Assam, the largest of the northeastern states, is a major tea-producing area, Guwahati, the state capital, on the banks of the Brahamputra river, has many ancient Hindu temples and is the gateway to this part of the country. Northeast of the city is the Kaziranga wildlife reserve, famous for its Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The sanctuary also has wild buffalo, deer, elephant, tiger, bear and a wide variety of water birds. Shillong, a pleasant hill station, is renowned for its climate and breathtaking views.

Cherrapunji, 58 Kms away, is the wettest place on earth with an average rainfall of over 1,000 cms. Other parts of this region include Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Miroram and Arunachal Pradesh. This region is the chief tribal area of India with a number of tribes who speak many different languages and dialects.