Assam

The state's gateway city, set between Brahmaputra and hills.

• SpiritualKamakhya TempleNilachal Hill shrine, one of the Shakti Peethas.
• SpiritualUmananda IslandSmall Shiva temple on a river island, reached by ferry.
• HeritageAssam State MuseumCollection on tribal art, sculpture and Ahom history.
• NatureDeepor BeelOffbeatRamsar wetland on the edge of the city, good for birds.
• WildlifePobitora Wildlife SanctuaryDense rhino population close to Guwahati.

Rural Kamrup, with Hajo and Sualkuchi silk villages.

• SpiritualHajoShared pilgrimage town for Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims.
• CultureSualkuchiWeaving town famed for Assam silk, the golden muga.
• NatureChandubi LakeOffbeatForest-fringed lake for quiet stays and boating.

Calm agricultural district in lower Assam.

• SpiritualMandira Mani Maa Temple areaOffbeatLocal shrine and village-life visits.
• CultureBhella and Ghograpar villagesOffbeatTraditional bell-metal and bamboo craft hamlets.

Forest and tribal district bordering Bhutan.

• WildlifeManas National Park (Baksa range)Bansbari and Bhuyanpara access to Manas.
• NatureBhairabkundaOffbeatPicnic and river gorge on the Bhutan border.

Cultural heart of the Vaishnav tradition.

• SpiritualBarpeta SatraCenturies-old monastery famed for its kirtan-ghar.
• WildlifeManas (Barpeta range)Pathsala-side entry to the Manas tiger reserve.

A newer district carved from Barpeta, rich in crafts.

• CulturePathsala Kachari areaOffbeatWeaving and rural life in the lower Assam plains.
• OffbeatBajali village trailsOffbeatPaddy-and-pond landscape for slow rural visits.

Plains district with Ahom and Koch relics.

• WildlifeOrang National ParkCalled the mini Kaziranga for its rhinos.
• CultureMangaldoi townOffbeatMarket town with old temples and local food.

Foothill Bodoland district on the Bhutan border.

• NatureBhairabkundaOffbeatRiver picnic spot at the Bhutan foothills.
• CultureUdalguri tea gardensOffbeatSmall-scale gardens and Bodo village visits.

Newly created Bodoland district close to Bhutan.

• NatureTamulpur foothillsOffbeatQuiet forest-edge landscape near the Bhutan border.

Heart of Bodo culture in western Assam.

• WildlifeChakrashila Wildlife SanctuaryHome to the rare golden langur.
• CultureKachugaon-Bodo villagesOffbeatBodo weaving and dance.
• NatureRipu Chirang corridorOffbeatForest belt linking Manas to Bhutan.

Forested district near Manas and Bhutan.

• WildlifeManas National Park (Panbari range)Tiger and elephant landscape, UNESCO listed.
• CultureKajalgaonOffbeatMarket town with Bodo cultural centre.

Industrial town with quiet river scenery.

• WildlifeKakoijana Reserve ForestOffbeatSmall forest with golden langurs.
• SpiritualAbhayapuri hill templesOffbeatLocal temples on forested hillocks.

Historic riverside district of Rajbanshi and Garo culture.

• HeritageSri Surya PaharHill with rock-cut sculptures and Hindu-Buddhist-Jain relics.
• CultureDudhnoiOffbeatGaro community town with village trails.

Western gateway on the Brahmaputra near Bangladesh.

• HeritageSri Surya Pahar influence areaOffbeatNearby rock-cut sites reached from the west bank.
• SpiritualSri Gurudwara Dhubri SahibSikh shrine where Guru Tegh Bahadur halted.

Char (river island) district on the Brahmaputra.

• OffbeatMankachar riversideOffbeatRiver-island life, seen with local guides only.

Tea capital of India on the Brahmaputra's bank.

• CultureTea bungalowsPlanter-era stays and factory tours.
• WildlifeDibru-Saikhowa National ParkRiver island forest with wild horses and dolphins.
• NatureJokai Botanical GardenOffbeatLocal park with orchids and birds.
• OffbeatMaijan BaghOffbeatTea-estate drives and river viewpoints.

Oil-and-tea district at the eastern frontier.

• WildlifeDibru-SaikhowaBoat safaris for birds and Gangetic dolphins.
• HeritageDigboi oil museumWhere Asia's first oil well came up in 1889.
• CultureBhadoi Tea EstateOffbeatPlantation walks and local tea tastings.
• OffbeatGelapukhuriOffbeatLakeside fishing hamlet.

Ahom capital district with ancient tanks and temples.

• HeritageRang GharAhom royal sports pavilion, one of Asia's oldest.
• HeritageTalatal GharMulti-storey Ahom palace with secret tunnels.
• HeritageSivasagar Tank and SivadolLarge royal pond with the tallest Shiva temple.
• HeritageJoysagarOffbeatLarge Ahom-era tank with a temple complex.

The first Ahom capital and burial-mound landscape.

• HeritageCharaideo MoidamsUNESCO-listed Ahom royal burial mounds.
• CultureSonari tea estatesOffbeatLow-key tea belt and village visits.

Cultural capital of Upper Assam and gateway to Majuli.

• CultureTocklai Tea Research AssociationHeritage lab and museum on the science of tea.
• WildlifeGibbon Wildlife SanctuaryHome to India's only ape, the hoolock gibbon.
• AdventureNeematighatRiver ferry port to Majuli.
• HeritageThengal BhawanOffbeatTraditional Assamese stilt house museum.

River island with over twenty Vaishnav monasteries.

• SpiritualAuniati SatraMonastery with an ancient collection and dance traditions.
• SpiritualKamalabari SatraLearning centre for the sattriya dance form.
• CultureSamaguri SatraFamous for hand-made masks.
• CultureMishing villagesOffbeatStilt houses and community festivals.

Rhino and tea country at Kaziranga's south edge.

• WildlifeKaziranga (Bagori/Kohora range)Prime rhino viewing areas.
• HeritageNumaligarhOffbeatAncient brick temples and ramparts.
• WildlifeNambor Doigrung Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatDense forest with elephants and birds.

Hill district of the Karbi people.

• hillsDiphu hillsHill-town views and Karbi cultural centre.
• NatureDhansiri River edgeOffbeatQuiet river scenery for walks and bird watching.

Remote hilly district split from Karbi Anglong.

• hillsHamren hillsOffbeatForest-clad ridges, little visited.
• CultureKarbi villagesOffbeatKarbi weaving, music and traditional houses.

Hill district with lakes, valleys and a scenic rail line.

• hillsHaflong LakeAssam's only hill-station lake.
• NatureJatingaBirds fall in monsoon nights; seen on guided evenings.
• HeritageMaibangOffbeatOld Dimasa capital with ruins and heritage.
• NatureUmrangso Hot SpringsOffbeatHot springs near the reservoir.

Nagaon neighbour known for agarwood (sanchi) trade.

• CultureHojai agarwood plantationsOffbeatPerfumery and oil distillation traditions.
• OffbeatLankaOffbeatRiver-junction town with local bazaar.

Cradle of Srimanta Sankardev, who shaped Assamese Vaishnavism.

• SpiritualBatadrava ThanBirthplace of Sankardev.
• CultureKaliaborOffbeatBirdlife and forest edge near Kaziranga's west.
• WildlifeKaziranga (Burhapahar)Less crowded range of the park.

Floodplain district with the Pobitora wildlife area.

• WildlifePobitora SanctuaryHighest rhino density per sq km.
• CultureMayongVillage famed for black magic folklore and a museum.

Gateway to Nameri and western Arunachal.

• HeritageAgnigarh HillHill park with stories from the Usha-Aniruddha legend.
• WildlifeNameri National ParkRiver rafting and birding on the Jia Bhoroli.
• AdventureBhalukpongOffbeatAnglers' stop on the Arunachal border.
• HeritageDa ParbatiaOffbeatRuined Gupta-period sculpted doorframe.

Quiet district linking Sonitpur to Lakhimpur.

• SpiritualBiswanath GhatRiverfront temple linked to Shiva legend.
• OffbeatSakomathaOffbeatRiver-island village life.

Riverine plains by Arunachal's foothills.

• NatureRanganadi dam areaOffbeatDam and foothills scenery.
• OffbeatBogijanOffbeatLocal hamlet with orange orchards.

Flood-prone district of Mishing and Sonowal Kachari communities.

• CultureJonaiOffbeatMishing weaving centre and Dolu festival site.
• NatureDhemaji river banksOffbeatBird-rich sandbars and river views.

Barak Valley's hub with Bengali-Manipuri cultures.

• HeritageKhaspur ruinsRuined Dimasa-Kachari kingdom capital.
• SpiritualBhuban PaharHill cave shrine for Shiva.
• SpiritualKachakanti Kali TempleOffbeatOld goddess shrine in Silchar.

Tea-and-rice district beside Cachar.

• OffbeatDholaiOffbeatSmall riverside tea hamlet.
• CultureHailakandi tea gardensOffbeatQuiet plantation lanes.

Border district formerly called Karimganj, renamed in 2024.

• HeritageBadarpur FortOffbeatRuins of a river fort.
• CulturePatharkandi tea beltOffbeatTea and rural life near the Bangladesh border.