Key hubs
Itanagar airport and railway station
- Airport
- Donyi Polo Airport (HGI) at Hollongi, about 14 km south of the city centre, opened in November 2022; Lilabari (IXI) in Assam is an alternative
- Railway station
- Naharlagun (NHLN), about 15 km from Itanagar, with trains from Guwahati; Harmuti in Assam is another railhead
- Getting around
- Taxis and a hired car are the practical choices; sights are spread over hilly roads. Buses link the city to Assam and other Arunachal towns.
How to reach Itanagar by air
Donyi Polo Airport (HGI) at Hollongi is about 14 km south of the city centre and opened in November 2022, with services to cities such as Guwahati, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Lilabari Airport (IXI) in North Lakhimpur, Assam, is an alternative, roughly 60 to 70 km away.
How to reach Itanagar by train
Naharlagun (NHLN) is the nearest railway station, about 15 km from Itanagar, with trains from Guwahati including the Donyi Polo Express and a Shatabdi service. Harmuti in Assam is another railhead, about 34 km away. Check current train schedules before you travel.
How to reach Itanagar by road
National Highway 415 links Itanagar with Assam. Overnight buses and shared taxis run from Guwahati, taking around twelve hours by bus. A checkpost at the Assam border checks the Inner Line Permit, so keep your eILP and ID ready.
Getting around Itanagar
Hire a taxi or car with driver for the whole stay; sights are spread across hilly roads. Auto-rickshaws and local taxis work in town for short trips. Agree fares before setting off and arrange a return for out-of-town places such as Ganga Lake.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Itanagar
- Hire a car and driver for the whole stay; the city is hilly and sights are spread out.
- Avoid the monsoon from May to September if possible; slippery paths and landslides affect roads.
- At the Gompa and Ita Fort, ask the driver to wait; both involve steps or uneven ground.
- Carry your eILP, ID and any medicines in hand luggage, and know where the nearest hospital is.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.