Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions first-timers ask most about travelling in North-East India.
The honest answers to the questions we hear most about travelling in North-East India. For the full detail, follow the links to the permit checker, the planning page and the state guides.
Planning
When is the best time to visit the Northeast?
October to April is the broad sweet spot across almost the whole region — dry, clear and cool. December is peak for Nagaland's Hornbill Festival; March to May suits Tawang and the rhododendrons; late September is the Ziro music festival. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when Assam floods, Kaziranga closes and the hills see landslides.
How many days do I need?
A comfortable first trip is 7–8 days for Assam and Meghalaya together. Add 3–4 days each for a Tawang loop, Nagaland/Hornbill, or Sikkim. To see much of the region properly, plan 12–15 days and don't try to do all eight states in one trip.
Which states are easiest for a first visit?
Meghalaya and Assam — no permits, good roads, and the region's signature sights (Kaziranga, living root bridges, Dawki, Shillong) within a few hours of Guwahati. Sikkim is also easy to enter for Indians. Save Arunachal, Nagaland and Manipur for when you can plan permits ahead.
Permits
Do I need a permit to visit the Northeast?
It depends on the state and your nationality. Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur; Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim need none. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, and a Restricted Area Permit for parts of Sikkim. Use our permit checker to see exactly what applies to you.
How do I get an Inner Line Permit?
For Indians it is a quick online formality: Arunachal at eilp.arunachal.gov.in (₹300, 15 days), Nagaland at ilp.nagaland.gov.in (₹200, 30 days), Manipur at manipurilponline.mn.gov.in (₹100, 30 days) or at entry kiosks, and Mizoram at ilp.mizoram.gov.in. Carry the printout and a photo ID.
Can foreign tourists travel independently?
Mostly yes in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. For Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, foreigners need a Protected Area Permit arranged through a registered tour operator, usually in a group of two or more, with several weeks' lead time. Enter and exit through the gate named on the permit.
Safety
Is Northeast India safe for tourists?
Yes — for the traveller, most of the region is among the safest and most welcoming parts of India, with low crime and genuine hospitality. The real challenges are permits and mountain roads, not danger. The exception is Manipur, where foreign governments still advise caution; check current advisories before planning it.
Is it safe for solo and women travellers?
Broadly yes, especially in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland and Assam's main circuits, which many solo and women travellers report as comfortable and friendly. Take the usual sensible precautions, travel by day on hill roads, and use homestays and registered operators in remote areas.
Getting around
How do I travel between places?
Guwahati is the hub — fly in, then move by private car with driver (the most flexible), shared Sumo jeeps (the local bus), trains where they run, or the occasional helicopter. Distances are short on the map but slow on winding hill roads, so plan generous travel times and buffer days.
Which airports serve the Northeast?
Guwahati is the main gateway, now with Gulf, Bangkok and Paro links. Others include Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar and Lilabari (Assam), Shillong, Itanagar, Dimapur, Imphal, Aizawl and Agartala. Bagdogra is the gateway for Sikkim. Tezpur and Sikkim's Pakyong currently have no scheduled flights.
Practical
Will my phone and internet work?
In towns, yes — Jio and Airtel 4G cover Guwahati, Shillong, Kohima, Imphal, Aizawl, Gangtok and most district centres. In remote areas (Tawang road, Dzukou, North Sikkim, Mon) coverage is patchy and BSNL often works best; download offline maps before you go.
Are ATMs and UPI available?
UPI works in almost every town, including Tawang, Ziro and Gangtok bazaars. But carry two to three days of cash beyond the district towns — for Lachen/Lachung, Dzukou, Mon, Majuli homestays and border stalls — where ATMs are scarce and often out of cash on weekends.
Are there dry (alcohol-free) states?
Nagaland is officially dry. Mizoram is largely dry but allows local wine and tourist permits for IMFL. Manipur has partly lifted prohibition in Imphal and licensed hotels. Elsewhere alcohol is available; local brews like apong, zutho and tongba are worth trying where offered.
What should I know about local customs?
Sundays are quiet across Christian-majority Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland — plan transport and meals for Monday–Saturday. Always ask before photographing people, especially tribal elders; cover shoulders and knees at temples, churches, satras and monasteries; and carry ID everywhere, as army checkposts are routine.