Northeast India Travel Guide: The Seven Sister States, Best Time, Permits and Routes

Northeast India is the part of India most people promise to visit "one day". It has seven sister states: Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Each one looks, sounds and tastes different. In one trip you can see one-horned rhinos, walk on bridges made of living tree roots, cross a 13,700 ft mountain pass and eat food you will not find anywhere else in India.

This guide gives you the big picture: what each state is known for, the best time to visit, which permits you need, and a few easy routes for your first trip. We plan and drive these routes every week from Guwahati, so everything here comes from the road, not from a brochure.

The seven sister states at a glance

Sikkim is also counted in the Northeast today, which is why you will sometimes hear "eight states". In this guide we focus on the original seven sisters.

Best time to visit Northeast India

For most travellers, October to April is the best time. Skies are clear, roads are dry and it is cool enough for long sightseeing days.

• October to November: Our favourite months. Green hills after the rains, clear mountain views and festivals such as the Sangai Festival in Manipur.
• December to February: Cold and dry. Great for Kaziranga safaris, the Hornbill Festival (1 to 10 December) and clear water at Dawki. Tawang and Sela Pass get snow, so pack warm.
• March to May: Pleasant days, flowers in the hills and rhododendrons in Arunachal. Kaziranga stays open until the monsoon closure, usually at the end of May.
• June to September: Monsoon. Meghalaya's waterfalls are at their best, but landslides can close hill roads and Kaziranga is closed. Travel only with spare days in your plan.

Permits: who needs an Inner Line Permit (ILP)?

Indian citizens from outside the state need an Inner Line Permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. You do not need any permit for Assam, Meghalaya or Tripura.

• Every ILP state now has an online e-ILP portal. You upload a photo and an ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence), pay a small fee and download the permit.
• Apply at least 7 days before you travel, and carry a printed copy plus the original ID.
• Fees and validity change from time to time, so always check the official state portal before you pay. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra.
• Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Plan this with your tour operator well in advance.

When you book with us, we arrange the ILP for every traveller in your group as part of the trip.

How to reach Northeast India

Guwahati is the gateway to the whole region. Its airport (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International) has direct flights from most big Indian cities, and Guwahati railway station connects to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

• Meghalaya: Shillong is about 100 km and 3 hours by road from Guwahati.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Tawang is a two-day drive from Guwahati via Bomdila and Dirang.
• Nagaland: Fly or take a train to Dimapur, then drive about 74 km to Kohima.
• Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura: Fly to Imphal, Aizawl (Lengpui) or Agartala. Since September 2025, Mizoram is also on the rail map, with trains to Sairang station near Aizawl.

Hill roads are slow. A 100 km drive can take 3 to 4 hours, so a private cab with a driver who knows the route makes a big difference. See our Northeast taxi service for cars from Guwahati.

Easy routes for your first trip

5 days: Guwahati and Meghalaya

Guwahati, Shillong, Sohra (Cherrapunji), Dawki and Mawlynnong. The most popular first trip, with no permits needed. Read our Meghalaya travel guide or see our Meghalaya tour packages.

7 days: Assam and Meghalaya

Add two nights at Kaziranga for jeep safaris to the Meghalaya loop. Ideal from November to April. More in our Assam travel guide.

7 to 8 days: Tawang

Guwahati, Bomdila, Dirang, Sela Pass and Tawang. High mountains, monasteries and frozen lakes. ILP needed. See the Arunachal Pradesh guide.

6 days: Nagaland for Hornbill

Dimapur, Kohima, the Hornbill Festival at Kisama and a day at Khonoma or the Dzukou valley. Details in our Nagaland and Manipur guide.

Offbeat: Mizoram and Tripura

Quiet hill towns, palaces and ancient rock carvings, with very few tourists. Read the Mizoram and Tripura guide.

Practical tips before you go

• Start early. The sun rises and sets early in the Northeast, often before 5 pm in winter. Plan sightseeing for the morning.
• Carry cash. UPI works in towns, but villages and remote stops may have weak networks and few ATMs.
• Keep a buffer day for weather and landslides, especially in the hills and during the monsoon.
• Dress in layers. Guwahati can be warm while Tawang is below freezing on the same day.
• Respect local customs. Ask before photographing people, and follow the rules at monasteries, sacred forests and village entry points.
• Check the news for road closures and travel advisories, especially for Manipur, before you finalise dates.

Plan your Northeast trip with locals

YatraVoya is based in Guwahati. We plan routes, book hotels, arrange permits and send a private cab with an experienced hill driver. Tell us your dates and interests on the plan my trip page, or browse our Northeast India tour packages.