Jorhat
Introduction
Jorhat is a city in Assam, in northeastern India, and serves as the administrative headquarters of the Jorhat District. It sits on the banks of the Bhogdoi River, roughly 300 km east of the state capital, Dispur, and is one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the state.
Among the city's claims to note is the Jorhat Gymkhana Club, home to Asia's oldest golf course.
Getting there
Jorhat is connected by air, rail, road and ferry. Jorhat Airport (JRH), also known as Rowriah Airport, receives IndiGo flights from Guwahati and Kolkata. By rail, Jorhat Town station sits on the Mariani–Furkating loop and is not served by major trains, so don't count on long-distance rail to get you here.
By road, the NH37 (formerly NH53) runs through the heart of the city and links it to the airports of Dibrugarh (roughly a three-hour drive) and Guwahati (roughly six hours); the same highway is your gateway to Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. To reach the river island of Majuli, take the ferry from Nimati Ferry Ghat to either Kamalabari Ferry Terminal or Aphalamukh Ferry Terminal — the most popular route to the island. The crossing takes about an hour, ferries run at intervals of half an hour to an hour, and the first departs in the morning with the last at 4 pm, though schedules can change without notice.
Getting around
Within Jorhat itself, you won't find a metro, tram or suburban rail network — short trips are made by road. Auto-rickshaws are the most common way to cover short and medium hops, local cabs are useful when you want more comfort or are carrying luggage, and rickshaws are handy for very short trips in the central areas. You can flag a vehicle on the street or ask your hotel to arrange one; there's no city-wide transit pass, so you pay per trip. Walking works best for short errands near where you're staying, such as around the central market and court complex area, but heat and monsoon rain can make even a modest walk uncomfortable.
- Out of town by bus: the Inter State Bus Terminus at Kotoki Pukhuri, Tarajan, with ASTC and private operators running to other towns and cities in Assam and selected Northeast destinations. Buy tickets at the operator counter or ask your hotel to help arrange a service.
- By train: Jorhat Town station sits on the Furkating–Jorhat–Mariani branch line and isn't connected by major trains; for long-distance connections, use Mariani Junction outside the city and continue in by road.
- By air: Rowriah Airport is a short road transfer from the centre, with IndiGo flights to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati; taxis, including pre-paid and post-paid services arranged through hotels, are the practical way to make the trip.
- To Majuli: daily ferries connect Nimati Ghat with Kamalabari and Aphalamukh, crossing in roughly an hour at intervals of about half an hour to an hour. Schedules can change without notice, so confirm before you travel, and most arrangements can be made directly from city hotels.
- Rented taxis: pre-paid and post-paid services can be arranged from most hotels and lodges — often the simplest option for airport transfers, day trips or reaching Mariani Junction.
Where to stay
Jorhat's budget options cluster around Solicitor's Road and the ASTC bus stand area. Heritage Hotel, Hotel Paradise and Rishi Raj Hotel all sit on or near Solicitor's Road, and Hotel Paradise is tucked down a small signposted lane off the main street, with comfortable rooms and a restaurant that serves excellent food. Hotel Jora Palace on Raja Maidan Road offers spacious rooms and good food, while Prashaanti Tourist Lodge on M. G. Road is run by the Department of Tourism and Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited. For a homestay feel, Nandanguest House in Janapath Chandan Nagar is a clean budget stay with home-cooked food.
Mid-range choices include Hotel New Park on Solicitor's Road, with spacious rooms and nice food, and Hotel MD's Continental in Marwari Patty, a luxury hotel in the prime business location of Jorhat. At the top end, Kaziranga Golf Resort sits in a scenic tea estate at Sangsua Tea Estate, Gatonga, and The Manor on A. T. Road in Tarajan is a boutique hotel with nice ambience and quality food. Thengal Manor at Jalukanibari, on the road towards Titabor, is a heritage house built in 1929 by Rai Bahadur Siva Prasad Barooah.
Food & drink
Assamese cooking is the main draw in Jorhat, and several places make it their specialty. For an authentic Assamese meal, try Chouka, or head to Hotel Janata Paradise on Solicitor's Road, where traditional food is served as an Assamese thali. Nimantran Restaurant in Gar Ali is known for its Assamese thalis, and Hotel GK Palace near the railway station runs a vegetarian restaurant. If you want to explore beyond Assamese food, Naga Kitchen serves Naga and other north-east cuisine and is known for its pork dishes, while Beijing Banquet on Thana Road offers Chinese food and Domino's Pizza on KB Road covers pizza cravings. You'll also find Jironi Restaurant on Bypass Road, Daucus, and Saffron@The Manor in Tarajan on A.T. Road, and hotel restaurants such as Fusion Asiana, which serves dishes with some ethnic flavours.
Save room for something sweet: at Suresh Bhandar in Dohabara Chowk, the sweets and the special dahi (curd) are well worth tasting.
What to see and do
Jorhat is a useful base for wildlife and for a handful of sights in and around town. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, an isolated patch of evergreen forest near Mariani, is known for its Hoolock gibbons. In town, the Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium near Rajmao Pukhuri explains the solar system and recent discoveries in astrophysics. At Negheriting Shiva Doul, the original temple goes back to the 8th–9th century CE, while the present structure was built in the 18th century under Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, with Ghanashyam Khonikar as chief architect; the complex follows the Panchayatana plan, with the main Shiva temple at the centre and minor temples to Vishnu, Ganesha, Surya and Durga at the corners. For sport, the multi-purpose Jorhat Stadium hosts football and cricket.
The biggest draw nearby is Kaziranga National Park, roughly 96 km away and about two hours by road, open from November to April. Its elephant grass, cane, forest and swamps shelter one-horned rhino, wild buffalo, sambar deer and wild pig, along with a wide range of birds; tigers are present in high density, but the lush jungle means a sighting is never guaranteed. Safaris can be arranged locally, by jeep or on elephant, though jeeps cover more of the park.
Three days in Jorhat
Day one: Settle into Jorhat Town and get your bearings on foot, starting around Kotoki Pukhuri and the Tarajan area. If you arrive by air, Jorhat Airport (JRH), also known as Rowriah Airport, is served by IndiGo on routes from Guwahati and Kolkata; long-distance buses use the Inter State Bus Terminus. Spend the afternoon wandering the town's streets and the Bhogdoi River waterfront, and consider an evening at the Jorhat Gymkhana Club, one of Asia's storied colonial-era clubs.
- Arrive via Jorhat Airport (JRH) or the Inter State Bus Terminus
- Walk Kotoki Pukhuri and Tarajan
- Evening at the Jorhat Gymkhana Club
Day two: Head out of town toward the river crossings for Majuli. Nimati Ferry Ghat is the main departure point, with Kamalabari Ferry Terminal and Aphalamukh Ferry Terminal serving the island. Allow a full day for the crossing and the island, and return to Jorhat by evening. Within Jorhat, autos are the easiest way to reach the ghats.
- Ferry from Nimati Ferry Ghat to Majuli
- Kamalabari and Aphalamukh ferry terminals
- Autos for local transfers
Day three: Use your last day to explore the wider Jorhat District. Mariani and Furkating are the district's other notable towns, and the rail links here connect onward toward Dibrugarh and Guwahati. If you are continuing your trip, Jorhat sits within reach of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, and Dispur and the wider Northeast are accessible by road and rail. Return to Jorhat Town for a final evening.
- Mariani and Furkating in Jorhat District
- Rail connections toward Dibrugarh and Guwahati
- Onward routes to Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya