How to Reach Northeast India: Flights, Trains and Roads via Guwahati

Guwahati is the main gateway to Northeast India. It has the region's busiest airport, major railway stations at Guwahati and Kamakhya, and highways that fan out to Meghalaya, Kaziranga, Jorhat, Arunachal Pradesh and Barak Valley. Other state capitals have their own airports, but many flights connect through Guwahati or Kolkata. This guide covers flights, trains and roads, with practical notes on getting from the airport into the city.

Quick facts

Main airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), at Borjhar, roughly 20 to 28 km from the city.
New terminal: an integrated terminal was inaugurated on 20 December 2025, with capacity for about 13.1 million passengers a year.
Main railway stations: Guwahati (Paltan Bazaar) and Kamakhya Junction.
Main bus terminal: Rupnath Brahma Inter State Bus Terminus at Betkuchi.
Other airports: Dibrugarh, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl (Lengpui), Dimapur, Jorhat and others, mostly with domestic flights.
Typical distances from Guwahati: Shillong about 99 km, Kaziranga about 217 km, Tawang about 480 km (airport to Tawang).
Permits: needed for Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur. See the permits guide.
Re-check: flight and train schedules change, so verify with airlines and Indian Railways.

Why is Guwahati the gateway?

Guwahati sits on the Brahmaputra. It has the biggest concentration of flights, trains and buses in the region. From here you can reach Shillong in about 99 km, Kaziranga in about 217 km and Tawang in about 480 km, as the Tawang district administration notes.

The airport had about 7 million passengers in 2025, according to figures compiled on Wikipedia, which makes it the busiest in the region. That also means more flights, more rail connections and more taxis than anywhere else nearby.

How do I reach Guwahati by air?

Guwahati's airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 has operated since 1958, and the new integrated terminal opened in December 2025. The runway is long enough for widebody aircraft. The airport has domestic flights to most Indian metros and some international flights, which Wikipedia lists as including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. Airlines and routes change, so check with airlines.

From the airport to the city, cabs and ride-hailing apps serve both terminals. The distance is roughly 20 to 28 km, depending on whether you head to Paltan Bazaar, Dispur or the Shillong side. For a pre-booked pickup, see Guwahati airport transfer.

Which other airports serve Northeast India?

City	Airport	Distance from city	Notes
Dibrugarh	Mohanbari	About 15 km	Domestic flights; gateway to upper Assam
Imphal	Bir Tikendrajit	About 7 km	Flights to Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and others
Agartala	Maharaja Bir Bikram	About 12 km	Flights to Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and Bengaluru
Aizawl	Lengpui	About 32 km	Flights to Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and Imphal
Dimapur	Dimapur	Near Dimapur city	Only airport in Nagaland; Kohima is about 74 km away

Dimapur's airport sits on NH 29 and links to Guwahati and Kolkata. Time Out lists Kohima as about 74 km from Dimapur, with a taxi taking 2 to 3 hours. For Ziro, Majuli and Arunachal Pradesh, travellers also use Lilabari (Lakhimpur), Jorhat, Tezpur and Itanagar's Donyi Polo Airport, according to district websites. The Tawang administration lists Itanagar at 440 km and Tezpur at 330 km from Tawang. Check which airlines serve each airport before you plan, and compare the total cost of a flight to a smaller airport with a flight to Guwahati plus a road transfer.

How do I reach Guwahati by train?

Guwahati station at Paltan Bazaar is the busiest in the city, and Kamakhya Junction on the western side handles many long distance trains. The Northeast Frontier Railway has its headquarters at Maligaon. Rangapara North and Bhalukpong are feeder stations for Tawang.

India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train started in January 2026 between Howrah (Kolkata) and Kamakhya. The route stops include Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon and Rangiya. Reports say it cuts roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from the journey compared with the Saraighat Express. Journey times vary by train, so check the railway timetable.

Trains also run to Dimapur and other Northeast towns, but fewer than to Guwahati. If a night train arrives early in the morning, confirm that your hotel allows early check-in or arrange a pickup.

How do I reach Northeast India by road?

National highways connect Guwahati with the rest of the region:

NH 27 runs east to west and links Guwahati to West Bengal, Bihar and Silchar in the Barak Valley.
NH 17 ends at Jalukbari and connects to Dhubri and Cooch Behar.
NH 15 follows the Brahmaputra towards Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
NH 6 starts at Jorabat near Guwahati and runs through Shillong, Jowai, Badarpur and Kolasib to Aizawl and Zokhawthar on the Myanmar border.

Buses leave from the Betkuchi terminal and other stops. Taxis are the simplest way to reach hill destinations that have limited public transport. A Guwahati to Panchgram expressway was announced in February 2025, but the source used does not say it is complete, so do not plan around it.

Should I fly into Guwahati or another airport?

Fly into Guwahati if your trip covers more than one state, because onward flights, trains and road links are most frequent from here. Fly directly to a state capital if you only plan to visit that state. For example, Aizawl's Lengpui airport serves Mizoram, with Guwahati as its busiest route. Imphal's airport lists Guwahati as its busiest route too, and Dimapur is the only airport in Nagaland.

Direct flights to a smaller airport may be fewer and cost more, and schedules can change at short notice. Weather can also delay flights in the hills and the monsoon months. If you have an important connection, keep a margin of at least a day.

For permits, remember that the airport counter and the state portal are different channels. Imphal's airport has a counter for Manipur ILPs, and Itanagar's airport has an Arunachal permit centre. Mizoram's permits come through its online portal or liaison offices. Confirm that any counter is open on your arrival day, and apply online where you can.

How do I get to the hills from Guwahati?

Shillong: about 99 km on NH 6. Allow roughly 3 hours, which varies with traffic. See the Shillong 3 day itinerary for what to do there.
Kaziranga: about 217 km, per Assam Tourism, by road. Jorhat is the nearest airport, about 95 km from the park.
Tawang: about 480 km, with 14 to 16 hours of driving per the district administration. Most travellers split it over two days. A helicopter service runs from Guwahati on designated days.
Kohima: reach Dimapur first, then the road to Kohima.

The 7 to 10 day itinerary shows how these legs fit together, and the road conditions and monsoon guide explains what to expect on the way.

What should I know before I arrive?

Permits: apply for ILPs before travel when the state portal allows it.
Weather: the monsoon from June can disrupt flights, trains and roads. See the best time guide.
Connections: keep a spare day between a long road leg and a flight.
Manipur: check current advisories before travel. The Manipur chief minister said on 27 September 2026 that tourist arrivals have fallen sharply since the 2023 ethnic violence.

Plan your trip

For most visitors, the plan is simple: fly or take a train to Guwahati, spend a night, then start your road route. If you want a driver waiting at the airport and a car for onward travel, Palanquin can arrange a driver or car in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi NCR.

Questions answered

What is the main gateway to Northeast India?

Guwahati in Assam. Its Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is the busiest in the region, the city has two major railway stations, and national highways run from it to Shillong, Kaziranga, Jorhat, Tawang and beyond.

Which airport should I fly into for Meghalaya?

Most visitors fly to Guwahati and drive to Shillong, about 99 km by the NH 6 route. Shillong has a small airport with limited flights, so check current schedules before relying on it.

Are there direct trains to Guwahati from Delhi and Kolkata?

Yes, long distance trains serve Guwahati and Kamakhya from major cities. India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train began running between Howrah near Kolkata and Kamakhya in January 2026, and reports said it shortens the journey by roughly 2.5 to 3 hours compared with the Saraighat Express. Check Indian Railways for current timings.

How far is Guwahati airport from the city?

The airport is at Borjhar, roughly 20 to 28 km from the city centre depending on the source and the part of town. Cabs and ride-hailing apps serve both terminals.

Can I fly directly to Aizawl, Imphal, Agartala or Dimapur?

Yes, each has its own airport with scheduled flights from Guwahati and Kolkata, and some from Delhi. Routes and airlines change frequently, so check current schedules. Remember that Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur need an Inner Line Permit for Indian visitors.

Is there a helicopter to Tawang?

The Tawang district administration lists a passenger helicopter service from Guwahati to Tawang that takes about 55 to 60 minutes. It operates on designated days and depends on weather, so confirm schedules and booking contacts with the district administration.

Sources

Permits, fees, timings, road conditions and advisories change often. Confirm the current position with the official body named in the article before you travel.