A Homegrown Guide To Must-See Locales & Hidden Gems In Assam

"Assam, a hilly state near the borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, has long been a gateway to Northeast India, a remote, culturally distinct and comparatively crowd-free region that hangs as if by a thread from the country’s mainland."

— Poras Chaudhary, The New York Times

In January 2025, The New York Times mentioned the northeast Indian state of Assam as No. 4 on its list of '52 Places to Go in 2025'. This was long overdue. Well known within India for its magnificent national parks abundant with one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, swamp deer, various primate species, and not insignificant number of tigers, ancient temples and burial mounds, and breathtaking natural beauty, it was time Assam became the latest travel destination in India to receive global attention.

In recognition and celebration of the treasure trove of travel destinations that is Assam, here's a Homegrown Travel Guide to everything you must see in Assam:

Ancient Temples And Other Architectural Sites

The present-day state of Assam has been part of several historical kingdoms like the Mlecchas, Palas, Kochs, and Ahoms over the years. Naturally, Assam is home to several ancient temples and architectural sites dating back to these dynasties.

Kamakhya Temple

Located on the Nilachal Hills outside Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is one of India's most important Hindu pilgrimage sites. According to Hindu mythology, as a grief-stricken Shiva carried the dismembered corpse of his wife, Sati (also known as Parvati), her yoni — genitals and womb — fell to the earth. The temple is one of the oldest and most revered of the 51 Shakti Peeths. However, many historians believe the site's history as a place of worship goes back much earlier to pre-Brahmanical ritual worship of an indigenous mother goddess predating the Hindu temple by several centuries. The current temple, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya, was constructed in the 16th century.

For more information, see the official website of the temple.

Navagraha Temple

Believed to mark the location of the ancient city of Pragjyotishpur on the Chitranchal Hill, the precursor to present-day Guwahati, the Navagraha — or 'Nine Planets' — Temple was built when the city was known as an ancient centre of astronomy and astrology. The temple is known for its striking red dome and nine linga or phallic idols representing the nine classical planets according to ancient Hindu cosmology.

Umananda Temple

Located on the lush Peacock Island in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra River, this 16th-century temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Sati, or Parvati. Traveller beware though: the island, although a great place to see the river, swarms with monkeys. For timings and other information, visit: assamtourism.gov.in.

Charaideo Moidams

Set in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the Charaideo Moidams are ninety ancient burial mounds of Tai-Ahom Kings who ruled over Assam for almost 600 years between the 13th and 19th centuries. These mounds consist of dome-shaped vaults with one or more chambers buried underneath an earthen mound that rises above the ground with an open pavilion at the peak called chow chali. Today, this royal necropolis offers a unique glimpse into the Tai-Ahom's royal legacy and tradition of ancestor worship. Learn more about the moidams here.

National Parks, Reserve Forests, And Wildlife Sanctuaries

Assam is home to several national parks like the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

Situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra River and encompassing semi-evergreen forests, the Mikir Hills, and vast grasslands and swamps, Assam's magnificent Kaziranga National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The massive National Park, spread across Golaghat, Sonitpur, Biswanath, and Nagaon districts of Assam, is home to two-thirds of the world's Indian one-horned rhinoceros population. A rich variety of other wildlife — including over 100 tigers, the largest population of Asiatic buffalo in India, herds of wild elephants, swamp deer, Indian pythons, and over 300 species of birds — can also be sighted in the park. For more information, visit: kaziranga.nptr.in.

Besides these breathtakingly beautiful national parks, reserve forests, and wildlife sanctuaries, Assam is also a birdwatchers' paradise with several birdwatching hotspots in Halflong, Tinsukhia, Majuli, Maibang, and Sibsagar.

Majuli — The Largest River Island In The World

Nestled in the heart of Brahmaputra about 28 kilometre from Jorhat, Majuli is the largest river island in the world. It is a hotspot of both rich biodiversity and centuries old culture. The island is home to more than 250 species of birds — including the Hargila or Greater Adjutant Stork — and more than 20 species of mammals, reptiles, and insects.

The local culture of the island, the music, literature, art and craft, too is unique and remain heavily influenced by the reforms Srimanta Shankardev — a saint-scholar and social-religious reformer — had brought about in the 15th century. Most of the residents of Majuli still follow Shankardev's teachings and values through Satra, or neo-vaishnavite cultural and religious schools.

Tragically, Brahmaputra — the same sacred river that gives life to this island by depositing fertile slit that sustains the paddy farming in Majuli — is eroding the island away. Flooding has become a yearly occurrence due to climate change. What was at the turn of the century an island as large as 1256 sq. km. has shrunk to 350 sq. km. in recent years. In another 20 years from now, it may simply disappear.

Learn more about Majuli here:

This is, of course, not an exhaustive list of travel destinations in Assam, but it will help kickstart your Assam trip when you decide to visit the northeastern border state. Beyond these, Assam is also home to Sualkuchi, one of the largest weaving villages in the world, and beautiful tea-plantations.

Assam is accessible by air from most major cities in India, and by rail and road from Kolkata. The new international terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI) in Guwahati, Assam, is expected to be completed by July 2025, and this will further enhance connectivity in the region.

Learn more about tourism in Assam here.

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