Indian Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, tragopans and many more.

Sikkim is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. 30% of all the birds found in the Indian subcontinent are found in Sikkim. There are about 550 species of birds recorded in Sikkim and many of them are endangered. Many endangered animals like the red panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Snow leopard etc are also found in Sikkim.

So if you wish to go for a wildlife trip to Northeast India, you will definitely not be disappointed.

Festivals of Northeast India

Festivals in Northeast India is a mélange of music, dance and colourful costumes. The festivals of northeast India are quite a spectacle to watch. While the Hornbill Festival and Ziro Festival of Music happen to be quite famous, there are many other festivals that are equally interesting and fun to attend. Here I have mentioned only a few festivals celebrated in Northeast India according to the months.

• Magh Bihu, Assam
• Dwijing Festival , Assam

• Losar, Arunachal Pradesh
• Nyokum Yullo, Arunachal Pradesh
• Chapchar Kut, Mizoram
• Myoko Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
• Rongali Bihu, Assam
• Aoling Festival, Nagaland
• Mopin Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
• Dree Festival, Arunachal Pradesh
• Kharchi Puja, Tripura
• Pang Lhabsol, Sikkim

• Ziro Festival of Music , Arunachal Pradesh
• Anthurium Festival, Mizoram
• Tawang Festival , Arunachal Pradesh

• Raas Utsav, Majuli (Assam) and Manipur
• Nongkrem Festival, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya
• Wangala Festival , Garo Hills, Meghalaya
• India International Cherry Blossom Festival , Shillong
• Sangai Festival , Manipur
• NH7 Weekender, Shillong

• Hornbill Festival, Nagaland
• Losoong and Kagyed Dance , Sikkim
• Basar Confluence , Arunachal Pradesh
• Dambuk Orange Festival, Arunachal Pradesh

Northeast India Travel Tips

A few things that you must remember while visiting Northeast India.

• Please respect the place, people and their culture.
• Respect nature and do not disturb the eco-system of the place. The locals live in close communion with nature.
• Do not judge the local community by their food habits and lifestyle. If you do not like any custom and rituals, stay away from it instead of being vocal about them. These customs are their heritage and they have been living by it since long.
• The people in Northeast India mainly eat non-vegetarian food. If you do not want to eat it, please let your host or tour agent know about it beforehand. Do not complain about the type of food you get. Do remember, that these are remote areas and your host provides you with the best they can. If you cannot compromise on your food habit, then probably northeast India is not the place for you.
• While staying in a homestay, please adhere to the house rules. Every community has its own set of rules and it is appreciated if you adhere to them. Live like a local when you are in Northeast India.
• Finally do not throw garbage and litter anywhere. Most of the villages in Northeast are very clean and they have dustbins placed at various locations.
• Do not get into fights and altercation with the locals. If anything is bothering you, let your host know it.
• Dress conservatively while visiting the remote areas.
• Do not venture out alone in remote areas. Take a local guide with you.
• Do not bring anything out from the sacred groves and be reverent to these groves. The locals consider these forest areas holy and it is their place for worship as well.

Should I opt for Northeast India Tour Package?

Well, this is one of the most important questions that can come to your mind. Well, if you are young and energetic, have time in hand and do not get frustrated if your travel plans get awry, then you can definitely travel northeast India on your own. While Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura have fairly satisfactory transport and infrastructure, the same cannot be said for the other states. Before you decide you want to travel on your own, keep a few things in mind:

• The roads are in bad conditions in remote areas. Landslides are common in hilly areas. It may so happen that you get stuck at a remote place and cannot move from there even in a couple of days.
• The shared vehicles start from its source usually early in the morning. If you miss it, you have to wait for the next day.
• Your plans can go awry any time in Northeast if there is a roadblock or landslide or some problem in the area. So you need to be flexible in your plans.

However, if you use to take a Northeast India tour package from an operator, then you do not have to think about these problems on the road. Your transfers will be seamless and you need not worry about the getting vehicles from one place to another. Also, you will be provided with a guide who will give you information about the place and people. He can also act as the interpreter between you and the local tribal people. Especially, if you are travelling with family, we would recommend you to take the help of tour operators.

Northeast India Travel Guide (FAQs Answered)

Carrying a raincoat or rain jacket is a must for your Northeast India trip, irrespective of the season you visit. You never know when it can rain there. If you are visiting during the winter, do carry proper woollens like sweaters, jackets, gloves, woollen socks and caps. Carry a good pair of shoes and a pair of flipflops. Do not forget to carry your ILP and PAP (where needed), Identity and Adress proofs and photographs. Foreign tourists need to carry their passport and Indian Visa. Carry a mosquito repellant. You will thank me later!

Northeast India is a fairly remote area. The main cities, mainly the capital cities do have hostels. We have stayed in the hostels in Gangtok and Shillong and they were fairly good in terms of cleanliness and comfort. We had also looked for hostels in Aizawl, Mizoram. The hostels were very cheap, but they were not clean. We also did not see and facility for warm water. However, in Mizoram, the government-run tourist lodges are the best options to stay. I am sure Guwahati also will have proper hostels though we haven’t stayed in any. Do not expect hostels in the remote destinations, especially the villages. Homestays are the preferred accommodation options in those places. Homestays are great ways to experience the local culture.

Different places have different language. There’s a huge variety. Each tribe has many sub-tribes and they have their own dialect. The same language can also have various dialects. However, as a traveller, you need not worry. Most of the people speak English. You will not have any problems with all the main tourist destinations. Only when you visit the remote areas, there can be a language barrier. But I am sure you will find a few in the village who can speak English and will help you.

This totally depends on what you want to see and where you want to visit. Our recommendation is not to rush travelling in Northeast India. The place is best enjoyed and experienced if you travel slow. If you wish to visit one state, then 7-10 days will be good to cover the main attractions of that state.

Mobile and wifi connection is available in the main cities, towns and popular tourist destinations. But connectivity is poor in the remote areas.

In this blog about Northeast India travel, we have tried to cover all the important information. If you still have any questions, do ask us by commenting below. You can also send us a mail to [email protected] with your queries.

Resources for Travelling to Northeast India

• Tawang Travel Guide
• Majuli – A complete travel guide
• Meghalaya Travel Guide
• Offbeat Places to visit in Meghalaya
• Mizoram Travel Guide
• Sikkim Travel Guide
• Tripura Travel Guide

Agni Amrita

Related posts.

Aoling Festival at Nagaland – The Grand Festival of Konyak Nagas

Konyak Tribe – In Search of The Tattooed Headhunters of Nagaland

Garo Hills, Meghalaya – Travel Guide for Your First Time Visit

Phe Phe Falls – Most Jaw-dropping Waterfall in Meghalaya

Siju Cave & Rock Formation – Nature’s Play at Garo Hills Meghalaya

Wari Chora – Hidden Paradise in Garo Hills of Meghalaya

44 comments.

Thank You so much for this detailed article on North-east India .

I have visited Gangtok two years back and what an experience ! It was so soothing to mind and body that I can’t express it . I am now planning to visit Assam next . And specially the Kamakhya temple which carry a great history with itself .

On thing I must say that the rich history of Northeast region needs a close attention of both state government and central government . People of India aren’t aware much about the rich culture and history of north-east because of the ignorance of the Government .

Nice pics……. great place …… wanna go ……. very nice description …… thank you for this blog….

Wow. Very detailed and informative. Covers whole north east. Would look forward to specific travel guide for Manipur and nagaland too. Thanks!!

Thank you so much for your kind comment. Blogs on Manipur are coming soon!

Never seen such a wide coverage on seven sisters. You have covered every aspect, so nothing much to ask – just take your baggage and catch the flight. Would love to combine a package tour and my own programme. Thank you. Debasis Mallik

Thank you so much for your comment! Northeast India is a wonderful place. Hope you have a wonderful time there.

I am a passionate travel blogger. I look at your posts regularly and thank you so much that you have shown the places of North East India in such detail. I especially like the location display map. Thank you very much sir for giving this update.

Thank you so much for your kind words. Keep reading our blogs and supporting us.

Amazing North East of India! We had just visited the Meghalaya and covered almost all the places you have listed here.

Thank you Abhi for the comment. Watched your vlog. Its lovely!

Thank you so much for showing me the details of so many things from the North East.I must travel north-east

Thank you so much for our comment.

I am a travel blogger. I found your blog interesting. I appreciate your writing. The author rightly highlighted the favorite destination to visit in the northeast. I personally follow your blog on regular basis for new updates.

Thank you so much for your kind words! Please keep following our blog!

Superb, detailed guidebook to travel the heaven. Thank you so much. I had certain queries, how to get in touch to know more about it?

You can send us a mail at [email protected] or drop a message at Instagram.

Thank you Agni & Amrita. Super detailed, and best guide. Looks like we need a good 2.5 months to cover the entire North East. May I request if you can suggest how can we divide these 7 states in sections for example Assam & Meghalaya can be done in 2-3 weeks & in next trip other two states can be clubbed together etc. Which can give a fair introduction to North East region and quest to visit other places in next trip 😉 ( I am planning for Jan 21 ) Again, Thank you so much for taking these efforts and inspiring us to travel to these gems of India.

Thank you Neha for the lovely comment. Yes, you would need at least 2.5-3 months to cover entire northeast India. I would request you to please drop us a mail with your queries. Thanks again.

You have kind of presented a wholesome introduction and guide to Northeast India. I especially loved the Map showcasing the locations.

Thank you so much Joydeep!

Wow wow wow !! This is the most detailed travel guide anyone can ever ask for…after reading this I don’t think I need to look up anything else before visiting all of North East! Well done! I have been to Sikkim many times since I was born and brought up in Kolkata and totally love Sikkim. Shillong is another favourite, stayed at Ri Kyunjai and was so awesome , the view was to die for. Looking forward to your next blog.

Thank you Anindita!

Looking at the post makes me wanna go and relive all the memories which I had in bits in north east m. There is so much more to just visiting Meghalaya or Assam. Reminds me of my quite days in Imphal .. I wanted to go and attend the Zero and Hornbill festival bit let’s see if this can be done this year or not

I also want to visit the Ziro and Hornbill Festival. Lets plan together!

Wow guys, this is a Northeast India Bible. We love the Northeast and the love started when we took our firs trip together to Meghalaya in 2019 after which we made a pact to travel to atleast one north east state once a year.

Thank you Diana! We have been visiting this beautiful place for long.

This is such a comprehensive guide of entire North East India, we are going to save it definitely. Was searching for something similar for long.

wow man! The blog post is so detailed. Really loved how it has been written. Starting form the maps to history to finally places to see. I have been to only Meghalaya in North East and would love to explore more. Will surely be pinning the blog for my northeast trip

Thanks Nishu! Glad that you liked it!

This is by far one of best, most comprehensive and detailed guides on the North East. Apart from Sikkim, I haven’t been to any other state in the North East and this post has only reignited the travel itch. One of my biggest apprehensions has been the availability of veg food. Some friends returned from Nagaland complaining about going hungry on so many days! The raw beauty of Arunachal and the national parks of Assam are my biggest motivations to visit the NE:)

Thank you Divyakshi. Yes, food can be a problem for vegetarians, but if you don’t mind eating boiled vegetables and rice for a few days, I think Northeast will be just great!

Quite a comprehensive guide for all the 8 states with all the basics covered! Loved how precise and well researched this piece was. I’ve only been to Nagaland in the northeast and the culture uniqueness is astounding. Northeast is one of India’s most beautiful regions and you’ve showcased that pretty well here. Especially the last image that marks the top things to do in each state. Pinned it for later!

Thank you Avantika! I was reading your posts on Nagaland and they are beautiful!

This is most detailed blog on North East India I have ever come across. I now know where I need to look for any information when I’m planning my trip here. Such a great effort guys. You’ll have mentioned every possible detail anyone would require! So commendable.

Thank you so much!

wow this is such a comprehensive guide for North East. I am surely keeping this pinned for my upcoming trip to North East. This is insightful

Thank you Tanayesh!

That is a solid guide that I am bookmarking for my travel – whenever that happens. I have only done one of the 7 states there and was hoping to do one more this year. In particular, I loved the section on the permits coz that info is not that easy to get.

Thank you Ami!

Wow! This is an amazing and comprehensive guide to visiting the North East, Agni & Amrita! Really appreciate the efforts you would’ve out into this for curious travellers like us who are eager to explore that region (especially the ILP guide) 🙂

And the pictures are interwoven well too. Can’t wait for the pandemic to ease out so that we can venture out here 🙂

Thank you so much both of you! Glad that you liked it!

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5 books that would make you want to travel to North East India

5 Books that will make you want to travel to North East India

Posted in Tags: Reviews Abhijeet Deshpande, Andrew Duff, Backpacking - North East India, Books on North East India, Easterine Kire, Guide Books North East India Travel, Nandita Haksar, North East India, North East India Travel, Priyanka Rastogi, Solo Travel North East India, Travelogue North East India

"This time, such parochial responses had no influence. And I was about to embark on a journey to discover a mystic land.'

Abhijeet Deshpande; Backpacking - North East India

Reviewing a book is never easy. Firstly you have to read the book at least once, if not more than that to critically evaluate it. If not either you end up appreciating or depreciating it too much. You have to get in the shoes of the writer, and it's always a difficult task. The author must have done substantial research to transform thoughts and experiences into a book.

A lot many books have been written about North East India. I have managed to lay my hands on five books that I think can influence a luxury loving beach soaking tourist to travel to North East India. Here is the list:

*Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in North East India by Nandita Haksar , Rupa Publications, 2014

*Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom by Andrew Duff , Penguin Publishers, 2016

*Early Sunrise, Early Sunset: Tales of a Traveler across North East India by Priyanka Rastogi, Partridge Publishing India,2019

*Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey by Abhijeet Deshpande, Notion Press ,2017

*When the River Sleeps by Kire Easterine , Zubaan Publishers, 2014

Traveling in North East India has never been an easy task. And these five books on North East India resonates the very essence of travel in this region. The landscapes with its people and myriad cultures. I am sure there are a lot many books on North East India that deserves to be read, but I am going to start off with these five.

Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in North East India by Nandita Haksar

Someone, who rated this book in goodread.com, commented ' This is quite a good book, actually. It is not a real travelogue, in which you read all about the travel, and also about the various people and cultures you meet on such a journey. It is a socio-political discourse of sorts, with a journey as an enabler.'

Other than find answers to crucial questions, Sebastian and I have always wanted to drive through most, if not all of North East. I don't think either of us really knows why we wanted to do this

Although some would argue that the author's views are pessimistic in nature and that she might have gone overboard in condemning everyone; be it the caste system responsible for conversions in Doars or the oppression of the Catholics in North East India. Nandita Haksar managed to sum up a lot in a few pages. Across the chicken Neck: Travels in North East India is a description of political travel by Nandita and her husband, Sebastian Hongray. It was published in November 2014 by Rupa Publications Private Limited. The author and her husband drove across Nepal to North East India covering the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur in 2011. In the book Haksar uses instances from mythology, history, sociology, and politics to create a vivid readable picture of North East India.

Nandita comes with a blank canvas to North East India and decides to paint it on her journey. "Other than find answers to crucial questions, Sebastian and I have always wanted to drive through most, if not all of North East. I don't think either of us really knows why we wanted to do this. Perhaps it is for the adventure; perhaps it is the need to understand more deeply the region where we have lived and worked for so long"

What exactly is the Chicken Neck? The slim stripe of land that connects North East India to the rest of India is termed as the Chicken Neck. From here Nandita and her husband, went up to one of the easternmost towns of the country, Mayodia in Arunachal Pradesh. Making a U turn in Mayodia, they swept south to the town of Moreh, a busy center of trade on the border between Myanmar and India.

Vinayak Hegde, as part of his review on the book laments, 'My only gripe with the book was the opinionated take of the author on several intra-state and tribal issues and the somewhat pessimistic and sad undertones in the overall narrative. Some of which is deserved but considering that a travelogue, the tone of the author seems quite bitter in large parts of the narrative.'

There is a certain amount of rebellion in Haksar's narratives. Perhaps the influence could be due to her many conversations with her husband Sebastian M Hongray. Sebastian was quite active in the then newly formed organization Naga People's Movement for Human Rights. Nandita Haksar's forceful anarchist stand could be due to her tryst with the thought process of a revolution, which was still a concept in many local minds and also many locals choose to ignore it as a fading ideology in North East India. Enough attempts have been made for peace and reconciliation which have been widely accepted too, that a hunger to keep the revenge fires burning is absolutely meaningless.

Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom by Andrew Duff

A frequent traveler to India and South Asia, Andre Duff is a freelance journalist based out of London and Scotland. The Pioneer in its review about the book writes: 'it has all the ingredients for a major feature film: Love and hate, suspense and suspicion, great powers and small nations, a Shangri-La, beautiful foreign and Sikkimese princesses and a handsome king.'

The book written in a language so fluid and gripping, devoid of bombastic words, makes the author visibly taking sides of different protagonist. Is a constant struggle between the Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalis who constitute the population of Sikkim. In an epilogue paragraph, Andrw Duff writes 'The Palace suggested that the new political party should send three representatives, one from each community- the Bhutias, the Lepchas and the Nepalis - to function as official secretaries to the Chogyal. It was a shrewd move by Thondup and his father, calculated to ensure that the Nepal is ( who were now more than 50 percent of the population) remained in minority representation and that truly representative government was parked as an issue.'

It is always tricky to fit in. As a tourist you have the liberty to move in and out, but if you have married a culture, it slightly a different story altogether.

The book is a journey to the Himalayan state of Sikkim. Although it has a political backdrop, but the vivid sketch of the land is penned down nicely. The juxtaposition of words to the landscape and its people has been handled well. Sikkim is one of the tiniest states in India with a geographical area of about 7096 sq.kms. Snow capped mountains, green valleys, colorful rhododendrons, winding roads and sprawling tea gardens, makes it a very lucrative destination to visit.

An Amazon kindle reviews the book as: 'Andrew Duff is an amazing story teller. He has adeptly managed to bring out the true story of the fairy tale land of Sikkim without sounding moralistic or judgmental. You feel for the loyal Thondup who never thought beyond his little country and for his troubled American wife who was struggling to fit in the best possible way she could.' It is always tricky to "fit in" especially into a community with a different culture. As a tourist you have the liberty to move in and out, but if you have married a culture, it slightly a different story altogether.

A lot of people compare Andrew Duff's book to a previously published publication 'Smash and Grab'. Sunanda Ray's Smash and Grab is more of a one sided affair while Andre Duff's prose is more non biased, neutral creation. This is true story of Sikkim, from the author's point of view. It tells the aftermath political tales of Sikkim's annexation to India in 1975. A story of Thondup Namgyal, the last king of Sikkim. Sikkim becomes a pawn in the Asian Cold War, the ripple effects which we still witness occasionally, between India and China. A three hundred year old dynasty, not so used to battlefield tactics, never stood a chance against contemporary world powers hustling for supremacy.

Andrew Duff's fascination for the region is very evocative. "From Calcutta I travelled up to Siliguri, the junction town from where the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway snakes up into the hills, chugging gently into the mountains, covering no more than 5-0 miles in six hours. By the time we reached Darjeeling, the heat of the plains had been replaced by a persistent drizzle and a penetrating chill in the air, part of the attraction for the inhabitant of steamy Calcutta. Today the hill station still retains a few signs of its colonial past, managing somehow to stay the right side of faded grandeur." That is how Andrew backdrops the scenic beauty of the region without getting swayed by it.

Early Sunrise, Early Sunset: Tales of a Traveler across North East India by Priyanka Rastogi

Early Sunrise, Early Sunset is a categorical description of North East India into three heads: Creation of North East India, People of North East India and Society of North East India. The book is a journey of a solo traveler through a region that has rightfully been called 'the other side of the country'. At an age where traveling to Thailand or for that matter any South East Asian country is a lot easier than traveling to North East India, in spite of its infuriating permits, unpredictable weather and non-existent road network., the people perhaps are one of the friendliest in India.

In her own depiction of the book, Priyanka Rastogi writes "This book is an amalgamation of more than 100 trips done to the Eastern part of India over approximately 6 years. Being a married working woman in travel with a family most of my business trips have been crisp and short, motivating me to pursue lot of destinations solo purely for leisure. Furthermore as trip durations have been nevertheless moderate, I have made repeated trips to many places for different seasons and time frames. This also means that each chapter has been written in totality and it may comprise multiple travel itineraries to the place. The flow depicting different destinations is essentially an order of my thoughts while writing and not a chronological order of my travel."

Priyanka's motive in the book was simple; to show you around with well placed words. This is definitely not a guide book of North East India travel but surely is an insight into north east India and its people, through the perspective of an outsider from mainland India. A lot of us, fascinated by adventure and doing offbeat things, make the mistake of considering a trip to North East India in a sum able week long package. It is a region separated by state boundaries of seven states, entangled by roads that are enough to let loose a few joints in the spine of an able bodied man. Priyanka Rastogi, through her book envisages a travel habit that , while not running out of things to try, one needs to have an extended time in hand.

Well that is typical North East India - the challenging and the support part.

Well some of her statements seemed flattering to a native critic like me. She describes the view from RiKynjai Resort in Meghalaya somewhat like this:"When I was about to leave my cottage, I could not resist but open the balcony attached to it. For a minute I felt as if I was standing in fairyland or Mount Kailash." I am not sure about fairyland, but it cannot be Mount Kailash. It never snows in Meghalaya. One thing the author was accurate about in the book was her interaction with people. "People in these regions are the strength and backbone of the tourism industry; right from the hoteliers, business owners and home stay proprietors to the drivers. Staff, guides and the common people treated me so well and extended tremendous support during challenging situations." Well that is typical North East India - the challenging and the support part.

Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey by Abhijeet Deshpande

"Given the mountainous terrain remoteness of the area, sparse population and a lack of transport options, pedestrians flagged down vehicles regularly and taxi drivers honored all random requests, the ten seater gradually becomes a sixteen seater. To make room for these passengers, our back up driver moved to the roof. 'Never refuse a ride' was the principle in these hills."

That sets the tone of the book. Ace Indian football player, Baichung Bhutia appreciating the book comments: "Strikes first blood in its league to present an inspirational account of journeys through North East India and its people, culture and lifestyles." Abhijeet Deshpande weaves his traveling in North East India as a backpacker into a travelogue. This book is surely not a guide book but one has to extract pointers from the many experiences the author shares.

The narration in the book ensures that you move all the way to the last page. It makes you a part of the adventure trip. The food, the wilderness, hospitality and the uncertainty has been vividly captured in words by the author. Abhijeet labels himself as an accidental nomad. He has been a minimalist traveler for over twenty years and has written down some amazing articles in www.backpackingseries.com. He has fluctuated from planned travel to spontaneous ones, from set programs to flexible itineraries. The book's reflections on politics and social values, depicted through the backpacking journeys of Abhijeet and Navita is a wonderful read.

The book never tells you what to do and what not to do. That the author allows you to figure out for yourself. Abhijeet Deshpande treats his readers very maturely and juxtaposes the reader in his journey. For those who have ventured into uncomfortable destinations would understand when the author says "Hot water in winters, a given otherwise, assumed disproportionate significance while on a shoestring budget on the road less traveled."

Backpacking in general terms is described as an independent, low budget way of traveling. This is usually done internationally. Surely not a travel agents favorite kind of people. But in this book, Abhijeet , so beautifully and categorically admits that backpacking is not just an international thing. It can be carried out domestically, within one's own country. Specially in India, where culture and dialect changes every hundred miles.

And he layers his description so humbly with his own experiences.

The concept of backpacker's enclave has been recognized as a significant type of tourist pace for understanding the travel experiences of backpackers. With the rapid development of backpacker's scene and its increasing importance to global tourism economy, several more or less popular backpacker dominated places and areas have been recognized as 'backpacker's enclaves'. The narrative in Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey somehow ideates on recognizing North East India as a backpacker's enclave. Only time will tell, if legislations are in place to enable this process. Somehow the industry here is aware not to bracket North East India into a mass tourism destination. This is one of the perils of backpacking especially in the mountains. That is off course a different story to discuss altogether.

Never refuse a ride' was the principle in these hills."

Somehow the industry here is aware not to bracket North East India into a mass tourism destination. This is one of the perils of backpacking especially in the mountains.

Abhijeet has been subtle to describe the landscape of North East India. And he layers his description so humbly with his own experiences: 'This relatively narrow stretch of the river was a stark contrast to the expanse we has crossed earlier, but the maturity of its flow was evident. There was hardly anyone else, and we dove into a frenzy of clicking pictures before settling down next to the river, our barefoot touching the cold, gently flowing water. An ideal camping location, the site's astonishing beauty invoked silence. We relaxed till sundown, absorbed in those moments."

A no complicated language, no Victorian style of writing and no pushing around with words, this book absolutely describe two individuals traveling in a less travelled destination with bare minimum personal belongings. It is a different thing to travel into another culture if the destination is part of a regular tourist map and it is altogether a different thing when the destination is absolutely out f the map dangling into international borders.

When the River Sleeps by Easterine Kire

'For one, its plot is like a search.'

Easterine Kire ships her readers to a remote mountain village in Nagaland, one of the North Eastern states in India, through her protagonist, Villie. There are a lot of mixed reactions to this book; people have dubbed the pace of the book to be too slow and the language too simple. Hansda Shekar , a critic, says ' For one, its plot is like a search.' He furthers his review by saying 'We begin with the dream that Villie - call him the protagonist of the novel; call him a traveler; or, as I prefer to do, my guide through the magical Nagaland - has in which he is extracting a "heart-stone" from the sleeping river guarded by the ferocious widow spirits.'

Easterine Kire is a novelist, poet and a writer from Nagaland. She had written the first ever published naga novel 'A Naga Village Remembered'. She is earnestly involved in working on creating better opportunities for naga youths and sermonizing to the world about naga folktales. Kire's powerful narratives invite us into the loves and hearts of the people of Nagaland. Nagas, to this date, even though modernity and Christianity have taken over, have a lot of faith in their rituals and beliefs. Their reverence for the land and their close knot community life resonates into a life that harmonizes with their natural surroundings. It is against this mystical backdrop that Kire narrates the tale of a solitary man driven by the pull of a dream, who must overcome fairytale obstacles in the search for his heart's desire.

"If I am going to start a new life, why should I take so much of the old life with me? It would only hinder me from beginning my new existence. It would only make me long for the old life again, and that would make me miserable. I must accept that my life here has ended, and I must focus on my new life if I want it to work."

An Amazon Kindle reader reviews the book as 'This is a story of human loss, death and renewals, of good and evil, of unknown forces in the wilderness of the mind, offset by the strength of the heart...death is ever present in life...and even simple lives can meet tragic ends....a fable of spiritual beliefs...and how they are real to the Naga folk'

Nagaland is cultures within a culture, societies within a society and regions with a region. It is a state that comprises of districts that has so many tribes and sub tribes, each speaking a different dialect. And to top it all, not having a written history let's loose so many things. Most of the available written literatures of Naga history are just accounts of experiences by people who are foreign to this state. Kire is very vocal in echoing the sentiments of a Naga "This is our home, do you understand? We cannot abandon it and try to live in another place. Our umbilical cords are buried here, and we would always be restless if we tried to settle elsewhere."

The novel seems like a folktale narrative. It is filled with folklores and native metaphors, a surreal voyage through a hunter's world. The tone is about morals, spiritual struggles and the final victory. If we compare our modern life to the flow of the novel, we indeed live in a world that has lost meaning. We are too much guided by meaningless pursuits that the very sense of hope and generosity has faded away.

"No one is completely bad and even if they do bad things, there is still some vestige of goodness in them which can be brought out. But if you leave it too late, it gets so polluted that it feels like it's too much of an effort. That is what makes them remain where they are." Easterine Kire is hopeful of mankind and also understands the mindset of a modern human being.

Published by Amitabh Sarma

My name is Amitabh Sarma and I am a story teller. People fondly call me the "traveling pundit", I humbly present myself as the "bearded traveling soul". I appreciate you taking some time to read my experiences and in case you would like to stay connected, please do get in touch with my social media profiles. Stay Blessed! View more posts

8 Essential North East India Travel Tips – Important Things No One Tells You!

By: Author Sophie Pearce

Posted on Last updated: August 18, 2023

Categories NORTH EAST INDIA , INDIA

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

My North East India travels were, for me, one of my most awesome adventures to date.

It was a journey like no other, a bittersweet challenge if you will and gave me some of the most fantastic memories I’ve ever had on the road.

As there is limited information on this beautiful underrated part of India, I felt like I had little or no time to prepare for what awaited me there.

I was heading into the unknown and all by myself. To say I was scared was an understatement.

But, on reflection, I had nothing to worry about.

I just wish that there was more up to date information available for people travelling there.

That’s why I’ve made it my mission on my blog to write about it as much as possible so that travellers like me could prepare for what to expect!

So, I’ve come up with some North East India travel tips and the things that no one told me before I arrived.

Top North East India travel tips

1. that north east india travel would be like visiting another world entirely.

From the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh, to the green forests of Meghalaya, the river islands of Assam and the tribes of Nagaland, you will feel like you’ve been transported to another planet!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was travelling from state to city to tribal land.

There were villages that looked like I went back in time to the last century and bustling cities that were building up with tall buildings and shopping centres.

It was an amazing mix of sights, people and places and somewhere I couldn’t get enough of.

Each place I visited turned out to be more beautiful than the last and it really made me feel what I had been missing all this time.

You have to see it (and pinch yourself) to believe it.

2. That it would be completely safe to travel

Before I landed in the main city of Guwahati, I started to browse some travel tips for North East India and what I was getting myself into.

I wish I hadn’t bothered.

The articles I read spoke of the kidnapping of foreign tourists, women not being able to travel on their own, road toll rebels on the road and violent unrest in certain states.

It made me regret buying my plane ticket entirely!

I gave my contact details to friends and family, my itinerary and whereabouts and kept people updated. But, I felt a bit silly getting myself worked up so much.

North East India has come a long way in enabling tourists to travel safely including limiting the number of permits required (see below for more detail), allowing tourists to travel freely without supervision and setting up more hotels and guest houses in a bid to encourage more tourism there.

I actually felt safer in North East India than I did in Delhi or Rajasthan.

I was a woman travelling solo and no one stared at me, I could travel at night alone and felt safe, I was greeted with kindness wherever I went.

The local’s primary concern was that I got to my next destination safely, had a good time and that I left with positive things to say about their city or state.

If you were more comfortable visiting North-East India with a tour guide, I would recommend Holiday Scout.

You can read a full review of my experience with Holiday Scout here

3. The transport would be like working out a puzzle

The one thing that is the most time consuming and will be the undoing of many of your travel plans is the transport options here.

Everything is plain sailing in the state of Assam but once you start travelling into the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya or Nagaland – that’s where it starts to get tricky.

Sometimes it would take me a full 24 hours to get somewhere and sometimes I would arrive at a destination at 1 pm and the buses were finished for the day.

Luckily, I relish a challenge and it was kind of satisfying to work it out and get moving on the road.

You will need to be acquainted with the sumo (a sharing jeep), start to look out for sharing cars, get used to getting up before the crack of dawn, sleeping on night buses and get used to massive delays due to the road quality.

It will take a little bit of planning, trust and pixie dust but you’ll make it to your destination eventually.

If you want to know more about North East India transport, s ee my article here !

4. A smile will be your language of choice

Although we are still in India, not many people speak Hindi let alone English.

You’ll find each state or even tribe will have their own dialects and it can be quite difficult to navigate around, buy bus tickets, order food or even book hotels.

This was especially difficult in Nagaland where the majority of people speak Nagamese. So, you’ll need to don your best smile and communicate in any way you can.

Saying that there are a lot of people who do speak English, however basic and will always be on hand to help you.

5. You won’t need as many permits as they say

To encourage North East India travel and tourism, they have actually done away with a lot of the permits and set new rules where you don’t need to report to the police station to state that you’re visiting which makes the whole process a lot less stressful.

The only places that you will need a permit for are Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

You don’t need to report to the police station much (Apart from I did need to in Longwa in Nagaland) but your guest house should be able to advise you on the process.

Rules changes all the time so make sure you check with your guesthouse owner if you need to check in with the local authorities.

If you would like to know a bit more information about sourcing a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Arunachal Pradesh, please see here.

6. It’s completely budget friendly

Despite the remoteness of the North East, it’s incredibly cheap for food, guest houses, transport and activities. So, it’s perfect for the budget-conscious traveller.

I will list some basic prices in Rupees so you can get a general idea of the cost of travel there;

• Guest Houses (private room): 500 – 1500 a night
• Hostels: 200 – 500 rupees a night
• Food (Thali, rice, Momos, chow): 75 – 200 rupees per meal
• Travel (Sumo): 200 – 700 rupees
• Bus (Coach): 200 – 700 rupees
• Kaziranga Safari: 500 rupees (4 sharing) 1800 rupees (solo)
• Living root bridge entry: 10 rupees, 30 rupees with a camera
• Hornbill Festival: 20 rupees entry, 30 rupees for camera

I was coming up to the end of my travels in India (and my budget!) so thankfully it didn’t cost that much to get around or I would be totally broke!

7. The people you meet will leave their footprint

Some of my most precious memories involve the kind and gracious hospitality I received from the people of the North East.

I was amazed at how welcoming, open and warm people were.

They were curious to learn about me just as much as I was curious to know more about them.

In Nagaland, I was invited by the King of Longwa into his palace to tal k, I was invited for chai and buttermilk tea in every home I passed in Arunachal Pradesh and in Meghalaya I loved chatting to the stall owners of the markets and the local ladies who passed me by.

You really don’t get that sort of hospitality everywhere in the world, so I would relish it while you’re there. It will restore your faith in humanity and make you want to do the same for travellers back home.

8. It will take a piece of your heart along with it

When I was on my way back to Delhi and looking back at all the wonderful captures and memories I had made on my trip, my heart broke a little bit.

I couldn’t believe my North East trip was over.

It’s funny because even though I was ready to go back to running hot water, electricity and Wi-Fi, 24-hour transport and hotels with comfy beds; I knew I would miss it unconditionally.

It’s like nowhere that I’ve ever visited before or anywhere I am yet to visit.

It’s vibrant and unique and I’m so happy I didn’t let fear or negative press get the better of me.

It’s a part of the world that I would encourage everyone to visit and I would book a ticket there again without a second thought.

Be open, travel as far and wide as you can and don’t look back. This is North East India, and it’s waiting to delight in you.

Want even more North East India travel guides?

Here are some of my favourite articles;

My big fat North East India bucket list; 32 things you must do!

the 14 reasons why you should visit North East India with Holiday Scout

Why visiting Arunachal Pradesh will ruin your life

A beginner’s guide to Guwahati; gateway to North East India

The ultimate 2018 Kaziranga National Park Safari Guide

A complete guide to Majuli, the world’s biggest river island

An Epic step by step guide to the Double Decker Root Bridges in Cherrapunjee

The ultimate 2018 guide to Hornbill Festival

11 fail safe tips for visiting the last surviving head hunters of Mon

Save these North East India travel tips for later!

travelnortheastindia

Tuesday 5th of January 2021

Thanks for the blog about north east India travel tips.

Sophie Pearce

Thursday 15th of April 2021

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the post :) Sophie x

Monday 10th of February 2020

Thanks for a great post! I can't wait to travel to North East India this year

Hi Utel, thanks for the kind comment. Enjoy North East! Sophie x

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Thanks for sharing. I am a travel freak. So your tip is really helpful. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness., and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. People often have a theme that they base their worldly travels on, but how about a mental mantra for your travel? Thank you so much for giving mind-blowing information about travel.

Thursday 17th of October 2019

Hi Dhanvi, thank you for your comment! North East India is one of the most beautiful places I have visited in this country and will continue to promote it. Safe travels and maybe see you on the road. Sophie x

Savita Choudhary

Friday 20th of September 2019

Hi Sophie, thanks for all the information and experience you shared about North East. I am 31 and never traveled solo but since last few months this thought of traveling somewhere on my own is exciting me. I have been to most part of the India but not to North East, so I have selected it to be the place to go. This article is exactly what I was looking for and has inspired me more. There are many monasteries in NE and Kamakhaya Devi temple is also one of the famous place to visit, would like to know if you visited any of these. Also can you please suggest some places to stay in budget which are also safe. Thank you.

Hi Savita, I'm SO happy you've decided to go travelling solo and the North East is a great place to start as it's incredibly safe. My travels took me through many cities including Guwahati, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and all have incredible temples. I have a whole post on Khamakya you can read. Also, I would recommend the satras on Majuli Island and also a visit to Tawang monastery in Arunachal. I have a TONNE Of North East posts you can find here. have an incredible time! Thanks for reading. Sophie x

Highlights of the Seven Sisters: why Northeast India is the place to travel right now

Oct 10, 2019 • 9 min read

Of the countless pictures you’ve seen and travel tales you’ve heard of India , it’s unlikely many – if any – focused on its remote Northeast States . This triangular-shaped piece of land is wedged between China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar, and consists of seven states, known collectively as the Seven Sisters. Long neglected by even the most intrepid of travellers because of their notoriously troubled past, the Sisters have slowly come of age, and may soon grow into India’s most sought-after travel destination.

Home to a kaleidoscope of cultures, religions and ethnicities, the region has endured a turbulent history (think tribal warfare, independence struggles and cross-border smuggling). However, much of the outright conflict has subsided – apart from the occasional peaceful protest – and, as a result, the Indian Government has recently relaxed most of the travel restrictions and permit requirements for foreigners, meaning the region’s pristine nature, diverse landscapes and unique tribal cultures are open to the world for the first time.

From Himalayan monasteries to rhino-filled national parks, here are seven of the highlights of India’s Northeast – just make sure you see them before everyone else does.

Loktak Lake, Manipur

Manipur was considered the most dangerous of the seven states as its fierce independence movement and forested hills favoured by smugglers prolonged the region’s instability. However, the locals will repeatedly assure you those days are long gone, and foreigners are welcomed with eager hospitality.

Loktak Lake, one of the largest inland bodies of water in India, is one of the most memorable highlights of the Northeast States. Just an hour from Manipur’s capital, Imphal, the landform is known as the ‘floating lake’ due to the presence of phumdis , large masses of vegetation that float on the lake’s surface. One of these buoyant islands is so big it’s been granted national park status, set up to protect the endangered sangai deer, which at one time was thought to be extinct. The park has a couple of viewing platforms where rangers will help you locate the deer through binoculars. Alternatively, it’s possible to spend time out on the water in wooden boats with local fishermen (many of whom live on the phumdis), who can provide insights into traditional fishing methods and details about the lake’s 100 species of birds.

It’s possible to stay in a village homestay on the lake run by the local ecotourism committee. Alternatively, there are also accommodation options in Moirang, the largest nearby town.

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is the last frontier and eastern most state of India, sharing borders with Tibet, Bhutan and Myanmar. It’s the most precarious of the Seven Sisters, due to the heavily militarised nature of the area and the ongoing border dispute between China and India. For this reason, it’s one of only two states in the region – the other being Sikkim – where a Protected Area Permit is still required for foreigners. However, it can be easily arranged in Guwahati or Kolkata from government offices.

Arunachal is characterised by an impressive mountainous region that rises to the Greater Himalayas. Tucked inside these snow-capped peaks between Bhutan and Tibet , is the town of Tawang. This little-visited spot is home to the second largest Buddhist monastery in the world, spectacularly set on the edge of a slope at 3000m elevation. The monastery dates back to around the mid-17th century and is where the sixth Dalai Lama was born. It’s now home to around 300 monks and a treasure trove of Tibetan Buddhist relics, including rare manuscripts and thangka cotton paintings.

The real highlight, aside from the incredible scenery surrounding the monastery, is to spend time mulling around the peaceful, white-washed grounds, which are most atmospheric at sunrise when the monks perform their morning prayers, or puja , to the sound of beating drums.

Majuli Island, Assam

Assam is the largest state in the region and perhaps the most well-known thanks to its production of its namesake tea. It’s lesser-known tourism marvel is Majuli, the world’s largest river island marooned in the mighty Brahmaputra River.

The island is home to some of the most important temples and satras (cultural centres) of the neo-Vaishnavite sect of Hinduism, which is native to Assam. More than just complexes for prayer, they are also used for traditional performing arts that includes elaborate and colourful masks which are handmade on the island. Majuli once had 65 of these satras, however, due to the slow erosion and seasonal flooding of the Brahmaputra River, the number has been reduced to just 22.

The large landmass is also home to the Mishing tribe, an indigenous community with roots in Mongolia who migrated to India in the 16th century. Their houses sitting high on stilts are traditionally made from bamboo and thatch, almost blending into the thick vegetation found on rural parts of the island. The community are extremely affable – don’t be surprised to find yourself being invited into a stilt-house for tea.

Konyak villages, Nagaland

The Seven Sisters are often referred to as tribal states, and, in this context, Nagaland is the region’s poster child. The Nagas is the collective term for around 20 tribes, but each has its own traditions and customs and occupies a different area of land. The largest of these tribes is the Konyaks, mostly situated in the north of the state, around the town of Mon.

The Konyaks are unique for their headhunting traditions. Not so long ago, territorial disputes in the area that is now the India-Myanmar border culminated in the practice of decapitating enemies and displaying their heads as trophies on door frames. These ruthless days are a thing of the past, but remnants of this time endure, most notably in the form of body art; ex-warriors – now in their twilight years – can still be distinguished by their tattooed faces and chests, a decorative practice used to honour their achievements in battle.

Although there are a couple of hotels in Mon where you can base yourself for village visits, a more immersive experience is to opt for a homestay with a Konyak family. The village of Longwa has a number of such accommodation options available, with hosts often doubling as guides. Staying in the village itself not only gives you more of a chance to meet some of the former headhunters, but also provides a window into everyday village life, as well as the opportunity to sample some memorable home-cooked meals, like smoked beef heart served with local red rice. 

Neermahal, Tripura

One of the smallest and least visited states in the country, Tripura is bordered on three sides by Bangladesh and to the north with Assam. Though it remains a relatively isolated state, it is connected to the country’s national railway network – a rare feature in the Northeast States. 

The state’s most picturesque attraction is Neermahal , which literally translates to water palace. The former royal fortress was built in the 1930s in the middle of the lake by the Maharaja of Tripura and is considered a unique blend of Muslim and Hindu architectural design. To reach it you need to take a wooden boat from the small dock, which is walking distance from the town of Melaghar.

The palace appears like something you might find on the opposite side of the country in Rajasthan , except the pure joy of visiting Neermahal is that you will likely have the place all to yourself. Although the rooms are mostly empty now, you are free to roam around the complex and admire the view of the lake from various vantage points. The palace is particularly striking at sunset, when the marble domes are splashed in a golden hue.

Gangtok, Sikkim

Sikkim is a former mountain kingdom, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal , and features some of India’s most impressive mountains vistas and trekking opportunities. It’s the least populated state in the country and one-third of its area is covered by the Kanchenjunga National Park to the north.

And for all this natural splendour, it is Sikkim’s urban charms that steals the show. The state’s capital, Gangtok , is one of India’s most laid-back cities and is a joy to explore. The majority of the population have origins in Nepal and Tibet, and you will find typical Himalayan delights such as momos (dumplings), thukpa (noodle soup), yak wool shawls and thangka paintings in the open-air market in the city centre. You can explore Gangtok’s Buddhist culture further by visiting some of the city’s nearby monasteries such as Rumtek, which is the largest in Sikkim.

The state is extremely mountainous and the sprawl of Gangtok laps against the slopes of the surrounding hills. There are a few lookout points around town, the best of which is considered to be Tashi Viewpoint, where you can gaze at the impressive mountain backdrop of the city which, on a clear day, extends all the way to Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

The Seven Sisters are known for their vast natural landscapes, and the forest and floodplains of the Karizanga National Park are considered – remarkably – to be one of the last areas on the Indian subcontinent that is undisturbed by human settlement. Its place as a wildlife haven has been recognised for over a century, which has allowed tigers, elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses to flourish amongst the wetlands of the Brahmaputra River. It’s home to two-thirds of the world’s population of rhinos and sighting them grazing in the grass is highly likely, even on a short visit.

As with the more famed national parks in India, a jeep safari is the most common way to explore the park. The reserve is divided into five sections, with the well-maintained tracks of Kohora being the most popular and busy. Agoratoli is perhaps the best alternative, with much less traffic while retaining a high chance of animal sightings.

Some of the most famous photos of the park are of tourists on elephant-back safaris. Although the creatures are reputedly well cared for by rangers, in the interest of animal welfare it is highly recommended to explore the park on four wheels instead. There are numerous lodges ranging from high end resorts to budget camps on the outskirts of the park, which can arrange half-day safaris from their doorstep.

Getting around

The remoteness and somewhat isolation of the Northeast region of India does pose certain barriers to those wishing to explore its far corners. Tourist and transport infrastructure is fairly limited and often, not in great shape. However, there are significant improvements planned for the future, which will only make travel easier.

The capital of Assam, Guwahati , is the region’s major transport hub and you’ll likely find yourself revisiting multiple times for connections between places. For now, it’s home to the region’s only international airport and it’s connected by flight directly to seven countries, all of which are in Asia. Guwahati also has the region’s main interstate railway station with services to most other major cities in Northern India.

Besides Tripura and Assam, the rest of the Seven Sisters do not have an existing rail network and must be explored by either state government buses or private and shared jeeps. This can pose some obstacles to travel plans as the mountainous region and poor road conditions, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, make travelling between places long and arduous. However, jeeps are abundant, relatively well organised and will go virtually anywhere, so with some time and patience the rewards are boundless.

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Ultimate North East India Travel Guide and North East India itinerary

North East India is a region made up of eight very diverse states in the easternmost part of the country which, in many ways, are very distinct from the rest of India. After traveling for several months around North East India, here is our ultimate North East India travel guide and North East India itinerary, in which we collected all the information and experience gained during our travels in this part of the world!

If you’re thinking of traveling to North East India, we can only encourage you to go, as we truly believe that it is one of the world’s most diverse regions. Our North East India travel guide should have you covered with all the information you need!

Table of Contents

Where is North East India?

North East India is the easternmost part of India, an alcove which is almost completely separated from the rest of India (called ‘mainland India’ by Northeasterners) by Bangladesh and Nepal . North East India shares borders with Myanmar , Bangladesh, China (Tibet), Bhutan and Nepal.

Constituting North East India are the Seven Sisters (the states Assam , Meghalaya , Tripura , Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland , Manipur and Mizoram ) and Sikkim (affectionately referred to as the brother). Our North East India itinerary includes all of the Seven Sisters but not Sikkim, since it was too cold to visit when we were there, and as you may be aware, we don’t do cold very well (brrrrrr!!!).

Weather conditions aside, there are also several parts of Sikkim which foreigners are not allowed to visit, so we preferred spending more time in the other North Eastern states.

Why is North East India so special?

The states of North East India are geographically and culturally diverse, with different tribes inhabiting the regions, all of which feel like worlds apart from the people in mainland India. The states of North East India feel like another country altogether sometimes!

There are too many tribes in North East India (close to 150) to list them all separately in this North East India travel guide, ( though Wikipedia does a good job of it! ), however you should know that tribal communities usually have their own distinct culture, dress, heritage, cuisine and even language.

Not only are the Seven Sisters, wildly culturally intriguing, being home to some of the last remaining head hunters , but feature plenty of attractions, such as the world’s only floating park , the largest concentration of one-horned rhinos , ancient huge faces carved in the rock , and the world’s largest inhabited floating island , all set to keep visitors engrossed.

Indeed, we spent three months exploring the area and quickly came to realise that this period was far from enough, although our North East India itinerary did provide a comprehensive introduction of all the Seven Sister states, including many of the more prominent attractions!

North East India Travel Guide

How much time do i need to travel around north east india.

Honestly, as much as you have. Traveling around North East India is no piece of cake, and although distances might look short(ish), travel times are way longer than you would hope for, this due to the very poor road conditions in some areas. Our North East India itinerary will guide you to exactly where you should go to visit all the top attractions.

Do keep in mind that traveling around the area is also very uncomfortable (except perhaps for travel in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, since the road conditions are better there compared to the other states), and you might need longer breaks to recover from the actual commutes. There is very poor tourism infrastructure, and although attractions are plentiful, they might be out of the way and require long travel times and complex logistics to get to.

In this this North East India travel guide, we will show you exactly where to go and how to get there to maximise on making the most out of your travel time.

Should I travel independently or take a guided tour around North East India?

If you have the budget, we really recommend you use the services of a tour company, ideally hiring both a guide and a driver. There are parts of North East India which you simply cannot visit unless you have you have your own private vehicle.

We unequivocally recommend Holiday Scout for your travels in North East India if you would like to use a tour company. Although we traveled in many parts independently following our North East India itinerary, we used the services of Holiday Scout for the more difficult parts, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, and we were more than impressed with the quality of service and the genuine love for North East India, which Sange and his team have, and impart.

If, on the other hand, you choose to travel around North East India independently, as we show you in this North East India travel guide, we do advise you to at least use a driver and guides in some parts. Whilst traveling around Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura was quite plain-sailing, organizing transport in Arunachal, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland was more laborious.

In some parts of the country, a guide can also provide you with insight about the area’s culture, traditions and history to understand it better. Indeed, our time in Ziro Valley would not have been the same without the services of our guide there. During our tour , he realized that there was an ongoing animist ritual in one of the local’s homes, and to our delight, proceeded to ask the owners whether we could observe the shaman conducting the ritual. Truly a memorable experience which we would never have had without his help.

Transportation in North East India

The sumo – all you need to know about it (and why you’ll hate it).

The main mode of transport in some of the states of North East India such as Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland is the “shared taxi” by way of the Sumo (Tata Sumo). This because most conventional vehicles are unsuitable for navigating the truly terrible, almost impassable roads in these states. A sumo is pretty much a Tata Sumo MPV that should, in design, hold about seven passengers and one driver, but is usually carrying double that.

Typically, in a shared sumo, four people are sitting in the middle and the back rows with one to two people next to the driver. However, we have been on rides on which five people are in the middle row and three people seated next to the driver. Never underestimate the packing talent of Indians! Safely assume that if there is room available, it will be filled, no questions asked!

Spend over ten hours in the same position on the terrible roads, and you’ll wonder why you’re in North East India at all. Until you stop for a pee break, with some fantastic view of the Himalayas that is, and you’re back to being fine with the North East for a few minutes until its time to get on the sumo again!

Nikki and I found seats 1 and 2 (next to the driver) to be the most comfortable and we would try to book those when available (you can specify seat numbers when booking). Still, the sumo in North East India is probably the most uncomfortable mode of transportation that we have ever experienced in all our travels. We would spend our evenings counting the different bruises on our bodies, sometimes after a 12-hour ride, with barely a possibility of changing a limb’s position, so much so that it becomes heavy and numb after a few hours.

Seats 5 and 6 in the middle row (driver side) are the second most comfortable seats. Seats 3 and 4 (middle row passenger side) are as comfortable as 5 and 6, but have the disadvantage of being next to the rear row gateway, and if you’re on these seats you will need to keep getting in and out of the vehicle every time someone wants to get to the back row. The seats on the back row are placed right on top of the wheel and are the least comfortable of all.

You will want to carry as light a day pack as possible when traveling by sumo since you will have to hold it on your lap (you may put it on the roof with your main pack if you wish, but there’s no guarantee that its contents will make it whole).

Toilet breaks (and the occasional food stop) do occur, and are roughly timed once every two to three hours of travel. In some instances, a fancy bush will have to do, on some occasions much preferable to the random eastern toilet.

Many a time, in the remote villages of Arunachal Pradesh, the only transport is in the form of a single sumo which runs once daily. We really advise you to buy tickets beforehand, days in advance if possible. Also, if you have the budget for it, you can buy more than a single seat so as to sit more comfortably, however be aware that this is the only means of transport for the locals too in some places, so be mindful of the fact that you are taking up space in what is perhaps the only vehicle running out of town that day! We suggest being conscious, and buying more than one seat only if this is available after all the locals have bought their seats.

If you decide to go on tour or hire a local driver with a private sumo, your commute will of course be way more comfortable. Although we show you how to travel independently in this North East India travel guide, there’s little doubt that North East India is one of those places where having a private vehicle makes everything a hundred times easier!

Vans (Mini Buses)

In the states where the general road infrastructure is decent, such as Assam and Meghalaya, shared vans do a pretty good of navigating the roads. Shared vans will include their destination on the windscreen and board people up along the route. They are typically not over-crowded and comfortable enough. This is the fastest way to travel longer routes, and it would be ideal to include as many vans as possible as means of transportation on your North East India itinerary.

As in the rest of India, buses run most of the routes, unless the road infrastructure is too bad. Small state buses run short routes, whilst other larger state buses with space for luggage cross state borders as well.

They are usually very affordable and pretty decent, though cleanliness may be an issue. State buses are marked – for eg. ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) in Assam, NST (Nagaland State Transport) in Nagaland and so on.

Tempos/Rickshaws

These little motorized vehicles can take 4-6 people and are very useful for short inter-city distances. They aren’t great if you are carrying luggage, but hiring the whole tempo will usually cost around RS 60 (about €0.75) depending on the distance, whilst a single seat will cost something like Rs 10 (about €0.15). If you choose the shared tempo option, you will be likely charged also for your pieces of luggage.

Oh, what can we say, good luck! Besides the abysmal safety record, scheduling seems to be subject to many conditions, more to do with the pilot’s mood rather than weather. Booking ahead is next to impossible and luggage restrictions can also be prohibitive for whoever, like us, has not mastered the art of light packing. On the flip side, a trip doesn’t break the bank and can be quite an experience, if you make it back to ground level to tell the story!

The different states have a central booking office usually situated in the state’s capital. The only means of connecting to these offices is by phone (forget internet and email), or preferably in person, during office hours, not too early or too late, in between lunch, toilet, coffee and cigarette breaks.

Internal Flights

A number of options servicing the state capitals exist, and are usually good value since they are serviced by low cost favorites such as IndiGO, AirAsia and Air India. Do keep in mind that the schedules are infrequent, though typically reliable. Check these schedules on Kiwi !

You may want to also refer to our transportation in Arunachal Pradesh section in this blog post .

Connectivity in North East India

Before traveling in North East India, we had decided to buy sim cards from as many providers as possible so as to ensure that we would be as well-connected when traveling in North East India, since we were waiting for some urgent news and needed data.

This meant securing a BSNL sim card too, most definitely the hardest to obtain (it took over a week, a bureaucratic mountain which complements the Himalaya range pretty well). Expect to be asked for several documents and confirmation from a host (among many other complications). By the time we arrived in North East India, we were carrying sim cards from Vodafone, BSNL, Jio and Airtel.

Although Jio provided the fastest data and good service in mainland India, at the time of our visit it was useless in some parts of the North East such as Arunachal Pradesh. It had the best service in Meghalaya and in some parts of Assam though. Airtel was probably the most consistent of all (and the only provider which worked in Longwa too), hardly ever losing connectivity, whilst Vodafone was good too (and the only provider which worked in Aalo). BSNL is pretty crappy everywhere, except for parts where it would be the only sim card with some service.

We strongly recommend getting your sim cards at the airport when you arrive in India. Getting it anywhere else can be a nightmare, unless you know locals who can help you and vouch for you. Providers seem to be very wary of selling sim cards to tourists, and few know what to do and which forms to fill up for tourists. Be prepared to provide copies of your passport and visa, together with a passport photo.

Data packages are incredibly cheap compared to Europe. A sim card with unlimited data (about 1 GB/day) for 84 days cost around Rs 700 (about €9), with cheaper packages depending on what you’re looking for. The price was probably hiked up too, so we believe they are actually cheaper, though considering all the drama involved in getting them, we weren’t about to argue about the price too, as long as they all worked well (which they did, in bursts).

Keep in mind that sim cards will require activation, which is not immediate, and usually takes well over the stipulated 24 hours!

Most of the sim cards are only valid for three months and cannot be topped up further, so you would need to go through the whole process to get a new sim, after expiry, if you need it for longer. It was all a little confusing at best – a couple of the sims did not expire when we expected them too!

Accommodation in North East India

Forget the luxury hotels. There’s no luxury in North East India, although some guest houses can be rather fancy. Further down in this North East India travel guide and North East India itinerary, we will suggest some accommodation options close to the main places to visit in North East India, however be aware that guesthouses may be rather basic especially in the remote villages.

Hot water is a blessing, especially in some places where it gets cold at night. Sometimes, hot water is provided in a bucket, heated in the kitchen with a large immersion heater. You will probably need to pay a little bit extra for it, but rest assured that you get your full money’s worth!

In the most remote areas, guesthouses will also provide breakfast and dinner if you warn them in advance, but be sure to do so – don’t expect them to just offer it to you.

Very few guesthouses or homestays provide wifi in North East India so don’t expect it! Accommodation in North East India is usually pricier than that in mainland India, mostly due to lack of options. A semi-decent room with a private bathroom in guesthouses or homestays can easily cost about Rs 1500 (about €19) in many places, although larger cities provide for more affordable options too.

Homestays are a great source of local experience, and they were most definitely our preferred accommodation type in North East India. This is where you get to experience traditional family life and all of our hosts were incredibly welcoming. Some of the best homestays are not listed on any website so contact Sange at The Holiday Scout who would be able to arrange some great accommodation options for you, or refer to our Places to Visit in North East India section, further down in this North East India travel guide, where we have listed some accommodation options.

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Food in North East India

You’re probably wondering whether the food in North East India is similar to the heavy gravies of North India or the lighter, spicier South India food. Truth is, it’s absolutely nothing like the two major Indian cuisines.

The food in North East India is, first of all, specific to each state and tribe preparing it, and tends to be far more ‘dry’ when compared to mainland Indian cuisine. Fear not, thalis are popular in most of the Seven Sisters, with the Assamese thali and the Manipuri thali being our two regional favourites.

Most of the dishes in North East India are prepared without too much frying or addition of ghee and other fats, and hence are considered to be healthier than those found in mainland India. North East Indian cuisine also tends to lean quite heavily on meats and fish, and there are far less vegetarians in this part of India than there are in the rest of India. You can only guess why this region was Nikki’s preferred one!

In this North East India travel guide, we’re including a short summary of the typical food in North East India by state:

Arunachal Pradesh

Dumplings and noodles are very common in Arunachal Pradesh which borders China and Bhutan. Momos, thukpa and fried rice or noodles are found on every menu although once you go to different regions of Arunachal Pradesh, such as Ziro Valley, you will realise that other delicacies such as larvae and frogs are commonly eaten too.

Be sure to try the amazing yak cheese curry and Apong, a fermented alcoholic drink! Related:  Explore Arunachal Pradesh with our Itinerary

Nagas are reputed to eat ‘anything’ and indeed traditional Nagamese cuisine includes some exotic items not usually found in other North East Indian menus! A typical meal includes rice, fish and/or meat and vegetables, but be sure to ask about the meat, since dog is eaten quite regularly (and is rather tasty according to Michelle)! Silkworm and bee larvae are also eaten as snacks whilst bamboo shoots also feature in Nagamese dishes. Be sure to try the very tasty Anishi and Axone in Nagaland! Related: Meeting the Konyak Tribe in Nagaland

Many people, claim that Manipuri cuisine is the best in all of North East India and although we did not prefer it to the food in the other states, we agree that it is pretty good! The Manipuri locals love fish and different fish dishes will feature in a Manipuri thali accompanied by various vegetable and herb dishes. Related: Exploring Imphal and Loktak Lake in Manipur

We thought that Mizoram had one of the least exciting cuisines in North East India in that the dishes tend to be rather bland and boiled chicken is literally, just that. Vegetables are often boiled too although mustard oil, ginger and garlic are sometimes used. Related: Places to Visit in Mizoram – Day Trips from Aizawl

Permits for North East India

We have tried to include the latest information with regards to permits in this North East India travel guide, however be aware that the permit situations tends to change rapidly in this part of the world, so always refer to official sources for the latest information regarding permits.

Foreigners will be glad to know that permits are now only required for Arunachal Pradesh, whilst the other six states of the Seven Sisters can be entered permit-free (permits are required for some parts of Sikkim but we are not writing about Sikkim in this post).

Foreigners require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for visiting Arunachal Pradesh, which needs to be shown whenever it is requested, which is very often, i.e., at every hotel, homestay and guesthouse. Make sure to make multiple (spelt dozens of) copies prior to your visit. The PAP can conveniently be obtained via a tour agency such as The Holiday Scout. We have read that tourists sometimes manage to obtain it independently from Guwahati, but we also noted that it took several days to be processed, and we have not confirmed this ourselves, opting instead for the more reassuring process.

Indian nationals required an ILP (Inner Line Permit) for Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. More recently, Manipur has been added to that list, although at the time of writing, the ILP  requirement has not yet been fully implemented in Manipur. Indian citizens can sometimes apply online for the permits, but the permits are state-specific and each state issues separate requirements for applying for the ILP.

Festivals in North East India

In case we have not yet tempted you into visiting North East India, you should know that the festivals in North East India are absolutely spectacular. North East Indians love celebrating and this is clearly demonstrated in the sheer amount of festivals held all around the Seven Sisters.

We were in Nagaland specifically for the Hornbill Festival and planned our North East India itinerary around it, but we came across at least two other festivals by chance during our time in the North East. Worth mentioning are the very popular Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, held in September, and the Tawang Festival in the same state held in October. Losar in February is another very important festival in Arunachal!

Ambubachi Mela, held in Guwahati during the month of June is one of the most-attended festivals in Assam, whilst the Wangala Festival in Meghalaya during November, celebrates the harvest.

The Manipur Sangai Festival showcase Manipuri traditions and cultures and is named after its rare species of deer which we were so lucky to catch a glimpse of !

The Nagaland Hornbill Festival, held in December, is without a doubt one of the biggest festivals in the North East and one of our favourite experiences in India. Here’s all you need to know about the Hornbill festival!

Expenses for North East India Travel

North East India tends to be a more expensive destination than the rest of mainland India (bar for a few specific regions such as the Andaman Islands ), but not prohibitively so. There are fewer accommodation options in North East India with more expensive rooms. We totally recommend staying at homestays wherever possible, though again, these are not always the cheaper option.

Many of the roads in the North East are terrible, and transportation can be very slow, infrequent, very uncomfortable and surprisingly expensive (relatively speaking).

During our 84 days in North East India we spent Rs 3005/day for the both of us – that’s about €37/day for two people… or €18.50 each/day, including all accommodation, food, transport like buses, trains, sumos and even internal flights, entrance fees, and everything else. Although we were traveling on a budget, we made it a point to travel as much as we could and as far as we could, visiting as many sights and attractions as possible.

Of course, expenses can be reduced by using hosting apps such as couchsurfing, living with locals, sleeping in dorms, traveling more slowly, visiting less attractions and thus reducing entrance fees and other means, but that, quite frankly, is not our preferred style of traveling.

North East India Itinerary

If you want to visit all of the Seven Sisters, you need quite a bit of time, although we did notice quite a few domestic tourists trying to see a million sights in one day and moving on to a different state the following day. We really advise you to plan out your North East India itinerary carefully and spend enough time to enjoy each individual destination.

Most people could not believe that we spent three months in North East India. Many Indians told us that there’s no need to spend more than 2-3 weeks to see the Seven Sisters! Honestly, there’s so much to see and to do in North East India that you won’t get to experience in any other part of the country, that you will soon realise that no matter how much time you plan on staying there, its never enough.

We are including our North East India itinerary in this section of our North east India travel guide to help you plan out yours. We traveled through Arunachal Pradesh first, throughout the end of October till the end of November, since we were aware that it would be the coldest part and we didn’t want it to get any colder.

We really wanted to get to Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival by early December, so we visited Majuli Island and Kaziranga National Park in Assam before that. Nagaland was followed by Manipur, Mizoram for the Christmas period, then Tripura, and we left Meghalaya for January.

All the trips were done overland by bus, taxi, sumo and where available, by train, except for one flight from Aizawl in Mizoram to Agartala in Tripura.

Top Places to Visit in North East India by State

Here are the top places to visit in the Seven Sisters listed in the same order we visited them on our North East India itinerary. We have individual blog posts about each destination, but we’re including a short summary of why you should visit each place.

Arunachal Pradesh is packed with snow-capped mountains and valleys which makes travel within rather difficult. Nevertheless, it is in our opinion, the most beautiful and rewarding of the Seven Sisters, with its gorgeous vistas and Himalayan traditions.

Bomdila and Dirang

Our adventure in Arunachal Pradesh started in Guwahati from where we took a sumo to Bomdila and spent a few days around Bomdila and later Dirang. Note that these destinations are commonly regarded only as a stopover whilst commuting further north to Tawang. However, we were delighted to discover that Bomdila and Dirang were both charming towns which deserved more than a few hours.

Do put Bomdila and Dirang on your North East India itinerary – follow our complete post here

Where to stay in Guwahati – Hotel Monsoon Palace Where to stay in Bomdila – Lungta Residency (+91 3782 222 555) Where to stay in Dirang – Dirang Boutique Cottages

The gorgeous Tawang monastery is the draw here, but the breathtaking views to be had around the area especially when crossing the Sela Pass are just as alluring! We were in Tawang during the Tawang Festival which we found fascinating, especially since it was our first festival experience in North East India!

Read all about Tawang in our dedicated post!

Where to stay in Tawang – Tenzin Guesthouse (+91 37942 22893, but be aware that it’s a few km out of the town centre)

Ziro Valley

The Ziro Valley is one of the most beautiful and compelling destinations in Arunachal Pradesh, not only due to the gentle scenery in the area, but because of the fascinating traditions of the Apatani tribe living in Ziro. Be sure to include Ziro on your North East India itinerary, but be aware that it gets busy in September during the Ziro music festival!

Follow our post about our experiences in the Ziro Valley here.

Where to stay in Ziro Valley – Dogindo Homestay (+91 87299 02206)

Mechuka was, by far, the most spectacular destination of Arunachal Pradesh on our North East India itinerary and we are so glad that we made it all the way there! Although getting to Mechuka was pretty tough, we were rewarded with some of the best views and experiences!

Here’s how to get to Mechuka and what to expect there!

Where to stay in Mechuka – Grace Homestay (+91 94024 74078)

Assam is large and the most accessible of the Seven Sisters. We didn’t have time to explore a lot of it, but our time in Majuli and in Kaziranga was epic!

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is one of the most important attractions in Assam, mainly due to the high possibility of observing the greater one-horned rhinos in their natural habitat. Indeed, we saw several of them during our jeep safari!

Here’s exactly how to organize your trip to Kaziranga National Park independently.

Where to stay in Kaziranga National Park – Aranya Tourist Lodge (+91 99570 58746)

Majuli Island

The largest river island in the world is definitely worth including in your North East India Itinerary! We had a lovely time exploring the island by rented bicycles, and watching the slow-paced Assamese island life!

Here’s what to do on Majuli island!

Where to stay on Majuli Island – La Maison de Ananda (+91 99571 86356)

The land of the Nagas, home to some of the world’s remaining former headhunters should not be missed! Nagaland is a destination like no other and even if your priority is attending the Hornbill Festival, do take some time to explore some other parts of it to!

Nagaland’s very hilly capital will allow you to feel Nagaland’s vibe without it being too overwhelming. Kohima is also located a few km away from the village of Kisama where the Hornbill Festival takes place, and provides a good base from where to attend, especially seeing that a night carnival offering some rather intriguing dishes is held during festival days.

Here’s our full guide to the Nagaland Hornbill Festival

Where to stay In Kohima – IK Homestay, but be aware that it’s far from Kohima town centre.

Longwa Village

This is where you have to come if you’re curious to meet some of the world’s remaining (former) headhunters, a little similar (but not quite) to headhunters in West Timor in Indonesia and in the Cordillera area of the Philippines . Longwa village is really small, but it’s position, right on the border with Myanmar, makes for a unique tribal experience with the god-fearing, Christian, former headhunting, opium-friendly Konyak people.

Read our post about our experiences in Longwa village!

Where to stay in Longwa village – Traveller’s Inn (+91 98560 15152)

As foreign tourists, we were restricted with where we could travel within Manipur, but luckily, Loktak Lake was easy to access!

The capital of Manipur can be rather fascinating, home to a women’s market, and some really tasty food!

Loktak Lake

The jewel of Manipur, and one of the most beautiful destinations in North East India, felt like a dream come true. Taking a boat ride should be on your North East India bucket list, so be sure to include it on your itinerary!

Read about Imphal and the beauty of Loktak Lake and tips for visiting in our post!

Where to stay in Imphal – Phou-Oi-Bee Hotel (+91 76400 56789) Where to stay in Loktak Lake – Maipakchao Homestay (+91 98563 56993)

Mizoram was a difficult state for us to travel around. We were purposely there during Christmas time since we were aware that it would be celebrated in the Christian state, however this meant that most forms of transportation were halted. Nevertheless, we had an absolutely great time in this rarely-visited state.

We promise that the steep hike to the top is worth every effort! Reiek is not far from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram and can be visited on a day trip. If you like pristine hilly views, put Mizoram on your North East India itinerary!

Largest Family

Did you know that the world’s largest family live in Mizoram? You can also go visit them and learn all about their very unique lifestyle in a village called Baktawng too!

Here’s what you need to know about some of the best day trips from Aizawl

Where to stay in Aizawl – Riah Run Homestay

The little princely state of Tripura was one the best surprises we had in North East India. We had no expectations about the state since we knew very little about it before we got there, but we were awed with Tripura’s intriguing and rich cultural heritage!

Udaipur, a town which couldn’t be more different to its more popular namesake in Rajasthan, is the starting point for visiting a number of fascinating temples, and makes for a great base from where to visit the gorgeous Neermahal Palace.

If mysterious rock carvings in a river canyon are your thing, do put Chabimura on your North East India itinerary! This obscure attraction showed just what an underrated destination Tripura is!

The archeological site of Unakoti is Tripura’s highlight and possibly North East India’s best-kept secret. Head over here if you want to get lost in a world of mezmerising rock carvings depicting gods and goddesses.

Read all about the tourist places in Tripura here.

Where to stay in Udaipur – Imperial Hotel (+91 90897 31730) Where to stay in Dharmanagar – Hotel RaatDin

Meghalaya was our final destination on our North East India itinerary and it certainly did not disappoint! Old traditions are kept alive in this accessible North Eastern state where a turquoise blue shimmering river makes for some popular boating.

Living Root Bridges in Cherrapunji

The dramatic root bridges found in Cerrapunji, built by the Khasi people are quite a sight to behold. We can assure you that the steep trek and c. 3000 steps to view the double-decker bridge is utterly worth the strain on your body, and if you have time, you should definitely spend a couple of extra days in Nongriat to explore the beautiful lush area of waterfalls and rock pools.

Umngot River in Dawki

Although, this is one of the most popular and hence, crowded attractions in North East India, we really recommend taking a short boat trip along the crystal-clear and impossibly blue waters of the Umngot river, which left us speechless.

Here’s our post are the top places to visit in Meghalaya.

Where to stay in Shillong – Hotel Oyo Shelter Inn Where to stay in Nongriat – Serene Homestay (+91 94778 70423)

We hope that you’ve found this North East India travel guide useful – we’ve really tried to include as much information as possible based on our wonderful experience in this utterly fascinating region!

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10 Comments

thanks for sharing this blog

You are most welcome!

Lily Shanker (TourGenie)

This was the best thing I read today 🙂 All the places were well described (short and sweet), and the pictures are beautiful! Northeast India is a very intriguing place and needs to be explored on a larger scale.

Thank you for your lovely comment! Indeed we feel that NorthEast India is absolutely breathtaking!

travelnortheastindia

Thanks for the blog about the ultimate northeast India travel guide and northeast India itinerary.

We’re glad that you found it useful! 🙂

Kamlesh Mehta

Wonderful narration! Got an idea. I’m planning a 30-40 day trip of NE India, most likely in my own vehicle and was looking for the right itinerary. Thank you very much and will connect for more info.

So glad that you found our guide helpful in planning your own trip!

Akansha Negi

Wonderful post! Images superb, This article is really helpful to plan North East trip, you share North East complete information.

Glad you find it helpful! 🙂

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13 Best India Travel Guide Books

• Travel Gear
• 13 Best India Travel Guide…

India is a vast country with diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes. From sandy shores of the Keralan coast, barren deserts of Rajasthan, the majestic snow-capped Himalayas, ancient temples, to buzzing modern cities, the country has it all. The stunning country also offers a rich mix of traditions, festivals, and spiritual beliefs. All these reasons make India a must-visit! For a memorable trip to India, what’s a better way to understand and learn more about the country than by getting yourself “lost” in the best India travel guide books? These guidebooks are more than helpful in planning your trip. Whatever you want to explore in this ancient country, these travel guide books India will help you make the most of your time in this exotic part of the world.

How To Choose The Best India Travel Guide Books?

Travel guidelines to India are all you need to arrange the perfect trip to India . With travel guidebooks, it’s easier to travel safely. That said, choosing travel guide books India also can be overwhelming. To get the best one, there are some basic things that you can consider before deciding to buy a travel guide book India. Let’s take a look at them one by one!

What’s Included In The Book

A travel guidebook to India should contain information about sights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and restaurants. Detailed maps and historical cultural information also make a good guidebook. Some India travel guide books even include phrases and glossary to help you interact with the locals. Colorful photos in the book would be a great feature for travelers’ inspiration.

Published Date

To avoid misinformation about the places you’re going to visit, we recommend getting the latest edition which published date is no later than a year apart. Hotels, restaurants, sights, and shops are ever-changing, so it’s important to get the updated information.

While traveling, you may not want to be weighed down by a thick travel guide book India. If so, a digital version is the best option for you. Meanwhile, some travelers may want to have a printed edition. This version can be useful along the way, such as for taking notes or using the maps without the need for GPS or gadgets.

Is India easy to travel around?

Well, since India is a huge country, getting around can be slow and require a bit of patience. However, it also offers extensive interesting and fascinating places. You’ll never get bored of traveling in India. If anything, your trip may turn into a fascinating adventure!

Is India dangerous for tourists?

You may have heard infamous rumors about India, but generally, India is considered a safe destination for tourists. That said, you should be aware of certain things like scams and pickpockets. So, don’t forget to bring your underclothing travel pouch for safety. Reading travel guidelines to India before you go, like The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India and Travel Fearlessly in India is also useful. These books provide useful tips, advice, and strategies on how to travel safely in India.

Is India expensive to visit?

Actually, India is commonly known as one of the best budget destinations for travelers in the world. You’ll find plenty of budget hotels and affordable transportation to get around. It’s a perfect destination for budget travelers.

Essential India Travel Guide

Essential India Travel Guide is

written by Mohan Kapoor. He’s a native Indian who was born in Bikaner, Rajasthan. When he was young, he left the country. But, he returned to India for work. His jobs required him to travel extensively through India. So, he shares his knowledge about the country, life, historical sights, and culture into a useful travel guide. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to travel to India.

Unlike other India travel guide books we have on this list, this book only covers cities and states with the most popular and important tourist attractions. But you’ll get an in-depth look and some fun facts of each city. It includes where to eat, what to see, where to go, and what to expect. It also gives you information about how to be respectful to each of the six main religions,, plus, how to be aware of the pickpockets, and more.

The thing we like the most about this book is that the author provides essential tips. These include what to expect, what type of travel agencies you can trust, important cultural aspects, what food choices are safe, and so much more. Plus, he also shares his own story. In a way, by reading this book you travel virtually to cities and states like Delhi, Goa, and Kolkata even before you arrive in the beautiful and colorful country!

Any type of travelers, including business travelers, backpackers, and party-goers.

The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India

Are you a solo traveler who yearns to travel to India, but has been disheartened by rumors or publicity about violence there? The Essential Safety & Security Guide to Visiting India will show you how to have a happy and safe trip. So, you’ll know how to survive and enjoy your stay in the great land of India. The author is a native-born Indian diplomat with extensive experience and knowledge of his native country.

The book contains general information, like geography and weather. Before you go, some chapters will help you prepare. Getting started, financial planning , and before you travel are some of them. Information about health, insurance, and getting local connections are also provided. Besides, it covers insightful cultural and historical narratives. You’ll find all this info in the chapter: An Introduction to India .

The author talks about safety and security during your time in India. He guides you on how to act, what to do, and how to handle unique situations to make sure you enjoy your stay. You’ll figure out how to travel safely within India by air and train. He also gives tips on how to obtain travel passage to restricted or protected regions. What’s more, there’s a piece of specific advice for female travelers, making it the best travel guide books India for female travelers.

Backpackers, adventurers, female travelers, and solo travelers.

India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Whether you’re traveling for work or planning a long-term trip to India, you’ll need travel guidelines to India. It will help you to understand the local culture. India – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture is indeed a useful book. It helps you to learn important stuff about the country, whether it’s land and people, customs and traditions, or values and attitudes. Also, there are some tips on dos and don’ts and taboos. You’ll even get info about business in India!

This travel guide book India is written by Becky Stephen. She enjoys traveling and learning about cultures. Also, she studied Hindi at Banaras Hindu University and lived in Varanasi for years. The author shares her meaningful experience through a better understanding of the local culture. With this book, you’ll be aware of the essential values and behavioral norms, plus knowing how to make new friends and build relationships with the locals.

The book starts with the introduction and key facts about India. Meanwhile, the Land and People chapter contains several topics. These include a brief history of India, as well as its geography and climate. You’ll also find some information about places to eat, shops, and cultural activities. Besides, there’s a section for top places to visit and a map of India.

Long-term travelers, temporary residents, and business travelers.

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala (Regional Guide)

You’ll love Lonely Planet South India & Kerala . It’s perfect as your travel guidelines to India when visiting that particular region. The information on history and culture is very informative. Plus, there’s up-to-date advice on what to see and what not to see. So, you can discover both popular and off-beaten-path experiences. This makes the book the most comprehensive guide to South India and Kerala. It covers Goa, Kerala, Mumbai, Andaman Islands, Bengaluru, and more.

The authors have also packed the book with sights and experiences. It includes South India & Kerala’s Top 12. With this one of the best travel guide books India, you can choose activities that suit you. Do you prefer relaxing on a yoga retreat by the beach in Goa ? Or, floating along Kerala’s backwaters? This book has it covered. Meanwhile, the itineraries section helps customize your trip to your interests.

Get information on recommended accommodation, like hotels in Mumbai , and also places to eat, drinking & nightlife, entertainment, and shopping. There’s a section about how to travel with children for your next family trip. It gives you info about customs regulations, embassies, and consulates. Plus, full-color maps and images are also provided.

Family travelers, solo travelers, backpackers, business travelers, and long-term travelers.

Insight Guides India

You need to plan your trip to experience the best of India. Both paperback or digital editions of Insight Guide India can help you on your next adventure. It’s one of the best travel guide books India for travelers looking for a cultural experience. The book is written by local authors who have extensive historical and cultural backgrounds. Besides, they provide hundreds of stunning photos that capture the essence of India. Not to forget the detailed maps!

There’s a section that features India’s Top 10 Attractions. Also, it covers several regions, from Delhi in the north, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, to Kerala. The information on independence, art, and architecture let you know more about the country.

You’ll find the editor’s choice for the most memorable India experiences. From seeing Hindu festivals, tasting the Indian food, to visiting Rajasthan fort. What’s more, the book includes practical information and travel tips. You’ll find about when to go and transportation. Moreover, this user-friendly travel guide book India provides invaluable maps. So, you could venture off the beaten track.

Any type of travelers, from backpackers, adventurers, business travelers, to photographers.

DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra and Jaipur

Are you traveling to India for the first time or relocating temporarily to the capital city Delhi? Gear up with some information about the Golden Triangle for your adventures. It includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, India’s most visited cities. These cities are famed for their iconic monuments and frenetic energy. Also, these regions have much to offer, including plenty of things to do in Jaipur .

For all those reasons, DK Eyewitness Delhi, Agra and Jaipur can be your best India travel guide books. Unlike most travel guide books, it’s lightweight. So, you can take it wherever you go on your trip. Also, the book is available on Kindle. The information from the book makes traveling across the three cities easy.  Whether you want to glimpse the pretty pink Hawa Mahal or get the perfect shot of the Taj Mahal, the book includes all. Not only you’ll discover reasons to love Delhi , Agra, and Jaipur, but the book also makes you know about the cities.

Like other DK Eyewitness travel guide books India, this book comes with trademark illustrations. Besides, the book provides the best places to eat, drink, and shop. Recommended accommodation is also provided. Meanwhile, the selection of itineraries allows you to make your own. What’s more, get expert advice on how to stay safe, get around, and get ready. Like all DK Eyewitness guide, the book has plenty of beautiful pictures and diagrams. Plus, it includes detailed maps and a pull-out map of Delhi.

Long-term travelers, business travelers, backpackers, and adventurers.

Travel Fearlessly in India: What Every Woman Should Know About Personal Safety

Women who are traveling to India should have the best India travel guide books. Travel Fearlessly in India written by J D Viharini is important for your first or fifth trip to the beautiful country. The author is an American woman who has made India her home. She has traveled across India since 1980, mostly alone. From the tropical south to the remote Himalayas, visit ancient temples, and attend great festivals.

With her 30 years of familiarity with India, she shares important things in travel guidelines to India. She includes the issues ladies may come across in the country. Here, you’ll find out about the mindset of Indian men and how to have safe interactions with them. She also talks about how to understand the Indian perspective on non-Indian women.

The book gives uncommon sights into how to travel and live safely in India. These include cultural factors relating to women’s safety. You’ll find comprehensive information like finding safe places to stay and how to travel safely; how to deal with potential problems and what you need to do if you have to go to the police are also provided. Her many years’ experiences make the book a great read for every female traveler before traveling to India.

Female travelers, solo travelers, and family.

Chennai & Tamil Nadu Focus Guide, 2nd Edition

Looking for specific India travel guide books to Chennai and Tamil Nadu area may be a bit difficult. That’s why the second edition of the Chennai & Tamil Nadu Focus Guide is very useful for your next trip. The book provides you with the insightful and up-to-date information you need. Are you planning to visit and explore many grand Hindu temples? Maybe you want to stop and savor the smell of jasmine garlands piled up before the carved granite gods? The book covers them all.

Also, you don’t want to miss enjoying nature in the blue Nilgiri Mountains. The book also includes information on the region’s unique history, culture, and cuisine for a richer experience along the way. Another section features practical tips on getting there and around.

Besides, you’ll get recommended and comprehensive listings of hotels, a list of restaurants and activities, including horse riding and festivals. This travel guide book India is only available in a printed edition but is slim enough to fit in your pocket. It helps you get the most out of Tamil Nadu without weighing you down. What’s more, the book provides detailed street maps for important towns and cities.

Photographers, long-term travelers, temporary residents, and backpackers.

Bradt Travel Guide: Ladakh, Jammu & the Kashmir Valley

Having the right travel guide books India is essential for the best adventures in Ladakh, Jammu, and Kashmir. Bradt Travel Guide Ladakh, Jammu & the Kashmir Valley can be your best option. Though Ladakh is becoming a more popular destination for its epic Himalayan beauty, some other areas are still off the beaten path, like Kashmir Valley & Jammu, plus Zanskar. There are so many wonders to be discovered and so many  things to do in Ladakh . So, this book is essential for travel guide book India for that specific region.

This fully updated edition helps you explore the whole area. These include Leh, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Zanskar, The Kashmir Valley, and Jammu amongst others. There are plenty of activities you can do. You may want to relax on a houseboat or take a shikara ride in Srinagar. How about exploring Buddhist culture in Ladakhi monasteries? Or, traveling in a jeep along nerve-wracking mountains roads become your choice? You can also enjoy the views from the roof of the world at the breathless Khardung La mountain pass. For adventurers, you don’t want to miss hiking to the Himalayan!

From the book, you’ll find information about these regions. Plus, trekking information, trekking maps, and new travel routes. Other highlights, like the Mughal Road, the Buddhist monks at Thiksey Monastery, and the Buddhas of Kargil are included. Also, we love the color photographs and maps. On top of that, there are Urdu and Ladakhi phrases. Get this one of the best India travel guide books in paperback or Kindle edition.

Adventurers, backpackers, climbers, hikers, and trekkers.

The Rough Guide to India

Make the most of your traveling with The Rough Guide to India ! Whether you’re visiting the world’s greatest building Taj Mahal or visiting the dramatic landscape of home to glaciers in Sikkim, it has it all. Also, the book provides very detailed and extensive information. It makes the book a perfect travel guide book India, especially if you’re preparing for the first trip to India and traveling on a budget.

The book may be a bit thick, but the e-book included is a brilliant bonus. Plus, it’s easy to use. These travel guidelines to India cover India’s cities and states north, south, and east. These include Uttar Pradesh, The Andaman Islands, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, and more. From this book, you’ll find extensive listings of the best sights and top experiences.

Also, you can get practical advice about what to see and do. The essential pre-departure information is also provided. It includes getting around, food and drink, and accommodation. You’ll also get info about festivals, culture and etiquette, and more. The itinerary section helps you prepare your own routes, from popular tourist areas to off-the-beaten-track adventures. Besides, there’s a section that provides history, ethnic groups, religion, and wildlife. You’ll love the amazing full-color photography and practical full-color maps.

Backpackers, adventurers, and temporary travelers living in India.

Fodor’s Essential India

Get Fodor’s Essential India as your travel guide books India. It helps you plan the perfect adventure in India to be a trip of a lifetime. This guidebook is written by local writers and expert travel advisors who know the destinations better than anyone else. It’s perfect for travelers who want to travel in India but feel intimidated by the vastness of India. The travel guidelines to India are available in Kindle for a guidebook on the go. Meanwhile, the paperback is small enough to fit in your handbag and backpack.

The book starts with Experience India. This section provides the ultimate experiences you should try in India . Is it taking a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges or entering through the world’s largest door at Fatehpur Sikri? Maybe you want to wander the sprawling City Palace in Udaipur and party the night away at Goa? Meanwhile, you can have an overview of what to expect and where to go in the Travel Smart India section. It helps you with what you need to know before visit India. Also, it includes getting here and around and sample itineraries. Plus, you’ll get an explanation about history, culture, and travel tips.

This guidebook provides up-to-date coverage. From the capital city Delhi, home to Mother House Kolkata, to a financial center Mumbai . It also covers the largest Indian states Rajasthan and the coastlines of Kerala and Goa. It also includes information for side trips from Delhi. Each major city features planning, where to stay, what to do, etc. What’s more, the book provides lots of maps and illustrations to help maximize your time.

Adventurers, backpackers, photographers, and family.

Lonely Planet India

If you’re traveling to India quite often, Lonely Planet India is worth owning. It contains a lot of information about many corners of the country. Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Chennai, are among them. Plus, it provides full-color maps and images. So, the book is perfect for a quick skimming before you do detailed planning and begin your journey in India. Do you want to listen to monks chanting in the shadow of the mighty Himalaya in Ladakh? Or, visiting top attractions in Agra , like the Taj Mahal? It has you covered!

The book may a little be thick, but it provides 4-easy use sections. So, you’ll find the most relevant and up-to-date advice and recommendations easily. It contains three main chapters: Plan Your Trip, On the Road, Understand, and Survival Guide. The Plan Your Trip is your planning tool kit to create the perfect trip. It provides useful information. From what you need to know, suggested itineraries, how to travel with children, to regions at a glance.

The book covers plenty of places in the country. You’ll find Agra, Goa, Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Kerala, in the On the Road section. Plus, you’ll find expert reviews, insider tips, and easy-to-use maps. Get recommended accommodation, restaurants, and shops with honest reviews. Also, there’s a special section about tips for women and solo travelers, plus scams. What’s more, you’ll find information about transportation and cultural insights. It helps you get a more rewarding travel experience.

Family travelers, business travelers, adventurers, and backpackers.

DK Eyewitness India

DK Eyewitness India can be your right choice for India travel guide books. It’s filled with information. Either you choose the printed edition or e-book, you can take this guidebook wherever you go. The design will make the most of your travels to discover and experience India. Also, the book has several main sections, including Discover India. This section is divided into some parts: Welcome, Reasons to Love India, and Exploring/getting to know India. Itineraries/India your way, and the Indian year and a Brief History.

The introduction gives an overview of India as a country. Its history, food, culture, nature, architectures are amongst others. Meanwhile, the section Experience India features cities, states, and unions. Also, this travel guide book India includes highlights of what you could experience. It’s whether you prefer to drink tea in Darjeeling or visit the unmissable Taj Mahal. Perhaps you want to escape to the beautiful Andaman Islands or hike the heights of the Himalayas?

You’ll also find 22 sightseeing areas, which contains some information. These include addresses, phone numbers, websites, and opening times. Stuck for inspiration for your schedules while in India? Worry not! There are recommended easy-to-follow itineraries. So, you could set up your plan, whether you’re staying for just a few days or few weeks. Also, there is info about the best places to eat, sleep, and transport information. Even before you’re arriving in India, you can imagine yourself there through its colorful maps and amazing pictures. What’s more, you’ll get expert advice on how to get ready and stay safe.

Backpackers, adventurers, and temporary business travelers.

Author:  John P

As a blogger, I have had the pleasure of exploring some of the most exclusive destinations, indulging in the finest cuisine, accommodations, and experiences that the world has to offer. From the chic streets Paris to the scenic beauty of the Amalfi Coast, readers luxury. my, tips on the most exclusive hotels restaurants, and activities, giving you a glimpse into the world of high-end travel. But luxury travel is not just about extravagance - it's also about immersing yourself in the local culture and experiencing the true essence of a destination. With a passion for art, history, and architecture, I seek out the hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences that make each destination truly unique. So whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a solo adventure, my blog is your guide to the ultimate European luxury travel experience. Join me on my journey as we explore the best that Europe has to offer, one luxurious destination at a time.

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