The diverse terrain of Northeast India is the best destination for road trippers. You can explore the unseen beauty of hills and clouds to diverge culture and magnificent valleys flourish by rivers. Northeast India has many stunning places to explore by road. In our blog, we listed out top destinations for your road trip in Northeast India. Hope this road trip itinerary will be helpful to you.
Some of the most exciting places for a road trip in Northeast India include:
- Trip to Tawang from Guwahati, the capital of Assam.
- The scenic road of Meghalaya, from Guwahati to Cherrapunji.
- Amazing trip to Nongstoin from Guwahati.
- The picturesque Walong, from Dibrugarh.
- Thrilling and full of adventure filled road journey to Anini.
- Trip to Imphal from Kohima – the place well known for cultural diversity and stunning surrounding.
- The enchanting journey to Nathula Pass from Gangtok.
Experience Northeast India’s top 7 Road Trips
1. Guwahati to Tawang
Road Trip Guide: Passing through hilly gorgeous and windy roads, you will get to enjoy the scenic mountain views of Arunachal Pradesh. A road trip to Tawang is an experience in itself. It spans a length of 450 km. The road is open all year, but it is advisable to avoid it during the monsoons. The journey takes around 14- 16 hours, so divide it into 2 days with one stopover for rest and acclimatization. Dirang Valley, located halfway between Tawang and Guwahati, is undoubtedly one of the most popular stops on this thrilling journey.
From Guwahati, you can take two different routes to reach Bomdila, a small town where you can spend the night before reaching Tawang. Both roads pass through unique attractions, national parks etc. You may choose the shortest one or both depending on your interest. Checkout road trip to Tawang to find details about the best time to visit and the best route to take for your Tawang trip.
Time: 14-16 hours (one side)
Distance: 450 km on one side
Attractions: TDL monastery, LDL monastery, Sela pass, Sela Lake, Jaswant Garh War Memorial
Where to eat: Few road side eateries are available on the way which server Maggi, Chai, Puri-Sabji etc.
2. Guwahati to Cherrapunji
The road trip from Guwahati to Cherrapunji is undoubtedly the most delightful and relaxing journey across Northeast India, making it a coveted adventure on many travelers’ bucket lists. The journey takes approximately three hours to reach Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, and an additional 2-2.5 hours to reach Cherrapunji or Sohra, which offers several tourist attractions that can be explored in a day or two.
However, if you want to uncover Meghalaya’s hidden gems and breathtaking sights, you can extend your road trip for a few more days and visit places like Jowai, Dawki, and Mawlynnong, among others. This entire trip typically requires 4-7 days to cover all the tourist attractions adequately.
To learn more about these magnificent places you can visit on your journey, check out our comprehensive guide to the Meghalaya road trip. Moreover, the road trip is suitable to be taken any time of the year, making it a perfect adventure for all seasons.
Time: 5 -6 hours (one side)
Distance: 147 km on one side
Attractions: Borapani Lake, Elephant falls, Maswami cave , seven sisters falls and many more
Where to eat: Many restaurants and Dhabas are available all the way . Best one is Jiva Veg, Punjabi Dhaba etc.
3. Guwahati to Nongstoin
Nongstoin is another picturesque hamlet in Meghalaya. You can take a scenic drive through a beautiful forest and rolling hills to reach this place. It is a pleasing drive passing through the newly constructed highway via Rani in Assam. It is another way to reach Meghalaya easily from LGBI airport. This trip has the charm to be travelled by road. Experience it to believe it.
Distance: 145 Km
Duration: 4.5 hours
Attractions: Nongkhnum Island, Weinia Falls, Kyllang Rock
4. Dibrugarh to Walong
Located in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Walong is a captivating destination located close to the China border. A trip to Walong is best suited for those who enjoy road trips. Witnessing the gorgeous views, surrounded by towering mountains and accompanied by the Lohit River, is an experience of a lifetime. However, if you are not the touristy kind and are more inclined towards the lesser-explored places, then this road trip is just for you! The road is narrow, winding, and bumpy in some places, so it is good to halt at Tezu for the night before proceeding to Walong.
You have the option to include the Hindu pilgrimage site Parsuram Kunda on this journey. The District headquarter of Anjaw district Hawai is nearly 126 km away from Parsuram Kunda and Walong is a further 53 km.
The place where the sun shines for the first time in India, “Dong village” is also close to Walong. You need to start early in the morning at around 2 AM and go for a trek in the valley to witness the first sunrise in India.
The best time to take this road trip is winter.
Time: 10 hours (via Tezu).
Distance: 360 km
Attractions: Hayuliang, Hawai, Helmet top, Dong valley trek, Kahu, Tezu, Parasuram Kund.
5. Dibrugarh to Anini (via Roing)
Anini is one of the most picturesque destinations in Northeast India. It is located amidst lofty hills, lush green forests and breathtaking landscapes. The road to Annini goes through scenic mountain landscapes. It is one of the most dangerous roads in India and passes through some dangerous mountain gorges. Steep hills flanked the road on one side and a deep valley on the other.
Though the roads may get a little treacherous on your way to Anini, the outstanding scenic beauty makes up for it. Every daring explorer must take this road trip. One night stop at Roing is required to complete this trip. The best time for this trip is in the winter. You can experience show fall in Mayodia pass during the winter months of December and January.
Time: 16 hours (via Roing).
Distance: 380 km
Attractions: Roing, Mayodia, Hunli
Where to eat: Very few stops are available on the way so have early breakfast at your hotel or carry some snack with you.
6. Dimapur to Imphal (Manipur) via Kohima
For adventure seekers, it is a must-do road trip in India. Though the road is in poor shape in some places, it is a memorable trip passing through scenic destinations. The Trans-Asia Highway also passes through this route, so highway construction is in full swing. On your trip, you can consider exploring Kohima city and spending one or two nights exploring the vivid lifestyle and culture of different Naga tribes, memories of World war -II and many more.
The vivid landscape you see is unmatchable and you can reach the most soothing destinations in Northeast India once you reach Manipur. The road passes through Kohima located at an altitude of 1,444 m above sea level.
Time: 7 hours
Distance: 205 km
Attractions: Kohima war cemetery, Nagaland state museum, Kohima cathedral
7. Gangtok to Nathula Pass
Nathula is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the Indo-China border at a height of 4,310 meters above sea level. It is every traveller’s dream to visit Nathula once in a lifetime. During the winter, both sides of the road are covered with snow. On your trip to Nathula pass you can also include Tsomgo lake and Baba Harbhajan Temple. Check our Sikkim tour packages to go for a trip to Nathula Pass.
It is a most spectacular road trip in Sikkim. it may be beneficial to bring some chocolates with you as due to high altitude kids and senior citizens can fall ill.
Time: 5- 6 hours (to and fro from Nathula)
Distance: 53 km on one side
Attractions: Jaswant Garh War Memorial, Tsomgo Lake
Where to eat: Few road side food joints are on the way where rice, Maggi etc are available.
Safety Tips for A Road Trip in Northeast India
Before you’re all set to hit the road, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
- Take your car only if you have experience driving on hills, else hire a taxi
- Avoid night driving and long hour travel because of hills roads.
- Don’t go over the speed limit.
- Make plenty of stops en route or plan an overnight stay
- Carry your snacks and water, or prefer bottled water.
- Choose a 100% hygienic hotel for a safe stay
- Follow all the COVID-19-related guidelines issued by WHO including hygiene practices and social distancing.
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