Getting Around North East India: A Guide to Transportation

The easternmost part of India, North East India, is gifted with pristine natural beauty. It shares borders with Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh and is actually in a frontier zone. The North East of the subcontinent stands out from other regions due to its vivid landscapes, which are defined by hills, rivers, and valleys, as well as its broad spectrum of communities.

More than 166 distinct tribes that speak various languages and have varied cultures and traditions may be found in North East India. We advise you to visit North East India if you’re considering doing so because we firmly believe it to be one of the world’s most diverse regions. You should have all the details you require from our North East India transportation guide!

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About India’s North East

India’s Northeast continues to be regarded as a remote and challenging region. The infrastructure might use a lot of attention, and the roads are a little challenging. The gorgeous and untouched landscapes, hospitable residents, and vibrant culture make up for the region’s lack of great comforts in spades.

The Northeast contains numerous unique states. In each state and throughout the region, you will discover a variation. It is comparable to travelling to several locations throughout every state in the Northeast. It’s possible that you’ll be inclined to refer to it as India’s hidden nirvana.

There are, however, some facts and things you should know before your Northeast journey if you’re considering travelling to Northeast India and exploring this unspoiled wonderland of India. Thus, continue reading if you’re considering including Northeast India in your guided trip to India.

Places to travel in North-Eastern India

Due to the enormous distances, limited infrastructure, and difficulty of travel in North East India, you may choose to focus on a particular area to visit. Assam and Meghalaya are the states with superior infrastructure and no registration or permit needs for both Locals and foreigners.

Arunachal Pradesh is the most challenging state to go to because of its mountainous terrain, lack of infrastructure, and permit requirements. Although Nagaland is beginning to grow as a tourism destination, the region still has poor roads that can make travelling exhausting.

How to Go by Air/Flights to North East India

You’ll be happy to know that four North-Eastern states—Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Assam—all offer direct flights from different places, including Kolkata and Delhi if you want to go by air. As the entryway to the North-East states, Guwahati in Assam offers flights to several different locations.

Although you may still need to take connecting flights to get to some of the other states, the majority of the airports in these states offer good connectivity to the other major cities in India. Some of the airports are located in very isolated areas, and as a result, they have also been closed.

For example, the airports in Arunachal Pradesh have been closed, so those who want to get there must first fly to the Lilabari Tezpur Airport in Assam, where they can rent a car and continue their journey by road. Pasighat has lately begun offering services, but they are currently restricted.

Indian Airlines, IndiGo, Spicejet, and Vistara are the airlines that frequently travel to the Northeast. The following list includes a few airports from where you can fly to North-East India.

Imphal International Airport, Manipur
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati
Dibrugarh Airport, Assam
Silchar Airport, Assam
Agartala Airport, Tripura
Dimapur Airport, Nagaland

Moreover, Aizwal and Naharlagun have helicopter services available.

How to Go By Road to North East India

Road travel is among the most popular ways to get to North-East India. Roads connect all urban locations, and West Bengal-based buses are also available. People frequently go on road excursions; therefore, many rent cars with drivers to take in the rich scenery.

It is not recommended to choose self-driving in the Northeast states, though, for security reasons. Although the majority of the roadways in locations like Assam are smooth, be prepared for some choppy driving in mountainous and remote areas, especially given how steep and tight the slopes are.

From Delhi, a regular road trip could take approximately 48 hours. The most common routes to the North-East states are along National Highways 31, 37, 38, or 40. Travelling via road is not a preferred mode of transportation for most people because there is always the risk of landslides.

How to Go by Rail to North East India

Via train, several Indian towns are connected to North-Eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Naharlagun is a significant rail hub between Guwahati and New Delhi. Along with Tinsukia, there are stations in Guwahati, Lumding, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, and other locations.

North-East India is frequently reached by trains from Delhi, including the Rajdhani Express, North-East Express, and Brahmaputra Rail. Since the train tracks are not electrified, taking a train will always take longer to get to the North-East. The result is that delays are to be anticipated.

Mizoram and Tripura may both be reached by taking a train to the closest stations, New Jalpaiguri and Kumarghat, respectively, although Mizoram is not accessible by train. The Rajdhani Express is the quickest rail option, travelling to the Northeast in around 28 hours. The North-East Express takes 32 hours, but the Brahmaputra Mail takes 42 hours.

Travelling Around in North East India

The region in Northeast India is likely to become one of India’s most popular tourist places. The Northeast contains some undeveloped, rural places that are still under development. Travel to the Northeast of India is always exciting! The North East has a very underdeveloped infrastructure.

Especially in mountainous areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, road travel can be slow and difficult. It is probably not the best journey if you get motion sick because roads are still being developed in the more rural places, which along with the winding mountain roads, can make for a long, bumpy ride.

There are no tourist or Volvo buses or railways, and very few local buses, so the best and simplest way to get around is with a tour and private car, or you can get a shared taxi called ‘sumo’ to move between villages, but expect a crowded and bumpy ride. See below for transportation options to North East India:

● Via Road

Road travel is one of the most popular ways to go to North-East India. Roads connect all urban locations, and West Bengal-based buses are also available. Since road excursions are so common, many people rent cars with drivers to take in the gorgeous scenery.

It is not recommended to choose self-driving in the Northeast states, though, for security reasons. Although the majority of the roadways in locations like Assam are smooth, be prepared for some bumpy driving in mountainous and remote areas, especially given how steep and tight the slopes are.

● By Bus

State-run buses connect Assam with the other North-Eastern Indian states quite readily. West Bengal state operates buses that travel to Guwahati in the Northeast. You can depart Guwahati and join an ASTC bus bound for another Northeast Indian state from Paltan Bazar. The northeastern states are served by numerous privately operated buses and Volvos.

● Other options

Sumo and shared taxis are two other possibilities for local transportation within cities. It is incredibly convenient to move between the various states thanks to the tourist cab services offered in Northeastern states. Having an experienced driver and never driving alone are two crucial factors to keep in mind when travelling in Northeast India.

An experienced driver will be able to negotiate these places since they are in a hilly area with a lot of rainfall, rough terrain, sharp turns, and potholes. In the Northeast states, driving a private vehicle allows for the most flexibility in travel because it allows the driver to set their own schedule.

Permissions for India’s North East

We made an effort to provide the most recent information on permissions in this North East India travel guide, but keep in mind that things can change quickly when it comes to permits in this region of the world. For the most recent information on permits, always check official sources.

The news that permits are now only necessary for Arunachal Pradesh may come as a relief to travellers from other countries; the other six states that make up the Seven Sisters can be entered without permission (while some areas of Sikkim require permissions, Sikkim is not the subject of this post).

Arunachal Pradesh requires a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreign visitors, which must be presented every time it is sought, which is frequently, i.e. at every hotel, homestay, and guesthouse. Before your visit, create several (or should that be dozens of) copies. A travel operator like The Holiday Scout makes it simple to secure the PAP.

We’ve read that visitors are sometimes able to obtain it without going via Guwahati, but we also saw that it took many days to be processed, so we opted for a more reassuring method. ILPs (Inner Line Permits) were necessary for Indian nationals travelling to Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Manipur was added to that list more recently, albeit it was still in the early stages of implementing the ILP requirement as of the writing of this article. Indian people can occasionally apply for the permits online; however, the permits are state-specific, and each state sets its own standards for ILP applications.

The Bottom Line

Consider some of the top destinations in the North East while planning trips. Just keep in mind that Indian nationals require an Inner Line Permit to go to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and some Sikkim regions. No permit is necessary to travel to Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya. Come here once and lose yourself in its beauty. Good luck!

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