Digboi, a small town in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam, is where India’s oil story began. More than a century before oil towns became common, surveyors here watched crude seep from the ground, drilled the country’s first commercial oil well, and built a refinery that still runs today. For travellers who like history worn into the landscape, Digboi offers an oil museum, a colonial-era planned township, a golf course, a Second World War cemetery and a gateway to rainforest, all within a short drive.
Digboi, in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam, is the birthplace of Asia’s oil industry: it is home to a well drilled in 1889–1890 and a refinery commissioned in 1901 that is widely described as Asia’s oldest operating refinery. It pairs industrial heritage with a colonial township, a war cemetery and rainforest nearby.
Key takeaways
- Digboi’s oil well was drilled in 1889–1890 and its refinery was commissioned in 1901, which the Indian Oil Corporation and historians describe as the first refinery in Asia.
- The best months to visit are October to March, when Upper Assam is dry and mild; the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain.
- The Digboi Centenary Oil Museum, run by Indian Oil’s Assam Oil Division, is closed on Mondays per the Tinsukia district administration; published hours and fees are not official, so reconfirm before visiting (indicative, as of October 2026).
- Digboi War Cemetery holds 200 Second World War burials, 197 Commonwealth and 3 others, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- The nearest airport is Dibrugarh (Mohanbari); Digboi station sits on the Tinsukia–Ledo railway line, roughly 45 km by road east of Tinsukia (approximate — confirm your route).
- Digboi is close to Dehing Patkai National Park, a lowland rainforest notified as a national park in 2021.
About Digboi: where Asia’s oil industry began
Digboi, in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam, is a town built on oil. It sits at about 165 m above sea level and lies roughly 510 km northeast of Guwahati, according to publicly available records. Crude oil was noticed seeping from the forest floor here in the 1880s, and the Assam Railways and Trading Company began drilling to confirm it.
The first commercial well was started in September 1889 and completed in November 1890 at a depth of about 202 m (662 feet), according to published histories of the Assam oilfield. The Assam Oil Company was formed in 1899 to run the field, and the Digboi refinery was commissioned in 1901. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which operates the refinery today, and several histories describe it as the first refinery in Asia and among the oldest still operating anywhere in the world.
Management passed to the Burmah Oil Company in 1921, and the refinery came under the Indian Oil Corporation in 1981; Digboi is now the headquarters of IOC’s Assam Oil Division. The old “Dig, boy, dig” story about British officers urging elephants’ handlers to dig where their feet came up oil-stained is charming, but local historians treat it as folklore rather than documented fact. Alongside the refinery grew a planned township of bungalows, clubs and a golf course for the company’s staff, much of which still stands.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Tinsukia district, Upper Assam |
| Elevation | About 165 m (541 ft) |
| Known for | Asia’s oldest operating refinery, oil museum, colonial township |
| First oil well | Drilled 1889–1890 |
| Refinery commissioned | 1901 |
| Best season | October to March |
| Nearest airport | Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), DIB |
Best time to visit Digboi
The best time to visit Digboi is October to March, when Upper Assam is dry, mild and comfortable for walking around the township and the museum. This belt of Assam sees one of the country’s heaviest monsoons, so June to September brings sustained rain, high humidity and the risk of local flooding. Winters are cool rather than cold; the summer before the rains is warm and sticky.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (best) | October–March | Dry, mild days; clear skies; easiest sightseeing and rainforest trips |
| Pre-monsoon | April–May | Warm, humid, occasional thunderstorms |
| Monsoon | June–September | Heavy, prolonged rain; lush forest but muddy trails and travel delays |
If you want to pair Digboi with Dehing Patkai rainforest, aim for the drier winter window, when forest tracks are more passable. For a wider plan across the state, our Assam travel guide sets out the regional seasons and routes.
How to reach Digboi
The nearest airport to Digboi is Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), roughly 75 km away by road (approximate — confirm your exact route). Dibrugarh Airport, about 15 km from Dibrugarh city, has daily flights to Guwahati and onward connections to Delhi, Kolkata and other metros; schedules change each season, so check with your airline close to travel. From the airport you can hire a taxi or drive on to Digboi.
By rail, Digboi has its own station (station code DBY) on the Tinsukia–Ledo line, with short DEMU and express services linking it to Tinsukia, New Tinsukia Junction, Ledo and Dibrugarh. Rail-booking portals list Ledo at roughly 15 km and Tinsukia Junction at about 28 km from Digboi by rail. Check live train lists and timings on IRCTC or NTES before you book, as services on this branch line are limited.
By road, Digboi lies about 45 km east of Tinsukia and roughly 75 km from Dibrugarh (approximate road distances — confirm your route). Shared and private taxis run from Tinsukia and Dibrugarh; buses on National Highway routes connect the wider district. Most visitors base themselves in Tinsukia or Dibrugarh and make a day trip, or stay overnight in Digboi itself.
| From | Mode | Distance / note |
|---|---|---|
| Dibrugarh (Mohanbari) airport | Air + road | Nearest airport; about 75 km by road |
| Tinsukia | Rail / road | About 28 km by rail; roughly 45 km by road |
| Ledo | Rail / road | About 15 km by rail |
| Guwahati | Rail / air | About 510 km; long rail journey or fly via Dibrugarh |
Arriving from the state capital is easiest by air into Dibrugarh; our Guwahati travel guide covers the gateway city if you are routing through it.
Top things to see and do in Digboi
The standout sight in Digboi is the Centenary Oil Museum, which tells the story of the field, backed by the working refinery, the colonial township, the golf course and the war cemetery. You can see the main sights in a day, but the slower pace of the township rewards an overnight stay.
Digboi Centenary Oil Museum. Set up by Indian Oil’s Assam Oil Division to mark the centenary of India’s first production oil well, the museum opened in the early 2000s behind the refinery. It displays preserved drilling and refining machinery, early steam equipment and pumps, and traces how the oilfield grew. The Tinsukia district administration lists it as closed on Mondays; daytime hours and any entry charge are not officially published, so treat timings as indicative and reconfirm with the Assam Oil Division before visiting (indicative, as of October 2026). Visitors have reported that photography inside is restricted.
The refinery and oil field. The Digboi refinery, commissioned in 1901, still operates as part of IOC’s Assam Oil Division, and the surrounding field holds some of the world’s oldest producing wells. The refinery itself is a working industrial site and not open for casual entry, but the museum and township give you the context.
Colonial township and golf course. Digboi’s planned township of bungalows, clubs and tree-lined roads was built for the oil company’s staff and remains a quiet, green place to walk. The Digboi Club has an 18-hole golf course often described as one of the oldest in Assam; sources differ on its founding, giving dates around 1930 and 1943, so treat the exact year as unsettled.
Digboi War Cemetery. This Second World War cemetery holds 200 burials, of which 197 are Commonwealth and 3 non-Commonwealth (one Italian, one American and one Belgian), according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which maintains it. Many of those buried died at hospitals in the area during the Burma campaign. It is a calm, well-kept site open to visitors.
| Sight | What it is | Time to allow | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary Oil Museum | Oil-history museum | 1–1.5 hours | Closed Mondays; timings indicative, reconfirm |
| Colonial township | Planned company town | 1–2 hours | Walkable; quiet residential roads |
| Digboi golf course | 18-hole course, Digboi Club | Varies | Club facility; check access |
| War Cemetery | WWII burial ground | 30–45 minutes | Maintained by CWGC |
| Dehing Patkai (day trip) | Rainforest national park | Half to full day | Drier months best |
A suggested two-day itinerary
Two days is enough to cover Digboi’s oil heritage and add a rainforest trip. Base yourself in Digboi or Tinsukia.
- Day 1 — Digboi’s oil story. Start at the Centenary Oil Museum (check it is not a Monday), then walk the colonial township and the golf-course area. In the afternoon, visit the War Cemetery and spend the evening in the quiet old town.
- Day 2 — rainforest and beyond. Take a day trip towards Dehing Patkai National Park for lowland rainforest, or head to Margherita and Ledo to see the start of the historic Stilwell Road. Return to Digboi or move on to Tinsukia or Dibrugarh.
Where to stay in and around Digboi
Digboi has a modest spread of guest houses and small hotels, while Tinsukia and Dibrugarh offer a wider choice of mid-range and business hotels. Many travellers sleep in Tinsukia or Dibrugarh and visit Digboi by day. The figures below are indicative planning estimates and should be reconfirmed when you book (as of October 2026).
| Category | Indicative range per night | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹800–₹1,800 | Guest houses in Digboi; basic hotels in Tinsukia |
| Mid-range | ₹1,800–₹4,000 | Hotels in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh |
| Upper / business | ₹4,000–₹7,000+ | Larger hotels in Dibrugarh; tea-bungalow stays |
Book ahead in the October–March season and around local festivals, when rooms fill quickly. Homestays and tea-estate bungalows around Dibrugarh are worth considering for a quieter, more local stay.
Food to try
Upper Assam’s food is the real draw at the table, built around rice, fish and gentle spicing. Look for these on local menus:
- Masor tenga (a light, tangy fish curry soured with tomato or lemon) — the classic Assamese comfort dish.
- Khar (a dish made with an alkaline extract, often with raw papaya and pulses) — a distinctive Assamese preparation.
- Pitha (rice-flour cakes, sweet or savoury, often with sesame or jaggery) — common around winter and Bihu.
- Assam tea — the region is tea country, so a strong local brew is easy to find.
- Pork and bamboo-shoot dishes — widely eaten across the district’s communities.
Budget breakdown
A two-day trip to Digboi on a mid-range budget costs roughly ₹5,000–₹9,000 per person, excluding long-distance travel to Upper Assam. The table below assumes two days, a mid-range room shared by two, local taxis and simple meals. All figures are indicative planning estimates, as of October 2026 — reconfirm before you travel.
| Item | Indicative cost | Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night) | ₹1,000–₹2,000 | Mid-range room shared by two |
| Local transport | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | Shared taxi / day-hire over two days |
| Meals | ₹600–₹1,200 | Local restaurants, two days |
| Sightseeing / museum | ₹0–₹500 | Museum fee not officially published; reconfirm |
| Buffer | ₹1,000 | Snacks, tips, incidentals |
Permits and rules
No Inner Line Permit is needed to visit Digboi itself, which lies within Assam and is open to all Indian travellers without a special permit. Foreign nationals should check current rules for the wider Northeast before travel. If you plan to enter Dehing Patkai National Park or any reserved forest, follow the Assam Forest Department’s entry rules, and arrange any required forest permit, guide or vehicle through the relevant forest division. The refinery is a secured industrial site, so respect restrictions and signage, and note that photography inside the museum may be limited.
Practical tips
- Connectivity. Mobile networks work in the town; coverage thins inside forest areas, so download maps before a rainforest trip.
- Cash and UPI. ATMs and UPI payments are available in Digboi and Tinsukia, but carry some cash for small vendors and forest-area travel.
- Health. Tinsukia and Dibrugarh have the larger hospitals; carry a basic kit and any personal medicines, as options in small towns are limited.
- Solo and women travellers. Digboi is a quiet town; stick to daylight for sightseeing, keep someone informed of your plans and prefer registered taxis.
- Packing. Light cottons and an umbrella for warm months; add a light jacket for winter mornings. Carry mosquito repellent and sturdy shoes for forest walks.
- Timings. Because museum hours and the weekly closed day can change, call ahead or check the Assam Oil Division and Tinsukia district channels before you go.
Nearby places
Digboi makes a good base for Upper Assam’s far east, with rainforest, coal-and-tea towns and a famous wartime road all close by.
| Place | Distance from Digboi | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Dehing Patkai National Park | Short drive (Digboi Forest Division entry) | Lowland rainforest, birds and butterflies; notified a national park in 2021 |
| Margherita | About 10 km | Old coal-and-railway town; former headquarters of the Assam Railways and Trading Company |
| Ledo | About 15 km by rail | Start of the Stilwell (Ledo) Road, built in the Second World War |
| Tinsukia | About 45 km by road | District hub; rail junction and wider choice of stays |
The Stilwell Road, which began at Ledo, was built from 1942 to supply China after the Japanese cut the Burma Road, and was renamed for General Joseph Stilwell in early 1945. Much of it is now overgrown, but the Zero Point near Lekhapani still marks its start.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Digboi and why is it famous?
Digboi is a town in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam, famous as the birthplace of Asia’s oil industry. Its first oil well was drilled in 1889–1890 and its refinery, commissioned in 1901, is widely described as Asia’s oldest operating refinery. The town also has an oil museum, a colonial township and a war cemetery.
Is Digboi really home to Asia’s first oil refinery?
Yes, Digboi’s refinery, commissioned in 1901, is described by the Indian Oil Corporation and several histories as the first refinery in Asia and among the oldest still operating. The town’s first commercial oil well was drilled between 1889 and 1890. Some early drilling attempts elsewhere in Assam pre-date this but did not lead to production.
What are the timings and entry fee for the Digboi Centenary Oil Museum?
The Digboi Centenary Oil Museum is closed on Mondays, according to the Tinsukia district administration, but its daytime hours and any entry fee are not officially published online. Treat any timings you find as indicative and reconfirm with Indian Oil’s Assam Oil Division before you visit (indicative, as of October 2026).
What is the best time to visit Digboi?
The best time to visit Digboi is October to March, when Upper Assam is dry and mild, making sightseeing and rainforest trips comfortable. The monsoon from June to September brings heavy, prolonged rain and travel delays, while April and May are warm and humid. Winter mornings can be cool, so carry a light jacket.
How do I reach Digboi by train and air?
The nearest airport is Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), about 75 km away by road, with flights to Guwahati and metro cities. Digboi has its own railway station on the Tinsukia–Ledo line, linked by short DEMU and express services to Tinsukia, Ledo and Dibrugarh. Check live schedules on IRCTC or with your airline before booking.
Can I visit Dehing Patkai National Park from Digboi?
Yes, Dehing Patkai National Park lies close to Digboi, with a main entry point under the Digboi Forest Division. The lowland rainforest, notified as a national park in 2021, is best visited in the drier October–March months. Follow the Assam Forest Department’s entry rules and arrange any required permit or guide through the forest division.
Last updated and sources
Digboi suits travellers drawn to industrial heritage, colonial history and quiet forest country, best combined with Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and the far-eastern edge of Assam. Visit between October and March for the most comfortable weather.
Last updated: 23 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Tinsukia district administration — Digboi Centenary Museum and Dehing Patkai National Park; Commonwealth War Graves Commission — Digboi War Cemetery; Indian Oil Corporation — Assam Oil Division / Digboi refinery; Wikipedia overviews of Digboi, Digboi Refinery and the Ledo (Stilwell) Road (used to locate primary facts); rail and airport schedules via IRCTC/NTES and airline listings. Accessed September 2026.
