Top Places near rivers & lakes in East India

Known For : Double Decker Living Root Bridge Dawki Nohkalikai Waterfalls

Among the wettest place on the Earth, Cherrapunjee with its clean and pristine surroundings is an excellent place to sit back and unwind.

Best Time: October to February

21 Cherrapunji Attractions

Known For : Kamalabari Satra Dakhinpat Satra Garmur

Majuli is a lush green environment-friendly, pristine and pollution free fresh water island in the river Brahmaputra, just 20 km from the Jorhat city.

Best Time: October - April

5 Majuli Attractions

Known For : Mawlyngbna Mawjymbuin Cave Nohalikalai Falls

Acknowledged as one of the wettest place in the world, the mesmerizing village of Mawsynram is a nature lover's delight and the perfect destination to behold the beauty of the rains. Mawsynram trounces Cherrapunjee by a slight margin in being the wettest place in India.

Best Time: June - August; November - February

7 Mawsynram Attractions

Known For : Parasnath Hills Kangsabati dam Ambikanagar

A popular weekend getaway for Kolkata locals, Mukutmanipur in the Bankura district of Kolkata is a serene town with lush green forests, clear blue water and green hills in the backdrop.

Best Time: October to March

4 Mukutmanipur Attractions

Known For : Thrills Fun Park Umiam Lake Lum Nehru Park

Nongpoh, Meghalaya is a petite town to be found to the North of the East Khasi Hills. Situated very close to the gorgeous Brahmaputra plains, this location is quite a favourite as a stopover before reaching Shillong.

Best Time: Throughout the year

6 Nongpoh Attractions

Known For : Shilloi Lake Khezhakeno Village Glory Peak

Phek is a hilly area rich in flora and fauna. Apart from the spell bounding hills, Shilloi lake is an important attraction.

Best Time: October to May

5 Phek Attractions

Known For : Umiam Lake Elephant Falls Laitlum Canyons

A beautiful city encircled by pine trees, Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya. It derives its name from Lei Shyllong, an idol worshipped at the Shillong Peak. Standing as tall as 1496 meters, Shillong provides a relief from the heat across the country. This hill station is known for its picturesque sights and traditions. The soothing climate makes Shillong suitable to visit in all seasons. The light drizzles and the cooling gentle wind adds to the joy of visiting this hill station. This place is also known as the ‘Scotland of the East’. One can find descendants of the Khyrim, Mylliem, Maharam, Mallaisohmat, Bhowal and Langrim tribes.

Best Time: September to May

33 Shillong Attractions

Known For : Barak Waterfall Zeilad Lake Buning meadows

This hilly region is an ideal setting for tourists interested in outdoor holidays. The beauty of this town is unparalleled with the unusual varieties of flora and fauna.

Best Time: October to Apr

6 Tamenglong Attractions

Known For : Ikop Khongjom Loktak Lake

A well developed city, Thoubal is a good holiday destination for those looking for a pleasant climate and numerous activities.

Best Time: October to May

5 Thoubal Attractions

Known For : Simsang River Naka Chikong Domre Falls

Williamnagar was formed around the former town of Simsanggre, which is based on the large plains of the Simsang River. A very remote area usually known for its abundance of natural beauty i.e. being flanked by the mountains and having a rich composition of both water and vegetation.

Best Time: October to February

6 Williamnagar Attractions

Known For : Mechuka Mithun and Jersey Cross Breeding Farm Hanging Bridge

Covered with many pretty plantations and famous for its Mechuka Valley, Along is a beautiful town that glows with natural beauty.

Best Time: Throughout the year

7 Along Attractions

Known For : Majuli Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar

Famous for its culture, mosques, tombs, gardens and most importantly - its tea plantations, Jorhat is also known as the tea capital of India.

Best Time: October to March

21 Jorhat Attractions

Known For : Mirik Lake Pashupati Nagar Orange Orchards

Located on the banks of a huge lake, the hill town of Mirik adds to North Bengal's bounty. Amidst the Himalayan Valley, Mirik has more to offer than just beautiful mountains and lakes.

Best Time: March to July

9 Mirik Attractions

Known For : Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti, Varanasi

A city as old as time itself. A city that has stayed in place and watched as the world has turned and the tides have changed. A city that has stood the test of time for thousands of years. In the words of Mark Twain, "Older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, And looks twice as old as all of them put together." Varanasi, the city that is more than just the spiritual capital of India. The city which can be aptly described as a melting pot where both life and death come together. The city that you only need to visit once for it to stay with you forever.

Best Time: October to March

42 Varanasi Attractions

Known For : Tryshi Falls Nartiang Monoliths Krang Suri Falls

Located in the Jaintia Hills district, Jowai is famous for its scenic setting and breathtaking views with the perfect mix of heritage and culture.

Best Time: October to Mid May

12 Jowai Attractions

Known For : Vantawng Falls Chhingpuii Thlan Thenzawl

Most famous for being the district with the highest literacy rate in India, Serchhip in Mizoram is a place that can provide you a unique and vibrant experience.

Best Time: Throughout the year

4 Serchhip Attractions

Known For : Victoria Memorial Fort William Kolkata Belur Math

Kolkata, India's second biggest city, is a perpetually ongoing festival of human existence, concurrently luxurious and squalid, refined and frantic, pointedly futuristic, while beautifully in decay. A vibrant 350-year-old metropolis located on India's Eastern Coast, the capital of West Bengal thrives on contradictions and imposing spectacles; nothing is commonplace in this city. Famously known as the City of Joy, Kolkata is, in every sense, the artistic, cultural and intellectual capital of the country. Kolkata's streets are vivid, hectic, chaotic, and yet, brimming with life and creativity. Driven by the indomitable spirit of the self-made middle class, the city has created a beautiful juxtaposition of the old colonial-era charm with the nascent upcoming hipster culture that thrives amongst the city's millennial residents.

Best Time: October to March

79 Kolkata Attractions

Known For : Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary Pangin Kekar Monying

Home to river Brahmaputra which transcends down from Tibet, this place is a photographer's delight for comprising abundant sceneries of nature.

Best Time: October to May

5 Pasighat Attractions

Known For : Marichjhanpi Ghoramara Island New Moore Island

Known for hosting the biggest mangrove forests in the world, Sundarbans National Park is located in West Bengal, India. It is also a Tiger Reserve and a Biosphere reserve that provides a complete nature's circle to the tourist right from 'Royal Bengal tigers' to roaring rivers and beautiful estuaries. Sundarbans National Park is a part of Sundarban delta that is covered with Mangrove Forest and the largest population of the Bengal Tigers. It is a UNESCO world heritage site with a large variety of birds and reptiles including salt-water crocodile.

Best Time: September to March

3 Sundarbans Attractions

Known For : The F fort Diamond Harbour Lighthouse at Diamond Harbour

Located only 50 kms away from Kolkata and yet a world apart, Raichak, is a riverside town and is nothing short of a breathe of fresh air in its ultra urban and commercialized surrounding.

Best Time: October to March

8 Raichak Attractions

Known For : Durtlang Hills Reiek Vantawng Falls

Neatly tucked in the beautiful North East, Aizawl is home to the Mizoram State Museum, along with being the cultural and religious capital of the Mizos.

Best Time: Throughout the year

15 Aizawl Attractions

Known For : Hirakud Dam Shopping in Sambalpur Samaleswari Temple

Sambalpur is the gateway to the western zone of Orissa. It abounds in prolific rivers, lavish hills, lush green forests and affluent wildlife. It is a beautiful amalgamation of modernity and culture. Holding a significant historical importance, the place also has a flourishing textile and handloom industry popular for its unique patterns and style. In addition to that, Sambalpur has a flourishing tribal life with exclusive exquisite folk songs-dances and culture. Sambalpur got its name from Devi Samaleswari who is the main goddess of the region. One can also visit wildlife parks here to enjoy the beauty of nature that Sambalpur has in plenty. The area is known for the world famous Hirakud Dam which is the main attraction for the tourists here.

Best Time: September to March

5 Sambalpur Attractions

Known For : Shopping in Sualkuchi Hatisatra Sidheswar Devalaya

Sualkuchi is a small sleepy village that displays the culture and traditions of Assam in its best form. The weaving village is however, best known for its skills and craftsmanship for producing one of the best kinds of silk in the state and thus earning its self a nickname of 'Manchester of East'.

Best Time: November to March

8 Sualkuchi Attractions

Known For : Lingaraj Temple Nandankanan Zoological Park Rajarani Temple

Bhubaneswar, the temple city of India, once known for its architecture and grand temples, is presently a thriving centre for commerce and business.

Best Time: October to March

37 Bhubaneswar Attractions

Located in Baleswar district of Odisha and at a distance of 10 Km from Digha, the Talasari beach is pristine, serene and has been bestowed with spectacular panorama.

Best Time: October to December, February

1 Talasari Beach Attractions

Known For : Loktak Lake and Sendra Island Kangla Fort Tharon Cave

Imphal has a untouched charm surrounding its natural beauty, sceneries and landscapes as well as a significant history leaving hints of the past around the city.

Best Time: October to Apr

17 Imphal Attractions

Known For : ISKCON Chandrodaya Temple Yoga Peeth Sri Chaitanya Math

Standing at the junction of river Ganga and Jalangi, Mayapur is a laidback city with lovely views and plenty of temples, making it ideal for multitudes of team.

Best Time: July to March

5 Mayapur Attractions

Dibru Saikhowa National Park is one of those places which boast of a rich collection of flora and fauna, many of them endangered. It is one of the few remaining protected sites in the Endemic Bird Area of the Assamese Plains.

Best Time: November to April

Known For : Vindhyavasini devi temple Kali Khoh temple Sita kund

Vindhyachal is a famous Hindu pilgrimage spot closer to Mirzapur and Varanasi and has several temples in the vicinity with their own interesting stories. This town is situated on the banks of holy river Ganga and people come here to take a dip into it to pray to Goddess Ganga.

Best Time: October to March

6 Vindhyachal Attractions

Known For : Umananda Temple Kamakhya Temple Guwahati Zoo

A sprawling city located beside the mighty Brahmaputra, Guwahati is the epitome of an amalgamation of ancient history and modernization. The largest city in all of Assam, Guwahati stands as the gateway to the Seven Sisters of North East India. A city shaped by time itself, Guwahati is home to age-old temples that take you centuries back to the pages of ancient history, but it also boasts of a cutthroat lifestyle and an electric nightlife, keeping up with the modern era of urbanisation and commercialization. The gushing Brahmaputra river carries with it untold tales from thousands of years past, and the peaceful ambience lingering in the city despite its modern lifestyle is one of the main reasons you should visit Guwahati if only to get a slice-of-life experience of the vivacious juxtaposition of the old and the new.

Best Time: October to April

34 Guwahati Attractions