North East India Travel Guide

Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal remain among the least-visited parts of India, which is precisely their appeal — living root bridges, the world's wettest villages, Kaziranga's rhinos and a culture entirely distinct from the mainland.

Why travellers choose North East India

Meghalaya's double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat is unlike anything else on earth — grown rather than built, over decades, by the Khasi people.

Kaziranga holds roughly two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceros population, and sightings are close to guaranteed on a morning drive.

Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are among the wettest inhabited places on the planet, with waterfalls and caves that follow from that in spectacular fashion.

What not to miss in North East India

• Living root bridges, Nongriat — The double-decker bridge, reached by a demanding 3,000-step descent and climb.
• Kaziranga National Park — Jeep and elephant safaris for one-horned rhino, wild buffalo and swamp deer.
• Dawki and Umngot River — Water so clear that boats appear to float in mid-air on a still day.
• Cherrapunji — Nohkalikai Falls, Seven Sisters Falls and the Mawsmai limestone caves.
• Mawlynnong — Billed as Asia's cleanest village, with a bamboo skywalk over the canopy.
• Majuli — The world's largest river island, with Vaishnavite satras and mask-making traditions.

When to travel

October to April is the best window — drier, clearer and with Kaziranga open. November to February gives the best wildlife viewing. The monsoon from June to September brings extraordinary waterfall flow in Meghalaya but Kaziranga closes and roads become difficult. March and April bring warm days and blossom.

Entry and paperwork

Indian citizens require Inner Line Permits for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, which we arrange in advance. Meghalaya and Assam need no permit. Some areas near international borders have additional restrictions and photography limits, which we brief you on before travel.

Planning a North East India trip with Elitech Travels

Every North East India itinerary on this page is a starting point rather than a fixed product. Extend a city, change the hotel category, add a private guide or merge two routes and we will re-cost the trip and send a revised plan. Because we publish no departure dates, your holiday is operated in the window that suits your leave — tell us roughly when you want to travel and we confirm availability and pricing for exactly those days.