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Voykit pocket guide · India
Silchar
শিলচর
Spend 1–2 days in Silchar to see the market district, Bhasha Shahid memorial and nearby Barak Valley sights; onward travel can continue from here.
Silchar is the largest town in Assam's Barak Valley, a rail hub and short‑haul airport. Its attractions cluster around the riverfront and markets, so a half‑day walk covers the highlights. Longer stays are only needed if you plan further travel beyond the valley.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- শিলচর
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (monsoon flooding)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,800–2,800 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / General emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (street stall) | ₹30–₹60 |
| Meal at The Godfather (veg) | ₹120–₹200 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (per km) | ₹30–₹50 |
| Train ticket Silchar‑Guwahati (second class) | ₹150–₹250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXS · Silchar Airport
- Flights to Kolkata, Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal
Typical fares
- Silchar Airport → city centre (taxi)
- about ₹350, 10 min (check)
- Silchar → Guwahati (train, second class)
- ₹150–₹250, ≈3 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws dominate the town; hire one for short trips (≈₹30–₹50 per km). Buses connect to Guwahati, Shillong and Agartala; train station is 2 km (1.2 mi) from centre.Auto‑rickshaws dominate the town; hire one for short trips (≈₹30–₹50 per km). Buses connect to Guwahati, Shillong and Agartala; train station is 1.2 mi (2 km) from centre.
See and do
Known for
- Barak Valley centre
- Bhasha Shahid memorial
- Silchar Airport
- Ellora Market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Guwahati | Train from Silchar station, about 3 h | ≈3 h |
| Shillong | Bus from ISBT Silchar, about 9 h | ≈9 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Cachar Club
- ₹3,900 (2026 estimate)
- Hotel Borail View
- Central location
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | দুঃখিতdukhito |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is this? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the bus stop? | বস স্টপ কোথায়?bos stop kothay? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon floods can disrupt road travel in Apr–Jun; check local reports.
- Last auto‑rickshaw rides may end after 9 pm; arrange a taxi if you stay late.
Silchar is generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on traffic and seasonal floods.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Silchar yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Barak Valley centre
- Bhasha Shahid memorial
- Silchar Airport
- Ellora Market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Silchar: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Silchar, revision 5298752 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5298752
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Silcharশিলচর
এই ঠিকানায় যান
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / General emergencies112
US consulate in Kolkata (check address); other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/silchar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.