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The Jia Bhoroli river flowing between green forest with Himalayan foothills behind, Nameri

Sonitpur district, Assam, India · City guide

Nameri travel guide

A forest-and-river reserve in the eastern Himalayan foothills: gentle rafting on the Jia Bhoroli, guarded walks and some of Assam's best birding.

WildlifeBirdwatchingAdventureNature

Updated

Photo: Debuapriyo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nameri is not a town. It is a national park and tiger reserve in Sonitpur district, in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, with a few forest-edge camps at Potasali and the Jia Bhoroli river running along its southern boundary. Wikipedia gives it about 200 square kilometres and a national park status dating to 1978; Assam Tourism lists 212. Its northern boundary meets Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, and the two together form more than a thousand square kilometres of connected forest.

What it offers is different from Kaziranga. There are no vehicle safaris. You see Nameri from a raft or rowed boat on the river, or on foot with a forest guard along a few set trails. Birds are the strongest draw, with more than 300 species recorded, including hornbills, ibisbill in winter and the critically endangered white-winged wood duck, Assam's state bird. Tigers and elephants live here, but sightings are rare, and visitors should come for the forest rather than a checklist.

Most people reach it from Tezpur, about 35 to 45 km south depending on the source, and the road ends in a bumpy forest track. A day trip works, but an overnight at a camp lets you be on the river at dawn. November to April is the season; the monsoon months from May to September are very wet.

It is a sensible trip for families and older travellers who can manage uneven ground and short walks, provided expectations are modest: the roads, the camps and the facilities are basic, and the nearest hospitals are in Tezpur. Beyond the park you can cross into Arunachal Pradesh at Bhalukpong for the Tippi orchid centre, the Kameng river and, with more time, Pakke.

Before you plan

Nameri at a glance

Best months
November to AprilNovember to April; February and March are cited as best for wildlife. May to September is very wet.
Ideal trip length
1 night or a long day trip from Tezpur1 night or a long day trip from Tezpur; 2 nights if you add Bhalukpong and Tippi
Airport
Tezpur AirportTezpur Airport (TEZ) is about 40 km away but is an Indian Air Force base and shows no scheduled traffic in 2025-26 statistics; Guwahati (GAU) is the practical gateway, about 5 hours by road
Railway station
Rangapara North JunctionRangapara North Junction (RPAN) in Sonitpur district is a main railhead; Bhalukpong (BHNG) lies across the border in Arunachal Pradesh
Getting around
A hired car with a driver who knows…A hired car with a driver who knows the unpaved forest road; inside the park you walk, boat or raft
Daily budget
Mostly car hireMostly car hire, a camp or lodge night and separately charged park, guard and activity fees; confirm current rates locally
Senior comfort
Moderate: a bumpy final roadModerate: a bumpy final road, uneven trails and basic camps, but rafting and short walks are manageable with help
Language
Assamese is the official language of…Assamese is the official language of the district; Bengali, Sadri, Boro and Nepali are also widely spoken, and Hindi and English work at camps

Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.

Best time to visit Nameri: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →

How to reach Nameri by air, train and road →

How many days do you have?

Nameri itinerary

One good day

1 day at Nameri

Leave Tezpur early so you reach the range office at Potasali soon after the gate opens; hours have been reported as roughly 6 am to 2 pm, so confirm them. Arrange permits and a guard, then raft or boat on the Jia Bhoroli for two to three hours with binoculars ready. After a simple lunch at the camp, take a short guarded walk on a set trail if energy allows. Leave by early afternoon so you are not on the forest track in poor light.

Day-by-day plan →

Two days

2 days at Nameri

Drive from Tezpur by late morning, check in at a camp near Potasali and rest through the heat. In the afternoon, take a short guarded walk near the camp or ask about the pygmy hog centre if visits are allowed. Sit by the river at dusk and listen for hornbills and night sounds.

Day-by-day plan →

Three unhurried days

3 days at Nameri

Reach Potasali by late morning, rest, then take a short guarded walk in the afternoon. Keep the evening quiet by the river.

BhalukpongTippi Orchid Research Centre
Day-by-day plan →

See the day-by-day Nameri itinerary →

The places that explain Nameri.

Places to visit in Nameri

Places to visit · 6 guides

Places to visitNo. 04Ajay.talukdar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Sonitpur district, Assam, about 35 to 45 km north of Tezpur, beside the Arunachal border

Nameri National Park

A forest reserve in the eastern Himalayan foothills of Sonitpur district, built around the Jia Bhoroli river. It is known for river rafting, guided forest walks and one of the better chances of seeing the white-winged wood duck.

  • Half a day minimum
  • November to April
  • Tiger reserve forest

Pair with Jia Bhoroli river rafting

Read full guide Map

What and where to eat in Nameri.

Food to try in Nameri

Food and restaurants

Food at Nameri is basic and tied to where you stay: camps and lodges serve set meals of rice, dal, vegetables, eggs and chicken or fish, usually cooked simply. Confirm meals when you book, and ask about vegetarian options and early breakfasts before rafting. There are few places to eat inside the park.

For Assamese dishes, Tezpur is better. Try a thali with fish tenga, a light sour fish curry, and pitika, mashed vegetables or fish with mustard oil. Carry water and snacks for the road, because choices on the forest track are limited.

Markets, makers and what to take home.

Shopping in Nameri

Shopping

There is no shopping at Nameri beyond a few village stalls near the camps. Buy what you need in Tezpur before you go, including water, insect repellent, sun cream and medicines. Villages around the park sell small local goods occasionally, and buying from them supports the community.

For Assamese silk, cane and bamboo crafts and tea, shop in Tezpur or Guwahati. At Bhalukpong, if you cross into Arunachal Pradesh, small stalls sell local items, but do not count on much.

One District One Product

Jackfruit

Sonitpur's One District One Product (ODOP) listing is jackfruit. Look for it in season at markets in Tezpur and on the road in; ask locally when it is ripe, as the harvest is seasonal.

Hotels that shape the trip, not just the night.

Where to stay in Nameri

Hotels and stays

The areas to compare: Potasali (park edge), Tezpur, Balipara and Chariduar approach, Bhalukpong (Arunachal Pradesh).

Where to stay in NameriCompare hotels in Nameri

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.

Match days, clubs and grounds worth planning around.

Sports in Nameri

Sports · 2 guides

Choose without overthinking

Which Nameri experience is right for your trip?

Most plans get crowded because nobody is willing to choose. These comparisons make the trade-offs clear.

Rafting or a forest walk, if you only have time for one?

Choose rafting if you want an easy, seated way to see birds and the river, and it suits most older travellers. Choose a guarded walk if you prefer to look closely at forest and tracks and can manage uneven ground. Both need permits arranged locally.

Nameri or Kaziranga?

Pick Kaziranga for rhinos, grassland and jeep safaris. Pick Nameri for river, hill forest and birds, with no vehicle safaris and a quieter pace. They are different trips, and Nameri is easier to pair with Tezpur.

Stay at the eco camp or in Tezpur?

The camp puts you at the river at dawn, which is when birds are active, but it is basic and far from hospitals. Tezpur offers more comfort and a day trip adds a long drive. Older travellers often prefer Tezpur with an early start.

Add Tippi and Pakke, or keep it to Nameri?

Tippi is a short, level orchid-centre stop and adds a state-border crossing. Pakke is a deeper wildlife trip that needs more time and planning. If you only have a day or two, Nameri alone is enough.

Map

Open in Google Maps →

Know before you go

Nameri travel tips

  1. 01

    Season

    November to April is the visiting season, and February and March are cited as best for wildlife. The monsoon from May to September brings heavy rain, high water and leeches, so avoid it.

  2. 02

    Getting there

    Hire a car and driver who knows the route. The road passes Chariduar and ends in an unpaved forest track that is bumpy and easy to misjudge.

  3. 03

    Permits and gate hours

    Entry, guard and activity charges are separate. Gate hours have been reported as roughly 6 am to 2 pm, so confirm them and arrange permits through the range office or your camp.

  4. 04

    Clothing

    Wear muted colours and avoid bright red. Closed shoes, long trousers and socks help against leeches, and winter mornings can be cool.

  5. 05

    Wildlife and safety

    Wild elephants use the area, and human-elephant conflict is serious. Follow guards' instructions, stay on trails and expect firecrackers from villages at night.

  6. 06

    Money and supplies

    Carry cash, water, snacks and medicines from Tezpur; there is little to buy near the park, and card use is unreliable.

  7. 07

    Photography

    Camera and video fees were charged separately in older guides, so ask at the range office. Binoculars are more useful than a long lens for birds.

  8. 08

    Crossing into Arunachal

    Bhalukpong, Tippi and Pakke are in Arunachal Pradesh, so check current entry permit rules for your nationality and status before you plan.

Nameri with elderly parents: what to know

  • Choose your stay by comfort: a Tezpur hotel and a long day visit often suit older travellers better than a basic tent.
  • The final road is unpaved and bumpy, so travel with a driver who knows it and expect a slow last stretch.
Nameri with parents: full guideAdd concierge support

Day trips from Nameri

TezpurAbout 35 to 45 km south, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by roadThe usual base for Nameri, with better hotels, food and hospitals, plus temples and ruins of its own. See the separate Tezpur guide.
Bhalukpong and Tippi (Arunachal Pradesh)Bhalukpong is about 52 km from Tezpur; Tipi is about 5 km beyondA river town and an orchid research centre across the state border. Check Arunachal entry permit rules for your status before planning.
Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh)Adjoins Nameri's northern boundary; access is from the Arunachal sideA large tiger reserve known for hornbills. Treat it as a separate overnight trip arranged with a local operator or the forest department.
Kaziranga National ParkAcross the Brahmaputra; plan as a separate trip, not a day outFamous for rhinos and jeep safaris, and a different experience from Nameri's river-and-walk format. See the Kaziranga guide.

Useful answers

Nameri FAQs

Is Nameri a town or a park?

A national park and tiger reserve in Sonitpur district, Assam. Potasali is the small settlement where the range office and camps sit.

How far is Nameri from Tezpur?

About 35 to 45 km depending on the source. Allow roughly an hour to ninety minutes, because the last stretch is an unpaved forest track.

When is the best time to visit?

November to April, with February and March cited as best for wildlife. May to September is very wet.

Can you see tigers at Nameri?

Tigers live here, but sightings are rare. Visitors come for birds, the river and quiet forest walks, and should treat any big mammal as a bonus.

Is there a jeep safari?

No. Assam Tourism and Outlook Traveller note that visitors explore on foot with guards, or by boat and raft.

Is it suitable for elderly parents?

With care. Rafting and short walks suit many older travellers, but roads are bumpy, camps are basic and hospitals are far. A Tezpur base can help.

Related guides

Sources and further reading

Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.

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