Digboi is a town area committee in Tinsukia district in the north-eastern part of the state of Assam, India. Known as the Oil City of Assam, it is said that a British engineer discovered oil on the feet of  a forest worker's elephant. Seeing this, the engineer commanded "Dig, boy!? thus the origin of the name. Petroleum oil was discovered here in late 19th century and the Digboi oilfield is one of the oldest oil fields. With a significant number of British professionals working for Assam Oil Company until the decade following independence of India, Digboi had a well developed infrastructure and a number of bungalows unique to the town. This is where the first oil well in Asia was drilled. The first refinery was started in as early as 1901 making Digboi the oldest oil well in operation. The place still retains the British ambience, complemented by the clubs and Golf courses nearby.  It has world class golf courses with 18 holes as a part of the Digboi Club. Today, though the production is very low, Digboi still has the distinction of being the world's oldest continuously producing oilfield. This oilfield is not just another oilfield, but an oil museum with a history to be proud of.

Languages spoken here are Hindi, Assamese, Bengali & English.

Best For:

Digboi is best known for its Oil refineries. It can proudly boast of two unique features - a 100-year-old extant oilfield and the world's oldest operating oil refinery. Apart from that it is also best known for its world class golf courses.

The best time to visit Digboi is October to March. Monsoons are from June to September. Parts of Assam are among the wettest places in the world. Light Cottons for Summer & Woolens for winters are suitable clothing.

There is no requirement of any kind of permit to travel in Assam for national tourists. However foreign nationals are required to obtain a valid Indian Visa while traveling.

Digboi is well connected by Road, Rail & Air.  NH-38 runs through Digboi connecting it to the rest of the country.

By Air:
The nearest airport of Dibrugarh is 65 km from Digboi. Dibrugarh airport is connected by regular flights from Kolkata, (the nearest international airport) and New Delhi. Besides there is also an air route to Dibrugarh from Guwahati the capital city of Assam. A/C and non A/C deluxe coaches ply regularly from Guwahati to Digboi both day and night.

By Rail:
Tinsukia is nearest railhead from here which connects to the capital Guwahati.
An inter-city shuttle plies daily between Dibrugarh and Guwahati.

By Road:
Digboi is well connected to the rest of the country by road. NH-38 runs through Digboi. A network of National Highways and other roads connect all important places of Assam & all the towns are well connected by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) & other tourist bus services which are run by private operators. These buses also ply to the capitals of the neighbouring states.

Local Transport: Unmetered taxis with negotiable rates depending on the distances to be travelled, Mini Coaches, Car/Taxi-Non AC & private vehicles are the main mode of local transport. It is better to make prior arrangements for a multi-destination trip as local transport may not easily be available at all destinations. The Department of Tourism offers a fleet of luxury buses and jeeps for hire at affordable prices

Digboi, one of the fascinating destinations of Assam gives the experience of the incredible culture of the state. The tourist sites to visit here are:

National Oil Park: Digboi oil-field is not just an oil-field, but an oil museum and a wildlife sanctuary of surpassed beauty. One can stand near the continent's oldest oil well-- the Discovery Well completed in 1889 AD. In the evening one may also be lucky enough to spot a herd of elephants or a royal Bengal Tiger besides some rare species of birds.

War Cemetry: The most dramatic event in Digboi's history took place during the World War II  when the belligerent Japanese got closer and were within three days marching distance of Digboi. These images come back as one kneels at the headstones at the Digboi War Cemetry, praying for a young life nipped in the bud at battle in a strange land far away from home.

Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary: Speciality of Dibru Saikhowa is its wild horses, called the Feral Horses. This sanctuary offers a safe haven for extremely rare white winged wood ducks & many migratory birds.

Margherita
This is the centre of Tea Gardens, Plywood factories and coal mines. Margherita is 14 kms east of Digboi.

Namdapha National Park
Beyond Margherita & 100 km east of Digboi, in Arunachal Pradesh is a true wilderness-not widely known. This place is a vast stretch of enchanting beauty of lush green vegetation.

Golf Course: Digboi has an 18 hole Golf courses which is considered the best in the entire upper Assam, where all important tournaments are held. There are 8 other 9 hole Golf courses with tea estates between Dibrugarh and Doom Dooma. The golf courses are:

The Tingri Golf Club,
Samdang Golf Army Golf Club,
Dinjan Kanjikoah Golf Club,
Margherita Golf Club,
Zoloni Golf Club,
Dibrugarh District Planters Golf Club &
The Naharkatia Golf Club.

Nearby Places:

The nearest notable places to Digboi are:  Dibrugarh & the capital Guwahati     

One will find several accommodations at affordable ranges at Digboi in Assam. The accommodation facilities are comfortably planned for the tourists coming from all around. Digboi has guest houses and tourist residential apartments to promote tourism here.

Digboi is not recommended as a stand alone destination, except while participating in the golf tournaments here. To enjoy it the best, it should be clubbed with the other destinations of Assam.