Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden is Guwahati's main family-friendly wildlife stop, set within the green Hengrabari reserve forest. The setting matters: even before the animal enclosures, the trees and slopes make it feel like a break from the city.
Standards and exhibits vary, as they do in many older zoos, but the scale and local importance make it travel-worthy. Go early in the day, when the heat is easier and the grounds are more pleasant to walk.