Come for
Howly Raas.
Stay in Howly. Experience one of Assam's great cultural nights. Wake up beside the wild at Manas. Touch the Himalayan frontier. Continue towards Bhutan. Return to Guwahati carrying Assam with you.
There is a particular kind of winter in Assam — cool mornings, golden light, open roads, living traditions and forests stretching towards the Bhutan Himalayas.
Make Howly Raas Mahotsav part of your Assam winter journey. The 99th Howly Raas Mahotsav is scheduled for 24 November – 8 December 2026.
From the runway
to the Himalayas.
A western Assam winter route designed around culture, rest, wildlife and the Himalayan landscape.
Guwahati
Arrive in Assam
Howly
Stay · Rest · Explore
Raas
24 November 2026
Manas
Safari · Wilderness
Bhutan
Himalayan frontier
Before you go
see Howly.
A town where Raas, faith, history and community have been woven together for generations.
Experience
Howly Raas.
Howly's Raas tradition dates back to 1928. Today, the Raas Mandir forms the cultural heart of the celebration — a place where devotion, performance, lights, music and community come together.
NOV
24 November – 8 December 2026
Where Raas lives.
Land in
Assam.
Arrive at Guwahati Airport and begin the road journey towards Howly. Check into a comfortable guest house and slow down.
Have a local meal, rest around the Manas Kanya area and let the first evening in Lower Assam unfold without rushing.
Don't just read
about Raas.
See the lights, performances, temple and atmosphere before you arrive.
Howly Raas Mahotsav — live cultural experience
Raas Mahotsav — live from Howly
by devotion.
Discover the story of the Raas Mandir
From
Raas to wild.
Wake up in Howly and head towards Manas National Park. The landscape changes quickly — villages, open countryside, forests and the Bhutan-Himalaya foothills begin to dominate the horizon.
Spend the day on a jeep safari and explore the extraordinary biodiversity of Manas. Stay overnight close to the park, with jungle accommodation available around the national park.
Where the forest
meets Bhutan.
Manas lies at the foothills of the Bhutan-Himalayas and is home to remarkable wildlife including elephants, rhinos, golden langurs, wild water buffalo and other species.
Jeep Safari
Explore the park through guided safari routes and wildlife habitats.
Golden Langur
One of the remarkable species associated with the Manas landscape.
Manas River
Experience the riverine landscape beneath the Bhutan-Himalaya foothills.
Jungle Stay
Spend the night close to the forest instead of immediately returning to the city.
Wake up
near the wild.
After a night around Manas, continue towards the Bhutan frontier. Depending on border timings, road conditions and applicable entry requirements, plan a Bhutan excursion or onward visit.
This is the moment when the journey changes character again: Assam's forests give way to the Himalayan frontier.
The hills
are waiting.
Plan this section around official Bhutan entry rules, border timings and your transport arrangements.
Four days.
Four different Assams.
Guwahati → Howly
Land at Guwahati Airport. Drive towards Howly. Check into your guest house, rest around the Manas Kanya area and spend your first evening experiencing the town.
Howly Raas Mahotsav
Experience the lights, Raas Mandir, devotional traditions, performances and festival atmosphere. For 2026, the festival is scheduled from 24 November to 8 December.
Howly → Manas National Park
Leave after breakfast, reach Manas and take a jeep safari. Spend the night near the park at a suitable jungle accommodation.
Manas → Bhutan
Continue towards the Bhutan frontier and plan your excursion according to official entry requirements, border timings and available transport.
Bhutan → Guwahati
Return towards Guwahati for your final evening or airport departure.
Winter makes
the journey work.
Cool journeys
Winter offers a comfortable season for travelling through Assam and exploring outdoor destinations.
Raas season
Plan your journey around the 2026 Howly Raas Mahotsav, scheduled from 24 November to 8 December.
Manas
Assam Tourism identifies November to April as the ideal period for visiting Manas National Park.
Wildlife
Jeep safari gives travellers the opportunity to experience the park's forests, grasslands and wildlife habitats.
Local culture
Leave room for Assamese food, temples, Satras, villages and the cultural landscape around Howly.
Himalayan frontier
Manas sits at the foothills of the Bhutan-Himalayas, creating a natural transition from Assam to Bhutan.
Questions
travellers ask.
Why visit Assam in winter?
Winter is an attractive period for combining cultural experiences with wildlife travel in Assam. Manas National Park identifies November to April as its ideal visiting period.
When is Howly Raas Mahotsav 2026?
Howly Raas Mahotsav 2026 is scheduled from 24 November to 8 December 2026.
How can I reach Howly from Guwahati?
Travellers can arrive at Guwahati Airport and continue towards Howly by road. Barpeta Road is the principal nearby railway station.
Can I combine Howly Raas with Manas National Park?
Yes. Howly and Manas can be combined in a western Assam itinerary, allowing travellers to experience Assamese culture and wildlife in the same journey.
What can I do at Manas National Park?
Visitors can experience jeep safaris, wildlife viewing, river landscapes and the biodiversity of the Bhutan-Himalaya foothills.
Can I visit Bhutan after Manas National Park?
A Bhutan visit can be incorporated after Manas depending on border timings, transport arrangements and the traveller's applicable entry requirements.
Come for the festival.
Stay for Assam.
Start in Guwahati. Sleep in Howly. Experience Raas. Wake up in the wild. Touch the Himalayan frontier. Then return to Guwahati with a story worth telling.