Digboi Tourism And Travel Guide

Renowned as the Oil City of Assam, Digboi houses one of the oldest oil refineries in all of Asia, where crude oil was discovered in the late 19th century. Responsible for raising the economy of Tinsukia District, the city is more than just being about oil. With evident traces of British colonialism, Digboi is also popular for its golf courses, ethnic textiles, wax dolls and Italian architecture styled apartments & guest houses. The tourism of Digboi is flourishing aside from its industrial achievements, thanks to a variety of picturesque attractions and scenic sights, bio-diversity and more. Here’s a travel guide to help you find your way around in Digboi and its neighboring areas.

By Air:

Mohanbari Airport’s the nearest Airport to Digboi, located in Dibrugarh with the closest train station being Tinsukia Junction. You can take a flight from New Delhi or Kolkata to Dibrugarh any day of the week and then make the onward journey to Digboi by cab. Alternatively, you can fly to Guwahati and then hop on a bus or hail a taxi to Digboi.

By Train:

From New Delhi, there’s a train leaving once daily for New Tinsukia, which is roughly 34km from Digboi by cab. At an estimated fare of INR 1,100, train numbers 12424 and 20506 operated by Indian Railways can be reserved for traveling to Digboi and have you there in less than 38 hours (inclusive of transfers).

By Road:

The town of Digboi has an efficient road network that connects it well to other cities like Makum, Duliajan and more. The town’s best accessed by public transport buses and mini-vans. There are various companies that operate private buses as well between Digboi and its neighboring towns and cities.

Getting Around:

One of the main transport options of getting around the town is to hire a cycle rickshaw in Digboi and/or use the private/public buses operating in and around the town. For guided tours and sightseeing activities, it is best to rent a car or taxi.

Summer (April-May):

Summers are quite warm in Digboi, beginning around mid-March and continue till May End. With extreme humidity, the average temperature here oscillates between 30°C to 40°C. Despite the humid and rather uncomfortable weather conditions during morning time, evenings in town are comparatively pleasant.

Monsoon (June-September)

As is true for other parts of the state, Digboi too receives a significant volume of rains every year, which slows down daily activities quite a bit and results in the cancelation of outdoor activities mostly, including the wildlife tours. Despite the fact that the state’s monsoon results in an abundant agricultural yield and it's resplendently green everywhere, the waterlogged streets make traveling during this time a tad too difficult.

Winter (October-March):

Digboi’s winter season’s the best time to visit here when the scenic beauty is at its peak and weather conditions are really cool. Enjoying the wilderness, tourist attractions, and engaging in local festivities in town in addition to some outdoor activities make October through March is a good time to visit Digboi.

Lakeside Sojourn:

The beautiful lake of Digboi is a treat for the sore eyes where you can sit back and enjoy watching the birds on a sunny day. There are other places of interest around the Digboi Lake as well, like the Oil Refinery, which is one of the oldest in Asia’s history, in addition to an 18-hole Golf Course, which is quite a crowd puller.

Evening Entertainment:

Besides being one of the most popular tourist sights in Digboi, the 18-hole Golf Course that was established in 1888, this natural course has a clubhouse on-site, which makes indulging in the sport not only interesting but also entertaining, with a variety of programs scheduled in the evenings to keep the patrons and visitors engaged. You can also visit the Dehing Forest Reserve that’s situated close by and house a number of animal and bird species.

Explore the Wilderness:

The popular Namdapha National Park is just a 100km from Digboi, while there’s the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park that spans 340sq.km and is just 60km from Digboi with the Feral (Semi-Wild) Horses and the White-Winged Wood Duck, a rare sight at the reserve. The national park houses the clouded leopard, sambar, slow loris, langur, Gangetic dolphin, elephants, wild dogs and more, with over 250 avian species that included both transitory and local birds.

A guided tour of the National Oil Park:

Digboi’s renowned not just for the Oil Refinery, but also its museum and a wildlife sanctuary. The Digboi Centenary Museum was built to honor the ancient past of Assam’s oil industries and has on display many old and well-maintained machinery and equipment on its premises.

Given its small populace and expanse, Digboi has limited food options and continues to develop at a rapid rate to incorporate feasible options, both for lodging and food. However, if you’re visiting here, feel free to explore its neighboring areas to indulge in local delicacies. For instance, Sharma Sweets & Restaurant is known for a variety of delicious sweet treats and snacks, with Puri Bhaji and Dosa being their bestselling fares. Then, there’s Prom’s Burger which is multi-cuisine eating joint with delicious fast food options, and specialty being a BBQ grilled chicken, shredded Cheese Burger. Swad, is an open-air restaurant ideal for sipping a hot cuppa’ tea. Tinsukia Food options are light and abundant with natural herbs and local flavors with a lot of healthy options. Maasor Tenga, Khar, Dal, Pitika, the chutney and pickles are drool-worthy.

You will find Digboi a lovely place to enjoy shopping, in terms of the availability of a variety of traditional textiles, vibrant and ethnically beautiful. Then there are local handicrafts that are unique only to Digboi and are available in plenty from the local markets and cottage industries at pocket-friendly prices. Some of the best places to explore from a shopping perspective are the Central Market, Laxmi Store and Gogoi Market in Digboi, with a number of shopping malls with ample entertainment and food outlets.