The short answer
Digboi Centenary Museum and War Cemetery: what visitors should know first
Worth it if you like industrial history and want a gentler day trip than the forest. Allow a full day with the drive, avoid Mondays when the museum is closed, and do not expect to enter the refinery.
History and context
The story behind Digboi Centenary Museum and War Cemetery
Wikipedia records that a small oil installation began at Digboi in 1889 and a refinery followed in 1901, which it describes as India's first. The Digboi Centenary Museum was set up by the Assam Oil Company, part of Indian Oil, as part of the centenary of the first production oil well in India and opened in early 2002.
The Digboi War Cemetery lies nearby. The town also has an 18-hole golf course that is part of the Digboi Club.
Useful facts
Digboi Centenary Museum and War Cemetery facts at a glance
- Location
- Digboi, Tinsukia district, about 80 km from Dibrugarh
- Experience type
- Industrial museum and war cemetery
- Known for
- India's first refinery (1901); preserved oil machinery
- Museum opened
- Early 2002, by Assam Oil Company
- Closed
- Mondays
- Visitor note
- Refinery needs special permission
Why it matters
Why Digboi Centenary Museum and War Cemetery is worth your time
Digboi is where India's oil story began. A small oil installation started in 1889, and a refinery followed in 1901, described by Wikipedia as India's first. The Assam Oil Company's museum marks the centenary of the first commercially viable well and keeps a record of the machinery and methods that shaped the industry.
The town is also tied to Second World War history, with a war cemetery nearby. For visitors to Dibrugarh, it is a different layer of Upper Assam's story from tea and temples, and a quieter option than the forest trips. It is not a grand museum, but it is specific, historical and unusual.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Oil machinery
The museum holds preserved machinery, much of it steam equipment.
- 02
Centenary history
The collection marks a century since India's first production oil well.
- 03
War cemetery
A quiet memorial nearby to those who died in the Second World War.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Leave early and expect about one and a half to two and a half hours each way, depending on traffic. Dibrugarh to Digboi is about 80 km by road, via NH315. Confirm opening hours with your hotel, and avoid Mondays.
The Digboi Centenary Museum sits behind the refinery. It was set up by the Assam Oil Company, now part of Indian Oil, to mark a century since the first producing oil well in India, and opened in early 2002. It holds preserved machinery, much of it steam equipment, and exhibits on the oil industry's history. Take time to read the displays.
The Digboi War Cemetery is nearby, a quiet memorial to those who died in the Second World War. Digboi also has an 18-hole golf course as part of the Digboi Club, but access arrangements are not confirmed. Combine the trip with lunch in town and head back before dark.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Avoid Mondays
- Leave early; the drive is long
- Check opening hours locally
- Do not expect refinery access
- Combine with lunch in town
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Digboi, Tinsukia district, about 80 km from Dibrugarh
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours plus the drive
- Best time
- November to March, not Mondays
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The museum is a short, level visit and the drive is long. Seating and facilities are limited, so check them locally.
- Tickets and access
- The museum is closed on Mondays. Hours and fees are not confirmed, so check locally. The refinery itself needs special permission and is not open to casual visitors.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Digboi Centenary Museum and War Cemetery
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The museum is a short, level visit and the drive is long. Seating and facilities are limited, so check them locally.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How far is Digboi from Dibrugarh?
About 80 km by road, usually 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic.
Can I visit the refinery?
Special permission is required. The museum is open to the public.
When is the museum closed?
On Mondays, according to the Tinsukia district tourism page.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.