Major city · India
Guwahatiগুৱাহাটী
Give Guwahati 2 nights as the gateway to Assam: Kamakhya Temple and a Brahmaputra ferry crossing, then move on to Kaziranga or Shillong.
Guwahati is the largest city in India's northeast and the region's air and rail hub, on the south bank of the Brahmaputra. Its main draw is the Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill, plus river ferries, silk shopping and Assamese food. Most travellers use it as a 1–2 night gateway before heading to Kaziranga, Shillong or Arunachal Pradesh. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings heavy rain and flooding; Oct–Mar is the comfortable window.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon rain and flooding)
- Airport
- GAU
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Guwahati112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guwahati, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for tourists, with the usual India cautions: fix auto fares first, watch your bag in crowded markets and at Kamakhya…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 1363 Tourist helpline (India, 24 h) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportGAU Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Borjhar) (About 20 km (12 mi) west of the centre; 40–60 min by taxi in traffic.GAU Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Borjhar) (About 12 mi (20 km) west of the centre; 40–60 min by taxi in traffic.
- Getting aroundAutos and app cabs (Ola, Uber) are the main ways to move; autos have no meter, so agree the fare first.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹600 (≈ US$7)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹3,500 (≈ US$40)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹8,000 (≈ US$95)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹2,000 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,500 (≈ US$55) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GAU Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Borjhar) (About 20 km (12 mi) west of the centre; 40–60 min by taxi in traffic. Prepaid taxi counter in arrivals.)GAU Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Borjhar) (About 12 mi (20 km) west of the centre; 40–60 min by taxi in traffic. Prepaid taxi counter in arrivals.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Mar
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C) low), wettest Jul (20 rain days), driest Dec (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Guwahati: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Feb
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
20 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
19 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
7 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Dec
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Autos and app cabs (Ola, Uber) are the main ways to move; autos have no meter, so agree the fare first. City buses are cheapest. Shared ferries cross the Brahmaputra from Fancy Bazar jetty. Distances are long and traffic is slow — allow 30–60 min between sights.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sualkuchi silk-weaving town
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h each way
Taxi or bus north across the Saraighat bridge, about 30 km (19 mi)Taxi or bus north across the Saraighat bridge, about 19 mi (30 km)
Weaving workshops and silk shops; pair with a North Guwahati temple stop.
Deepor Beel
goDoor to door: About 45 min each way
Taxi southwest of the city, about 15 km (9.3 mi)Taxi southwest of the city, about 9.3 mi (15 km)
Ramsar wetland; best for birds in winter (Nov–Feb).
Shillong
overnightDoor to door: About 3–3.5 h
Shared taxi or bus via NH-6, about 100 km (62 mi)Shared taxi or bus via NH-6, about 62 mi (100 km)
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one or two nights.
Kaziranga National Park
overnightDoor to door: About 5 h
Bus or taxi east via NH-715, about 200 km (124 mi)Bus or taxi east via NH-715, about 124 mi (200 km)
Plan 2 nights for safaris; book park jeep and permits ahead.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Paltan Bazaar / GS Road
Central, walkable to the railway station and buses; the practical base for 1–2 nights.
Zoo Road / Ganeshguri
Quieter, restaurant-heavy, mid-range hotels; 10–15 min by auto from Paltan Bazaar.
Near Kamakhya (Nilachal Hill)
For an early temple visit; fewer services and steeper streets.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
- High
- ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × ₹3,500 | ₹7,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₹4,500 | ₹18,000 |
| Airport taxi, one way1 × ₹800 · check | ₹800 |
| Auto across the centre, one trip1 × ₹150 · check | ₹150 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹700 | ₹1,400 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹2,740 |
| Trip total≈ ₹7,520 per person per day, bed included | ₹30,090≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Assamese thali | ₹150–400 (≈ US$2–5) |
| Masala chai | ₹10–30 (≈ under US$1) |
| Bottled water (1 L) | ₹20–40 (≈ under US$1) |
| Auto across the centreNegotiate before boarding; no meter. | ₹100–250 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Brahmaputra ferry crossing | ₹10 (≈ under US$1) one way (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Autos refuse the meter: fix the price before you get in.
- Monsoon flooding and waterlogging Jun–Sep can close roads.
- Kamakhya Temple gets very crowded during Ambubachi Mela (around late June): expect queues and closures.
- Drink bottled or filtered water; street food hygiene varies.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Tourist helpline (India, 24 h)
- 1363
Pocket card
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Guwahatiগুৱাহাটী
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
এই ঠাইত ৰাখকTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Tourist helpline (24 h)1363
Embassy
No embassies in Guwahati; most countries have embassies or consulates in New Delhi or Kolkata. Check your own country's mission for the northeast.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → city centre, taxi: ₹700–1,000 (≈ US$8–12), 40–60 min (check)
- Auto, Paltan Bazaar → Kamakhya: ₹200–350 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
- Shared ferry, Fancy Bazar jetty: about ₹10 (≈ under US$1) one way (check)
Say or show
- নমস্কাৰ — Hello / Namaste (nomoskar)
- ধন্যবাদ — Thank you (dhonnobad)
- কিমান দাম? — How much is it? (kiman dam)
- এইটো দিয়ক — This one, please (eitu diok)
- শৌচালয় ক'ত? — Where is the toilet? (sousaloy kot)
- ইয়াতে ৰাখক — Please stop here (iyate rakhok)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guwahati. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon rain and flooding) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for GAU: prepaid taxi fares, app-cab pickup point, late-arrival fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Paltan Bazaar, Fancy Bazar and the ferry jetty, Dighalipukhuri, Nilachal Hill.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kamakhya Temple, Assam State Museum, Umananda, Deepor Beel) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and festival fixtures (Ambubachi Mela, Holi at Doul Govinda) so gates A–D can go green.