“Day 1 of our Assam Tour began with excitement—flying from Kolkata to Guwahati and driving through scenic Assam roads to Kaziranga, where our wildlife adventure was just about to begin.”
🌄 Day 1 – Guwahati to Kaziranga – The Road Trip That Reunited Childhood Friendships
✨ A Morning Full of Excitement and Nostalgia
Our 8 Nights 9 Days North East Tour – Assam & Meghalaya with Friends and Family finally began with a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and a little nervousness. This wasn’t just another holiday—it was a reunion of childhood friends, family bonding, and a journey we had been dreaming of for years.
Our flight from Kolkata to Guwahati was scheduled at 9:20 AM, and as a domestic flight, we planned to reach the airport at least two hours early. The excitement was so high that sleep felt optional.
I woke up at 5:00 AM, with all luggage already packed the previous night—documents, clothes, emergency medicines, snacks, and of course, my most trusted travel companion—my cameras, ready to capture memories that would last a lifetime.
🚕 From Home to Airport – The Journey Begins
After a quick freshen-up and a cup of tea with some snacks, we finally left home around 6:30 AM to begin our long-awaited journey. Living in Baguiati, just 10 minutes from Kolkata Airport, we had pre-booked an Uber, and thankfully the driver arrived right on time.
Before stepping out, I carefully double-checked everything—gas knobs, windows, doors, and electricity connections—so that we could travel without any worries.—because every traveler knows that tiny doubt that stays in your mind once you lock your home for days.
At 6:40 AM, our journey began under a cloudy sky with light rain—an early sign of the cyclone that was approaching.
🌪️ Cyclone Bulbul – Tension in the Air
The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Bulbul’ was moving over the Bay of Bengal, and Kolkata was already experiencing heavy clouds, rain, and strong winds. While sitting in the car, a question kept running through my mind:
👉 Will our flight be on time, delayed, or cancelled?
However, despite the tension, the excitement of meeting everyone and starting our long-awaited trip easily overshadowed every worry.
🛫 Reunion at Kolkata Airport Terminal 2
We reached Kolkata Airport Terminal 2 at around 7:00 AM, becoming the first from our group to arrive. Waiting outside the terminal, I felt that familiar travel excitement—the feeling that something special is about to begin.
Within minutes, Joy and Indra arrived with their families, followed by Kunal (Papai). Surprisingly, Papai reached before Sougata, which was completely opposite to our past travel history—today he proved us wrong!
Finally, around 7:35 AM, Sougata arrived, and at that moment, our complete group was reunited. His Uber was delayed due to the rain, and coming from Sodepur (a bit farther than others), the journey was slower. But the moment everyone gathered, it felt like childhood days had returned—friends meeting after years, families joining, kids laughing, and cameras clicking.
🎟️ Boarding Pass, Luggage & Growing Excitement
Since everyone had booked tickets individually, some of us had already done web check-in, while others completed it at the airport kiosk. With multiple families and luggage weight restrictions, we decided to check-in together to avoid any surprises.
Standing in the GoAir counter queue, we were excited yet slightly tense. The line was long, and boarding time was approaching. Everyone kept checking the time, joking, and teasing each other—classic friends-and-family travel chaos that makes trips memorable.
🌆 A Stormy Evening Before the Journey
The previous day already felt strange. Even at 5:10 PM in Kolkata, the sky looked like midnight. November days were getting shorter, and Cyclone Bulbul had turned the city dark, cloudy, windy, and cold.
Rain started drizzling the evening before, and by morning it was pouring with strong winds—adding drama to the start of our North East adventure.
✈️ Guwahati to Kaziranga – Flying Together, Landing in Sunshine, and Starting the Epic Road Trip
🛂 Boarding Gate – Relief After the Rush
By 8:30 AM, all of us finally cleared security and reached the boarding gate. The long queue, cyclone tension, and luggage worries were now behind us. There was a slight flight delay due to bad weather, but honestly, we were just happy to be together and ready to fly.
Traveling with friends and family is always about small adjustments—so we rearranged seats to keep kids and nervous flyers comfortable.
- Titli sat happily with Diya and Adrija, turning their seats into a mini kids’ zone
- Sougata sat with Indra and Joy, already discussing travel plans
- Tanushree sat with Jiya, and Paromita with little Ishan
- Suchismita sat beside me—she always feels a bit nervous during flights
- Papai sat with Monika, and Babu joined them, quietly helping everyone whenever needed
Babu, the youngest among us and Mou’s real younger brother, played the role of everyone’s chhoto dada—always ready to help with kids, bags, and anything we needed.
🛫 Takeoff to Guwahati – A New Chapter Begins
Finally, with a 10-minute delay, our flight took off towards Guwahati. It was a non-stop flight, scheduled to land at 10:30 AM, and we touched down at 10:35 AM.
Interestingly, after Kolkata’s dark cyclone morning, Guwahati welcomed us with bright sunshine and clear skies, which instantly lifted our mood. It felt like nature itself was blessing the start of our North East journey.
📸 First Group Photo – Memories Begin
After collecting all our luggage, the first thing we did was something every travel group understands—a proper group photo.
We missed this moment in Kolkata due to the rush, so Guwahati Airport became our first official memory point.
- Papai and I handled the DSLR
- Others captured moments on mobile phones
- A few photos came from inside the flight and through the flight window—just sky, clouds, and dreams
That group photo marked the beginning of our Assam & Meghalaya travel story.
🚐 Our 9-Day Travel Companion – The Force Traveller
As we exited the airport, our 23-seater Force Traveller (AS01 JC0901) was waiting right outside the gate. This was not just a vehicle—it was going to be our home on wheels for the next nine days.
The driver bhai and his helping hand welcomed us warmly. After a quick introduction, we loaded all luggage, took photos with our big travel companion, and finally started our road journey at 11:20 AM.
🍽️ First Meal Together – Lunch Near Guwahati Airport
Everyone was hungry, so we asked the driver to take us to a nearby restaurant instead of waiting for breakfast later. Our next destination was Kaziranga National Park, almost 190–200 km away, with a travel time of 4–5 hours, so saving time was important.
Within 10 minutes, we reached Hotel Kamakhya Grand for lunch. Before entering, we bought three packs of water bottles from a nearby shop and stocked our traveller for the long drive ahead.
🍛 Food Choices & Family Moments
Group tours always come with food preferences, but luckily, our tastes matched perfectly.
- We ordered tarka dal and butter naan for adults and kids
- Some chose rice with dal tarka
- Paromita brought home-made food for Ishan, as he prefers not to eat outside
While we waited, the kids turned plates, glasses, and spoons into musical instruments and started composing their own song. They were enjoying the moment fully, while we adults were busy with our phones and conversations.
That moment made me think:
👉 Can we ever return to that carefree age, without responsibilities and tension?
☕ Lunch, Tea & Ready for the Long Drive
The food arrived at 11:55 AM, just 25 minutes after ordering—great service and exactly what we needed. After lunch, some of us enjoyed tea and lassi, refreshing ourselves before the long road journey.
Finally, at 1:10 PM, we started our actual drive towards Kaziranga, marking the beginning of our scenic road trip—our first big destination of the North East adventure.
🚐 Behind the Journey: Planning, Friendship & Unsung Heroes
🗓️ Six Months Before Day One – The Journey Before the Journey
Although our North East tour officially started on 9th November, the real journey began six months earlier—with endless planning, discussions, and countless WhatsApp calls.
Planning a group trip with 16 people from 5 families is never easy. Flights, hotels, car bookings, budgets—every detail needed coordination and trust. While I won’t dive into all those technical details here, it’s important to acknowledge the people who made this trip possible even before we stepped onto the flight.
💰 My Role – The Cashier of the Journey
I took responsibility as the cashier of the tour, managing group expenses and tracking every rupee spent.
However, this was never a one-man job.
- Indra handled some advance payments
- Joy booked and managed hotel discussions
- Sougata also contributed financially in advance
This shared responsibility made everything smooth and stress-free. Traveling with friends who understand money matters with transparency is truly priceless.
👕 Sougata’s Special Surprise – Panjabi for All
Just two days before the trip, on 7th November, Sougata surprised all of us boys—including little Ishan—with matching Panjabi outfits.
We didn’t know then how special that gesture would become.
When we wore those Panjabis later in the trip, it felt like a symbol of brotherhood—friends turned family. I’ll share that beautiful moment when the time comes in the story.
🍰 Breakfast with Love – Cakes for the Flight
On the day before departure, Sougata also arranged Monginis cakes for everyone.
Those cakes became our breakfast on the flight—simple, sweet, and full of friendship.
Sometimes, travel memories are not about luxury meals but about small thoughtful gestures that stay forever in your heart.
🤝 Joy – The Master Negotiator of the Tour
Every group trip has a hero behind the scenes, and for us, Joy was that hero.
- He negotiated the 23-seater Force Traveller for just ₹66,000 for 9 days—an unbelievable deal
- He personally contacted every hotel and negotiated the lowest possible rates
- Not a single hotel was booked through any online portal—everything was direct, personal, and budget-smart
His bargaining skills and dedication saved us a huge amount of money and ensured we stayed in comfortable hotels throughout the journey.
🌟 Gratitude Before the Road Begins
As we rolled out of Guwahati towards Kaziranga, I realized something—
this trip was not just about destinations.
It was about planning together, trusting each other, and building memories even before the journey started.
Each friend played a role, and every small effort stitched this trip into a story that we would cherish for life.
🚗 The Road Trip That Felt Like Childhood Again
🌄 The Journey Begins – Guwahati to Kaziranga Road Trip
With full stomachs, happy hearts, and a 23-seater Force Traveller packed with 16 excited travelers, we finally started our long drive towards Kaziranga National Park at 1:10 PM.
This road trip was not just a transfer between two places—it was the real beginning of our North East India adventure, where friendship, laughter, and memories started flowing freely.
Guwahati, often called the Gateway to North East India, slowly faded behind us as we moved eastward on NH 27 and NH 715. The city traffic gave way to open highways, green fields, tea gardens, rivers, and quiet Assamese villages—each view felt like a postcard.
🛣️ Road Trip Information – Guwahati to Kaziranga
📍 Distance: 190–200 km
⏱️ Travel Time: 4 to 5 hours (depending on traffic and breaks)
🛤️ Route: NH 27 → NH 715 (Best & Smooth Highways)
🍃 Scenic Assam – Tea Gardens, Villages & Highway Life
As our vehicle rolled smoothly on Assam’s highways, we saw:
- Endless tea gardens stretching till the horizon
- Small villages with tin-roof houses and smiling locals
- Roadside tea stalls and Assamese dhabas
- Rivers and lush green countryside
This drive itself felt like a mini tour of rural Assam, showing us a side of India that many travelers never experience.
🎶 Music, Gossip & Reunion Vibes
Our Force Traveller had a Bluetooth music system, and Indra took charge as the DJ of the trip 🎧
Songs started playing, conversations turned louder, and laughter echoed inside the car. It felt less like a tour and more like a school reunion on wheels.
Papai and Sougata suddenly started singing:
🎵 “Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge…” from Sholay
And honestly, that song perfectly described us—
childhood friends reunited after decades, now traveling together with families and children.
😂 Inside the Car – From Laughter to Deep Sleep
After some time, reality hit us—we all woke up at 5 AM, traveled, flew, ate, and now were on a long road journey.
One by one, the voices slowly faded.
Children stopped singing.
Adults stopped gossiping.
Soon, the car turned quiet… everyone fell into deep sleep 😴
Except two people—me and Babu.
I never like sleeping during road trips. Roads, landscapes, and moving life fascinate me. So while everyone slept, I enjoyed the view and started clicking funny sleeping pictures of friends and family. Babu joined me in this mission of secret photography 😄
And yes… Sougata’s legendary snoring started after some time, which became another memory to laugh about later.
📸 Capturing Time – Photography on the Highway
Throughout the journey, Papai and Sougata kept capturing photos and videos whenever the group was awake.
For us, photography was not just for social media—it was a way to freeze time, so that years later we could revisit these moments and feel the same emotions again.
🌤️ Best Time & Season for This Road Trip
🕒 Best Time to Start: Early morning or daytime
🍁 Best Season: October to April (pleasant weather and clear roads)
🌅 Tea Breaks, Laughter & Our First Night in Kaziranga
☕ Midway Tea Break – Waking Up from Road Trip Dreams
Around 3:45 PM, I started waking everyone up. We had already covered more than half of our journey, and it was time for a tea break. Even the driver needed some rest after driving continuously since Guwahati.
At around 4:00 PM, we stopped at Anurag Dhaba, a typical Assamese roadside stop that instantly felt warm and welcoming.
🍗 Roadside Snacks – Small Stops, Big Memories
We ordered:
- ☕ Hot Tea for everyone
- 🍗 Chicken Pokora & Veg Pokora for snacks
- 🍜 Mixed Chowmein for Diya, Adrija, and Titli (their special demand)
This was not just a food stop—it was a refreshing pause to recharge, chat, laugh, and stretch tired legs.
Meanwhile, we spent almost one hour there, enjoying the simple joy of highway food, laughter, and conversations.
🚐 Back on the Road – Games, Puzzles & Family Fun
After the break, we continued towards Kaziranga National Park, and the journey soon turned into a fun-filled travel classroom.
Joy, as always, played his role perfectly—he called the hotel and informed them about our expected arrival time so that everything would be ready for us.
Inside the car, the journey turned into a fun classroom and playground:
- 🎤 Antakshari started again
- 🧩 Joy shared puzzles for kids and adults
- 🤔 I also joined with tricky questions and brain teasers
The kids enjoyed it the most, and adults secretly loved it too. This was the moment when we felt like one big family, not five separate families.
🏨 Arrival at Kaziranga – Home for the Next Two Nights
Finally, at around 7:20 PM, our Force Traveller stopped in front of Hotel Sneha Bhaban in Kaziranga, where we would stay for the next two nights—our home for the next two nights.
After unloading all the luggage with the help of hotel staff, it was time to distribute room keys.
Here, Sougata again showed his caring nature:
- First, he gave a room to Paromita and Ishan, so the youngest member could rest comfortably
- Then he took the room with an extra bed for his family and Babu
- The remaining three rooms were distributed randomly among us
This small act reflected how naturally he always thought about others first.
🛁 Family Time – Refresh, Relax & Reset
The hotel did not have a restaurant, but they had a kitchen and cook who prepared food on request.
We asked Mou, Tanushree, Monika, and Suchismita to refresh with the children.
By 8:15 PM, everyone was settled in their rooms, tired but happy.
🍽️ Dinner at Kaziranga – Simple, Warm & Satisfying
Then we five dads went to the kitchen and ordered dinner:
- 🍚 Plain Rice
- 🍗 Chicken Curry with Potato Fry for everyone
- 🥣 Rice, Dal, and Potato Fry for little Ishan (home-like food for the youngest)
- ☕ Tea and biscuits for all
After a long day of travel, this simple meal tasted like comfort and satisfaction.
🌙 First Night in Kaziranga – Excitement Before Safari
As we lay down in our rooms, we realized something special—
today was not just Day 1 of a tour.
It was Day 1 of reconnecting friendships, family bonding, and creating memories that would last a lifetime.
Tomorrow, Kaziranga Safari was waiting for us, but tonight, the silence of the forest and our tired smiles marked the perfect end to an unforgettable day.
🎥 Watch the Full Experience
🎥 Watch the full experience in our Day 1 Vlog – Guwahati to Kaziranga Road Trip with Friends & Family on TravelWithSurajit:
Guwahati to Kaziranga Road Trip – Friends & Family Fun – Assam Vlog: Day 1 Ep 1
🌙 Quiet Rooms, Late Dinner & Midnight Reflections
🛏️ Settling Into Our Rooms
In between all the activities, we went back to our rooms to freshen up.
I took a few photos of the room for memories—because every journey deserves its own silent visual diary.
The rooms were quite spacious, equipped with a TV, and the bathroom size was also comfortable.
A special feeling came when we realized that only our five families were staying in the entire hotel—no other tourists.
It felt peaceful, private, and almost like we had rented the whole place just for us.
☕ Evening Tea & Relaxing Conversations
After around 20 minutes, tea and biscuits were ready.
Babu again took responsibility and, along with the hotel boy, distributed tea and biscuits to every room.
We gathered in the hotel drawing room, sat together, relaxed, and slowly released the tiredness of the long journey.
Some of us made phone calls back home to inform our families that we had reached safely in Kaziranga.
These quiet moments—tea, phone calls, laughter—are often the most real and emotional parts of any trip.
🍽️ Dinner Time Begins – Ladies & Children First
Dinner took some time to prepare; however, around 10:30 PM, it was finally ready for everyone. The hotel had a small dining space on the top floor with two plastic tables and eight chairs. There was also a wooden bed, where Papai comfortably sat, observing everyone enjoying dinner like a proud guardian of the group.
We decided that ladies and children would eat first.
For Ishan, his dinner was delivered directly to the room so that he could eat peacefully.
The November weather in Kaziranga was perfect—not too hot, not too cold, just soothing and pleasant.
Around 11:00 PM, all children and ladies, along with Babu, had completed their dinner, except Paromita. She was busy putting Ishan to sleep, and Indra went to the room so that she could come later for her meal.
🌙 Late-Night Dinner for the Dads
Now it was time for the five of us to eat.
Though Babu had already eaten, he stayed with us for company.
Everyone else had gone to their rooms to rest, and we kept their room keys with us so that we wouldn’t disturb them when returning late at night.
While preparing to eat, we realized there was a shortage of rice.
So we requested the kitchen to prepare some extra rice for us.
Finally, around 11:45 PM, we five sat together for dinner.
The food was really tasty and comforting, especially after a long day of travel.
The kitchen also shared a local surprise with us—Bhoot Jolokia Achar (Ghost Pepper Pickle).
It was extremely spicy. Papai was the bravest among us—he tried it at his own risk, while we laughed and watched his reaction 😄
That tiny bowl of pickle became a legendary moment of the trip.
🌌 Midnight Sleep & Safari Dreams
After finishing dinner, we slowly returned to our rooms, feeling tired yet extremely satisfied with the day.
Around 12:45 AM, everyone finally went to sleep—tired, relaxed, and excited.
Tomorrow, we had Kaziranga Jeep Safari planned for both morning and evening in two forest ranges, starting at 8:30 AM.
The day after tomorrow, we planned Elephant Safari early in the morning, so we requested the hotel manager to arrange tickets for us.
As we switched off the lights, the forest around Kaziranga felt quiet, mysterious, and full of unseen life.
Day 1 ended not with sightseeing, but with bonding, laughter, and anticipation of the wild waiting for us at dawn.
✈️ Few Details About Kolkata & Guwahati Airports
🛫 Kolkata Airport – Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
Kolkata Airport Terminal 2 has always been a familiar starting point for our journeys. Early morning departures have a special charm—dim lights, sleepy travelers, and that quiet excitement before a big trip. Being just 10 minutes away from my home in Baguiati, it felt comforting to start this long-awaited North East journey from a place we know so well.
Despite the rain and cyclone warnings, the airport was well-organized. Families, business travelers, and backpackers all moved with their own stories, but for us, this terminal marked the reunion of childhood friends and families after months of planning.
🌤️ Guwahati Airport – Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
Landing in Guwahati felt like stepping into a different mood of India. While Kolkata was cloudy and stormy, Guwahati welcomed us with bright sunshine and calm skies—a perfect start to our North East adventure.
The airport is clean, spacious, and well-managed, with beautiful Assamese design elements that instantly introduce you to the culture of Assam. The moment we stepped out, our 23-seater Force Traveller was waiting—ready to be our home on wheels for the next nine days.
Guwahati Airport truly feels like the gateway to North East India, where every journey begins with curiosity and excitement.
💡 Tips for Flight Ticket Booking (From Personal Experience)
💸 Book Early, Travel Stress-Free
We booked our flight tickets well in advance, which helped us get good prices for a large group. For family and group trips, early booking is always the smartest move.
📱 Use Web Check-in
Web check-in saved us valuable time at the airport. For group trips with luggage, it’s best to web check-in first and then drop luggage together at the counter.
⚖️ Check Baggage Limits Carefully
With cameras, snacks, medicines, and clothes, luggage weight can increase quickly. Always check airline baggage policies and plan accordingly, especially when traveling with children.
🌧️ Track Weather Alerts
Cyclone Bulbul reminded us how important it is to monitor weather updates before flight day. Weather can impact delays or cancellations, so always stay updated.
👨👩👧 Group Coordination Tip
When traveling in a group, assign responsibilities—someone for tickets, someone for luggage coordination, and someone for children. It reduces confusion and stress at the airport.
🧭 Day 1 Travel Tips – Guwahati to Kaziranga Road Trip
🚐 Start with a Comfortable Vehicle
For a big group like ours, a 23-seater Force Traveller was perfect. Spacious, comfortable, and ideal for long-distance road trips with family and kids.
🕐 Plan Lunch Near the Airport
Instead of breakfast, we directly had lunch near Guwahati Airport to save travel time. This helped us reach Kaziranga before night.
🛣️ Expect a Long Scenic Drive
The Guwahati to Kaziranga route is around 190–200 km, and it takes 4–5 hours. The journey is scenic with tea gardens, villages, rivers, and Assamese countryside views.
☕ Take Tea Breaks
Long drives with children need breaks. Our tea stop at Anurag Dhaba refreshed everyone and kept the mood lively.
🎶 Keep Entertainment Ready
Bluetooth music, Antakshari, puzzles, and jokes kept both kids and adults entertained. Long journeys become memorable when you travel with laughter.
📸 Capture Candid Moments
Road trips are full of real emotions—sleeping kids, singing friends, funny poses. Keep your camera ready, because these moments become lifelong memories.
🌙 End of Day One Summary – The Journey That Reunited Childhood
Overall, Day 1 was not just about reaching Kaziranga—it was about friendship, family bonding, and reliving childhood memories.
It was about reuniting childhood friends, traveling with our families, and beginning a dream journey we planned for six months.
From a rainy morning in Kolkata to a sunny landing in Guwahati, from airport reunions to long highway drives, from tea breaks to late-night spicy Assamese dinner—every moment felt personal and emotional.
The children laughed, sang, and slept peacefully on the journey.
We adults laughed, teased each other, and silently felt grateful that life gave us this chance to travel together again.
As we finally went to bed around midnight, Kaziranga’s forest surrounded us in silence, and excitement filled our minds.
Tomorrow, we would step into the wild—where rhinos roam, elephants walk freely, and childhood wonder comes alive again.
🧩 Fun Travel Puzzle Break (After Our Tea Break)
After a refreshing tea break on the way to Kaziranga, Joy surprised us with a fun brain teaser. Soon, everyone joined in with their own puzzles—turning our road trip into a mini quiz session 😄
🧠 Puzzle Shared by Joy
There are 13 apples in a pot.
They are distributed among 14 students, and each student gets exactly 1 apple.
👉 Question:
How is this possible?
🧠 Puzzle Shared by Me
A seller has some eggs. All eggs are raw and unbroken.
- The 1st buyer buys half of the total eggs, and the seller also gives him half of one egg.
- The 2nd buyer buys half of the remaining eggs, and again receives half of one egg.
- The 3rd buyer does the same: he buys half of the remaining eggs and is given half of one egg.
After the 3rd buyer leaves, no eggs are left with the seller.
👉 Question:
How many eggs did the seller have at the beginning?
“Travel is not just about destinations—sometimes the best memories are created during tea breaks, laughter, and brain puzzles with friends.”
🛏️ Overnight Stay: Hotel Sneha Bhaban, Sildubi, Golaghat, Kaziranga, Assam
🦏 Day 2 – Kaziranga Safari | Childhood Wonder in the Wild
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