How to come to North East India
How to Reach North East India
North East India, a treasure trove of nature, culture, and adventure, is accessible by air, rail, and road. Here’s your complete guide to reaching this enchanting region, which includes the beautiful states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, and Sikkim.
By Air (The Fastest and Most Convenient Option)
North East India is well connected by domestic flights to major cities in India. The primary airports are:
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati, Assam) – The main gateway to the entire North East. Connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other cities.
Lengpui Airport (Aizawl, Mizoram)
Imphal International Airport (Manipur)
Agartala Airport (Tripura)
Dibrugarh Airport (Upper Assam, for access to Arunachal Pradesh)
Lilabari Airport (for Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh)
Dimapur Airport (Nagaland)
Pakyong Airport (Sikkim)
Shillong Airport (Meghalaya) – Limited connectivity, mostly via Kolkata.
By Train (For Scenic & Affordable Travel)
Indian Railways connects various parts of the Northeast to the rest of the country. Major railway stations include:
Guwahati Railway Station (Assam) – The most well-connected hub. Regular trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
Silchar, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia (Assam) – For access to Barak Valley and Upper Assam.
Agartala (Tripura) – Direct trains from Guwahati and Kolkata.
Dimapur (Nagaland) – Connected via Assam.
New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri, West Bengal) – Gateway for Sikkim and nearby regions.
🚉 Note: Some hilly states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh do not yet have fully functional railway stations, but can be reached via nearby cities in Assam or West Bengal.
By Road (For Offbeat, Scenic Adventures)
North East India is accessible by a network of national and state highways. Once you’re in the region, road travel is the most immersive way to explore it.
Guwahati acts as the main road transport hub for trips to Shillong, Cherrapunji, Kaziranga, Tezpur, Tawang, and more.
Shared taxis, private cabs, and buses are widely available in all major towns.
State-run buses like ASTC (Assam), MTC (Meghalaya), and NST (Nagaland) offer regular services.
You can also self-drive or hire a chauffeur-driven tourist cab — ideal for flexible, personalized travel.
🏞️ Tip: While road journeys in the Northeast are scenic, they can be slow due to hilly terrain — so always keep buffer time and travel with experienced local drivers.
Entry Permits & ID Requirements
Inner Line Permit (ILP) is mandatory for Indian citizens visiting:
Arunachal Pradesh
Nagaland
Mizoram
Manipur (select areas)
You can apply online for ILPs or get them from designated counters in nearby cities.
Foreign nationals must register with the local FRRO office and are restricted from certain sensitive border areas. A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required for Arunachal Pradesh.