We use cookies to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how you can disable them.
The northeast may be a distant location for travellers from India, but it is home to some of the most breathtaking views in the country. The unique landscape, rich history, and colourful culture make it one of the most-visited places in India. Let us uncover the wonders of this place in this comprehensive North East Travel Guide:
The northeastern parts of India are popular tourist destinations, a wonder to explore. If you love being surrounded by friendly locals, exploring culture, and visiting picturesque landscapes, you must consider touring the northeast, follow this North East tourism guide by SOTC.
Here are eight SOTC recommended places you absolutely cannot miss:
Nathula Pass, Sikkim
Nathula Pass offers a rare insight into the eastern Himalayas. You can admire the gigantic Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, marvel at the Himalayan creatures, and visit the India-China border.
Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Covering over 820 sq km of hill and jungle land, the Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site, home to a large population of great Indian one-horned rhinoceros found in this part of the country.
Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh
Also called Tawang Gompa, the Tawang Monastery is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in North East India and is located at a nearby hill of Dzongri.
Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya
The Living Root Bridges are actual bridges made from living roots. Constructed in the 18th century by the Jaintia and Khasi tribes, these unique bridges lie deep within Jaintia Hills and offer a unique view of Meghalaya.
Agartala, Tripura
The capital city of Tripura, Agartala, is located on the banks of the majestic Dharmanagar, a tributary of the River Gomati, and has lush green rain forests with breathtaking flora and fauna.
Dimapur, Nagaland
The largest city and the commercial centre of Nagaland, Dimapur enjoys the best of both worlds with the sights of a small town and the beauty of its neighboring landscapes.
Imphal, Manipur
An underrated destination, Imphal has much to offer with its ancient temples, beautiful architecture, and rustic appeal. You can also enjoy several seasonal festivals that are unique to this place.
Aizawl, Mizoram
Translating into the land on the hill, Aizawl is the capital of Mizoram in the Lushai Hills. It offers beautiful scenery and thrilling activities and has some of the most hospitable people.
Due to COVID-19, all eight states in the North East have boosted security and safety measures.
While hotels, restaurants, malls, and other recreational areas are open, they are under strict scrutiny, and a majority of them only allow fully vaccinated visitors to enter.
A local North East trip is possible, and public transport is accessible with buses, trains, taxis, etc., running on schedule. However, there is a strict mask mandate for those looking to avail themselves of public transport facilities.
It is strongly recommended that you carry your vaccination certificate, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and follow updates related to entry regulations and relevant to your North East holiday package.
Wearing a mask and practicing social distancing are mandatory in all public places across all states.
| North East Tourism | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Language | Assamese |
| Also Known as | Seven Sisters of India |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time Zone | GMT+5:30 (IST) |
| Area | 262,230 Square Kilometer |
| Best known for | Forts, Bamboo Handicrafts and Assam Silk |
| Things To Do | Tawang Monastery, Nohkalikai Waterfalls, Kaziranga And Ziro Valley |
| Places To Visit | Tsomgo Lake, Mawsynram, Kohima And Nathu La Pass |
SOTC’s North East tour packages offer amazing experiences that leave you wanting more. You can opt for North East guide tourism packages and enjoy views, ranging from the majestic Himalayan ranges, the magnificent Kamakhya Temple, and rich cultural regions to pilgrimage destinations that will make you fall in love with this wonderful land.
North East India is an isolated part away from the country, and its natural beauty is just waiting to be discovered. This is probably the most authentic route on your journey to self-discovery and adventure. The Seven Sisters are waiting to take you on a breathtaking journey into the rustic hinterland.
What makes a North-East trip unique is its diverse topography and culture. From the thick rainforests of Meghalaya to the splendid beaches of Tripura, every place will satisfy your sense of intrigue and wonder. Located in the northeastern corner of India, the North East can be tricky to get to, but not impossible.
There are three main ways we recommend travelling to the Noth East in the SOTC North East Guide Travel Guide:
By road: Every state is well-connected to the rest of India and has smooth roads that facilitate long-distance North East tours. However, it is best not to travel in your private vehicle to avoid security hassles. Instead, you can rent a car, hire a van, or even take a bus across the North East. Most people prefer the latter.
By air: There are several domestic and international airports in seven of the eight Northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh does not have flight services. However, airports are spread far apart and are not as well-connected to smaller towns and remote areas as other modes of transport.
By train: Train is one of the most popular modes of transport to enter and move within the North East, especially across Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These states have several railway stations and routes.
If you are looking to enjoy the beauty of a subtropical climate, North East India is the place to be. Immerse yourself in scenic beauty and a cosmopolitan culture while exploring its magnificent cultural diversity and delightful cuisine. Whether it is a simple summer trip or a breathtaking winter escapade, there are a ton of reasons why this part of India is the perfect place for a getaway. The warm summers, the strong monsoons, and the serene winters with a chance of snow are enough reasons to visit this beautiful region! The North East will make you fall in love with the beauty of India all over again.
With a backdrop that highlights adventure, this paradise beckons you to join a unique journey. The Northeastern region of India is an exotic land that offers a beautiful contrast to its many tropical features. From the cool winds in the valleys of Arunachal Pradesh to the warm sands of Tripura, this region has much to offer.
The North East is influenced by the neighboring countries of Myanmar, Bhutan, Tibet, and China and is a treasure trove of cultural affairs. Aromatic spices, rippling hills, and sparkling rivers await you at every step. The region is a cornucopia of culture with its numerous tribes, dances, food, and the magnificent Himalayas.
The North East is famous for its traditional recipes, tribal customs, and folk dances, with a blend of many dialects, cuisines, and ethnicities brought in by waves of migration over the years. The fusion of these cultures has led to the rise of some very interesting styles of cooking (with Bhut Jolokia and bamboo shoots), handicrafts (think cane and bamboo), and languages (some of which are preserved only in this region).
You will find a treasure trove of the most exotic dishes on earth, such as Smoked Pork with Bamboo Shoot, Narasingha Masor Jhol, and Eromba. And the many festivals like the Hornbill festival, Bihu, Ziro, Moatsu, Mong, etc., celebrated in the region make it a worthwhile place to explore if you want to see the true beauty of the country.
According to statistics by India Tourism, the North East had 77.13 lakh domestic tourists and 1.38 lakh foreign tourists in 2016, a number that has steadily grown since. Some of the reasons that tourism in the North East is booming are its culture, people, and traditions. North East India is an eclectic mix of places to visit and things to do.
To truly embrace the experience, we recommend North East Guide Tourism Packages that offer the following activities:
You can trek and camp under the stars, cook over a bonfire, visit tea gardens, and even take a raft on the mighty Brahmaputra on your trip to the North East.
Hill stations like Sikkim and Gangtok offer a pretty escape from city life.
The Double-decker Bridge in Meghalaya makes for an authentic North East tour.
The places that see the highest traffic, where even locals enjoy spending time, are the Kaziranga National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Loktak Lake, Brahmaputra River, and Yumthang Valley.
Also, many seasonal events take place across the North East (such as the Ziro Valley Music Festival).
When visiting any part of the North East, you must follow standard travel precautions.
Is the North East safe?
Yes, North East is safe and has hospitable people. However, as you would at any other place, you must take care of yourself and stay safe.
How many states does North East India have?
There are eight states in the northeast. They are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
When to visit North East India?
The summer season from March to June is the best time to visit North East India since you can cover more ground. However, if you want to experience snow, you should visit Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at the end of the year.
Which state is the most budget-friendly?
Mizoram is the most pocket-friendly state and offers good value for money compared to other states.
Language Spoken
Assam - Assamese, Manipur - Meiteilon, Meghayala - Khasi and Garo, Mizoram - Mizo, Nagaland - Englis
Currency used:
Indian Rupee (INR)
North East tourism is full of exciting places to see and things to do. No matter what sort of vacation you are planning to have, there’s something for everyone here. Nature lovers will rejoice at the many natural wonders here such as mountains and lakes, and those with an eye for culture will enjoy visiting monasteries and other beautiful spots.
A North East tour would be incomplete without a visit to Guwahati, the largest city in the North East which is near the Brahmaputra River in Assam. There are holy sites here such as the Kamakhya temple, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu while there’s also an 18th century Navagraha temple which has planetary shrines. The Assam State Museum is the place to visit if you want to look at sculptures, textiles and other interesting things while the Guwahati Planetarium is great for stargazing. There’s also a zoo, a botanical garden and a bird sanctuary which should certainly satisfy the visiting wild-life enthusiasts.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is a hill station which has beautifully manicured gardens in Lady Hydari Park while there are excellent walking trails around Ward’s Lake. Lots of nature to enjoy here, especially in the southwest where there are waterfalls such as Elephant Falls.
A North East tour should certainly include a visit to the splendid Kaziranga National Park. This is a gorgeous sanctuary which houses two thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses. A world heritage site, Kaziranga is also home to tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer. The sanctuary has an important role to play in wildlife conservation.
In Sikkim, the Yumthang Valley of Flowers is a perfect spot for North East tourism. With its hot springs, rolling meadows, contemplatively grazing yaks and the rhododendrons which give it the name Valley of Flowers, Yumthang Valley has everything that you are looking for, especially during a vacation. If you happen to visit during the flowering season, from late February to mid-June, there are countless flowers which lie across the valley in a breath taking visual, coloured in the rainbow hues. There’s heavy snowfall during winter when Yumthang is closed but the time to visit is spring when the area is resplendent with beautiful flowers.
Other places to visit in North East include Kohima which has a state museum, a war cemetery and a heritage village; Imphal with its tribal artefacts museum, a Royal Palace and a Shaheed Minar, dedicated to those who died fighting the British in 1891 and Keibul Lamjao National Park where you can spot the rare Sangai deer and several migratory birds; Agartala with its palaces and Mughal style gardens and the famous Rabindra Kanan Park; Gangtok which is a famous trekking base and a Buddhist pilgrimage site with several monasteries and the renowned Gangtok Ropeway Gondola which offers beautiful views of the city. The North East is full of such relatively unknown gems.
If you can’t wait to travel to the North East, do make it a point to visit the SOTC website for offers and deals on North East tour packages.
