Guwahati

The erstwhile Pragjyotishpur (the City of Eastern Light), Guwahati derived its name from two Assamese words, “Guwa”, which means areca nut and “Haat”, meaning market. Set among the beautiful hills of the eastern edges of the Himalayan mountain range, it is positioned in the north eastern state of Assam. Guwahati has in the recent times developed into one of the finest tourist destinations in India.

Tourist Attractions in Guwahati

The city of Guwahati has on offer numerous tourist sites, some religious and some natural, for the travelers. These tourist attractions in Guwahati see the footfalls of several tourists from far and wide all the year round.

Kamakhya Temple:Famously known as the best among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the world, the Kamakhya temple stands on the top of the Nilachal hill, approximately 10 km from the railway station. It was actually constructed in the tenth century by the Koch king, Naranarayan. Till today animal sacrifices are rife here to appease the Goddess.

Bhubaneshwari Temple: Higher to the Kamakhya Temple is located the temple of Bhubaneshwari. From here you can have a panoramic view of the town of Guwahati.

Shiva Temple: Reachable by motor boats and public ferries from Umananda Ghat, the Shiva Temple of Umananda is positioned on an island amid the Brahmaputra River.

Navagraha Temple: In eastern part of the city of Guwahati is located the Navagraha temple on top of a hill. It is referred to as the “temple of nine planets”, - a center of astrology and astronomy.

Purva Tirupati Sri Balaji Temple: Covering a huge area of two acres at Betkuchi, the Purva Tirupati Sri Balaji Temple is one more tourist attraction in Guwahati.

Vashistha Ashram: At approximately 12 km from the railway station lies the Vashistha Ashram (the abode of sage Vashistha). It is an interesting old shrine, amid lots of greens and three lovely rivulets, Kanta, Lalita, and Sandhya.

Deepor Beel, Dighalipukhuri, Silpukhuri, Nakkatapukhuri and Jorphukhur are among the various natural and artificial lakes that are some of the finest sightseeing options.

Shopping in Guwahati

The city of Guwahati has a number of markets or shopping areas in the main city area. They are fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, Ulubari, Ganeshavri and GNB Road. Tourists can check out the government emporiums in Guwahati for typical items from all the states in the North East.

While shopping in Guwahati you will find a wide choice of bamboo and cane products, from exquisitely made furniture to even hairclips and fashion accessories. Other gift items that you can buy in Guwahati are wall hangings, caps and shawls. In Guwahati, you can also shop for fascinating apparels made of Assamese silks and cottons with threadwork displaying traditional motifs.

Fast Facts

Population: 808,021

Best time to visit:  October to April.

Languages: Assamese, Hindi, English, Bengali

STD Code: 0361

When to Go

Best Season and Weather

Not many people come to visit Guwahati in isolation. People traveling to various parts of North east end up passing through or staying for a day here. The summer months are damp and hot and must be avoided. Monsoons can be quite bad with the Brahmaputra swelling up and hampering transportation options. Winter months are the best for visting North East.

Useful Facts

The best months to visit Guwahati are January, February, November, December.

A visit to Guwahati should be avoided in the months of March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

How to reach Guwahati

Guwahati regarded, as the gateway to the northeastern states is easily accessible by air, rail and road.

By Air:Guwahati is connected by air to the major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh and Jorhat. Delhi and Kolkata are just one and a half hours away from Guwahati.

By Rail:The Paltan Bazaar Railway Station in Guwahati is an important terminus on the North-East Frontier Railway. It is well connected with all the major cities of India.

By Road:Guwahati is the hub of the road network to the north eastern region and to centers west of Assam. The distance between Guwahati and Kolkata is 1151 km and between Darjeeling and Guwahati is 627 km.