Assam serves as the gateway to Northeast India and it is famous for its tea gardens, the great Brahmaputra river, temples and culture, wildlife sanctuaries, and rich tribals Zutshi heritage. One of the oldest temples in India, Kamakhya Temple is located in Assam along with the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga. Vibrant city life in Guwahati and Majuli, the tranquil river island, makes Assam a complete package for travelers.
Understanding how to reach Assam is central for exploring its many wonders. You can travel by air and reach the location in no time, take a train, or drive to the location. This guide will help you find the best routes into the heart of Assam tailored to your preferences and budget.
1. Where is Assam Located?
- Region: Northeast India
- Borders: Bhutan (north), Arunachal Pradesh (NE), Nagaland (east), Manipur (SE), Meghalaya & Bangladesh (south), West Bengal (west)
- Capital: Dispur (within Guwahati city)
- Guwahati: The largest city
Assam is connected with the rest of India with the help of air travel, rail, and roads. It serves the primary transit point for all the seven states of sister Northeast India.
2. How to Reach Assam by Air
If you are to travel from regions such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Bangalore, flying out will save your time and hassle and using air travel will be the fastest mode of travel coupled with utmost convenience.
A. Key Airports in Assam
| Airport Name | Location | IATA Code | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport | Guwahati | GAU | Major International |
| Dibrugarh Airport | Dibrugarh | DIB | Domestic |
| Jorhat Airport (Rowriah Airport) | Jorhat | JRH | Domestic |
| Silchar Airport | Silchar | IXSD | Domestic |
| Tezpur Airport (Salonibari) | Tezpur | TEZ | Regional |
| Rupsi Airport | Kokrajhar | RUP | Small Regional |
B. Guwahati Airport (GAU) – the Primary Access Point
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance from the city center | Approximately 29 km from Panaji (Goa’s capital) |
| Frequent Flights From | Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur |
| Operating Airlines | IndiGo, Vistara, Air India, Akasa Air, SpiceJet |
| Other Important Flight Connections | Bhutan, charter flights to Singapore, and sporadic services to Bangkok |
Amenities:
- Prepaid taxi counter.
- Ola or Uber configured cab services are accessible.
- Shops along with restaurants and ATMs.
- Public bus terminal to Guwahati city.
Travel Tip: The Guwahati Airport serves as the optimal entry point for further travels in the rest of Assam including Kaziranga, Shillong and even Arunachal Pradesh.
C. Other Airports for Certain Areas
| Region | Preferred Airport | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Assam (Kaziranga, Sivasagar) | Jorhat or Dibrugarh | Closer, less road travel |
| Barak Valley (Silchar, Hailakandi) | Silchar Airport | For South Assam |
| Bodoland & West Assam | Rupsi Airport | Emerging for Bodo region & Dhubri area |
3. How to Reach Assam by Train
Train travel to Assam is ideal for:
- Budget traveling.
- Long-distance overland routes.
- Scenic northeastern train journeys.
The region is served by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) with Guwahati serving as the principal rail hub.
A. Important Railway Stations in Assam
Guwahati Railway Station is marked with code “GHY” and serves the city of Guwahati. Kamakhya Junction ose “KYQ” is located in the suburbs of Guwahati. Dibrugarh DBRG is in Upper Assam. Other stations include Silchar SCL in South Assam and Jorhat Town JTTN in Jorhat. New Bongaigaon JunctionNBQ is located in Western Assam.
B. Famous Trains to Assam
| Train Name | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rajdhani Express | Delhi – Guwahati | 30–35 hrs |
| North East Express | Delhi – Guwahati | 32 hrs |
| Saraighat Express | Kolkata – Guwahati | 18 hrs |
| Brahmaputra Mail | Delhi – Dibrugarh | 38 hrs |
| Kamrup Express | Howrah – Dibrugarh | 36 hrs |
| Silchar Express | Guwahati – Silchar | 14 hrs |
| Vivek Express | Kanyakumari – Dibrugarh | ~80 hrs (India’s longest train journey) |
C. Booking Strategies
- Use IRCTC: https://www.irctc.co.in
- Mobile Apps: ConfirmTkt, Trainman
- Booking Classes Offered: Sleeper, 3A, 2A, 1A
- Peak Season Waiting List: During the peak seasons, (Durga Puja, Bihu, Christmas) book well in advance.
4. How to Get to Assam by Road
Transport by National highway, border roads, and state highways all lead to assam.
A. From the Neighboring States
| Route | Distance | Time | Road Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata to Guwahati | ~1,100 km | 20–22 hrs | 4-lane NH27 |
| Siliguri to Guwahati | ~500 km | 10–12 hrs | Ssmooth highway |
| Shillong to Guwahati | ~100 km | 3 hrs | Beautiful hilly road |
| Itanagar to Guwahati | ~380 km | 9–10 hrs | Hilly and curvy |
B. Entry points by road
| Entry Gate | Connects With | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Srirampur (Kokrajhar) | West Bengal | Bengal/North India Entry |
| Bhalukpong | Arunachal Pradesh | Tawang/Bomdila route |
| Jorabat | Meghalaya | Shillong/Cherrapunjee Entry |
| Agartala – Silchar Road | Tripura to South Assam | To Barak Valley |
C. Bus Travel to Assam
Operators
- Assam State Transport Corporation, Guwahati (ASTC)
- Meghalaya Transport, Shilong (MSRTC)
- Volvo/AC Bus Private Operators
Guwahati ISBT (Garchuk) has daily buses to Shillong, Kaziranga, Itanagar, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Silchar Volvo and Semi-Deluxe buses are also available. Note: Sumo taxis for smaller towns also work do operate on shared basis.
5. Entry Permits and ID Verification
For Indian nationals
- No entry permit required for Assam.
- Carry Government Issued ID (Aadhar, PAN, DL)
For foreign nationals:
- Protected Area Permit (PAP) required only for travels beyond assam eg. Arunachal.
- Register with FRRO if staying longer than 180 days.
6. Travel Time and Cost Comparison
| Mode | From Delhi | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | 2.5 hrs | ₹4,000–₹8,000 | |
| Train | 32–36 hrs | ₹1,200–₹3,500 | |
| Road | (via Siliguri) | 36–40 hrs | ₹6,000–₹10,000 (car/taxi) |
7. Local transport within Assam
Upon your arrival, you could use the following:
- City buses: Guwahati smart buses, ASTC.
- Auto Rickshaws: Common in all towns.
- App cabs: Ola, Uber available in Guwahati.
- Bike rentals: Available Guwahat and Jorhat.
- River ferries: In Majuli, Dhubri, and near Jorhat.
8. Best time to travel to assam
| Season | Why Travel |
|---|---|
| October to April | Best time – clear skies, festivals, wildlife. |
| May to June | Hot but dry – good for tea garden visits. |
| July to September | Monsoon – densely green landscape but risky for floods and delays. |
9. Where to start your assam journey
Guwahati – ideal base
- Easy air/train access.
- Visit Kamakhya temple, Umananda island, Brahmaputra cruise.
- Gateway to Shillong, Kaziranga, and Tawang.
Dibrugarh/Jorhat
- For exploring Upper assam, Sivasagar, majuli island.
Silchar
- For Barak valley, Hailakandi, and bordering areas of Mizoram.
10. Sample travel itineraries based on arrival mode
By flight (4–5 days)
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Guwahati and visit Kamakhya Temple |
| Day 2 | Drive to Kaziranga National Park |
| Day 3 | Safari in Kaziranga and drive back to Guwahati |
| Day 4 | Brahmaputra river cruise and shopping at Fancy Bazaar |
| Day 5 | Fly out of Guwahati |
By Train (7-8 Days)
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Take the train to Guwahati |
| Day 2 | City sightseeing |
| Day 3 | Train to Jorhat and ferry to Majuli |
| Day 4 | Explore Majuli |
| Day 5 | Travel to Sivasagar |
| Day 6 | Return to Jorhat or Dibrugarh |
| Day 7 | Return train to home city |
11. Final Thoughts:
*What’s the Best Way to Reach Assam?
| Traveler Type | Best Mode |
|---|---|
| Short on time | Flight to Guwahati |
| Budget traveler | Train to Guwahati or Dibrugarh |
| Road tripper | Drive via Siliguri or Shillong |
| Wildlife / Nature tourist | Guwahati to Kaziranga by road |
| Spiritual tourism | Train or flight to Guwahati (for Kamakhya Temple) |
Zogyy Travel Tip
“Flying into Guwahati is the fastest option, but if you want to soak in the Northeastern India landscapes, take the train once and enjoy the view as the stations go by.”
