Self-drive route guide · 350 km from Guwahati
Guwahati to Kohima by self-drive car or bike
Kohima, Nagaland's capital, is about 350 km from Guwahati, and every December it hosts the Hornbill Festival at Kisama Heritage Village. Driving yourself lets you go at your own pace and explore beyond the festival grounds.
- Distance
- 350 km
- Drive time
- 8–10 hours
- Route
- Guwahati → Dimapur → Kohima (NH27, then NH29)
The route and where to stop
Here's the route via Dimapur, how to plan around the Inner Line Permit (we help you apply) and the festival crowds, and which of our rentals suits it.
Guwahati (Maligaon)
Pick up your rental at our Maligaon location, about 2 km from Kamakhya station.
Dimapur
Nagaland's main commercial town, with an airport and railway station. A good place to break the drive or stay the night.
Kohima350 km
Nagaland's capital, up in the hills. Book stays early in December; rooms near the festival sell out weeks ahead.
Kisama Heritage Village
The Hornbill Festival venue, about 12 km from Kohima. Parking is limited, so expect to use a shuttle or taxi for the last stretch.
What the road is like
The drive follows NH27 east through Assam to Dimapur, then NH29 up into the hills to Kohima. It's a long day, so most people break it at Dimapur or plan two days on the road each way.
It's roughly 700 km for the round trip, so plan your days around our fair-use limit of 300 km a day. Festival-time traffic around Kohima and Kisama is heavy: allow extra time.
Which rental for Guwahati to Kohima?
By self-drive car
The comfortable choice for the long drive and cold December nights.
- Suzuki Ertiga (7-Seater)₹2,800/day
- Room for warm layers and luggage for a multi-day stay.
- Use shuttles or taxis for the last stretch to Kisama during the festival.
By bike
A two-day ride via Dimapur, for experienced riders.
- Yamaha FZ₹1,000/day
- Honda SP 125₹1,000/day
- Bajaj Pulsar N160₹1,200/day
- Split the ride with a night in Dimapur.
- December is cold in the hills: pack proper winter riding gear.
Real photos
Our vehicles, as you'll get them
Best time to go
- December
- The Hornbill Festival, held every year from 1 to 10 December. Cold mornings and evenings; book everything early.
- October to May
- Outside the festival, the drier months are best for the hill roads around Kohima.
A five-day Hornbill Festival trip from Guwahati
Day 1
Guwahati to Dimapur. Overnight in Dimapur.
Day 2
Dimapur to Kohima. Settle in and explore the town.
Days 3–4
The Hornbill Festival at Kisama: tribal morungs, food, crafts and evening performances.
Day 5
Drive back towards Guwahati, breaking at Dimapur if you need to.
Fuel, permits and what to carry
- Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit, available online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. We help you apply: tell us your dates when you book.
- About 700 km round trip: plan for the 300 km/day fair-use limit and a stay of several days.
- Carry warm layers for December mornings and evenings.
- Book stays in Kohima early for the festival.
Guwahati to Kohima: questions & answers
How far is Kohima from Guwahati by road?
About 350 km, roughly 8 to 10 hours via Dimapur.
Do I need a permit to drive to Kohima?
Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit, which can be applied for online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. We help our rental customers apply. Foreign visitors should check the current rules.
Can I rent a car in Guwahati for the Hornbill Festival?
Yes. Pick up in Guwahati, drive up via Dimapur, and keep the car for the festival days. Would you rather not drive? We also run chauffeur-driven trips.
Rental terms (documents, deposit, km limit, late returns) are on the self-drive rentals page.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pick up in Guwahati
Every rental starts and ends at our Maligaon location, about 2 km from Kamakhya station and 10 km from the airport.
RedPanda Travels — Bike and Car Rental
Jonaki Path, Bylane 3, Sati Jaymati Nagar, Maligaon, near Basundhara Apartments, Guwahati, Assam 781011