INTRODUCTION
Guwahati is one of the major city in Assam from commercial and industrial aspect .Guwahati is the commercial centre of North East with all major companies having regional offices in the city.Guwahati is also known as the gateway to the north-east of India and the city of Eastern Light. It has great variety and color in its natural scenery and in the culture of the people that inhabit it.ORIENTATION
Guwahati is located on banks of the Brahmaputra, which splits the town into two parts of North and South.HISTORY
History says that the reference of this place is made in the epic 'Mahabharata’. Archaeological surveys and the presence of several ancient temples in the region support the conjecture of it being an important city in antiquity.Guwahati was the capital of the demon king Naragashura.The word Guwahati came from two words namely Guwa meaning areca nut and Hat meaning market. This city was first referred by the name Pragjyotishpura followed by Kamarupa and then finally Guwahati.Though the name of the city kept changing during each dynasty the capital remained the same.FESTIVALS
Bohag Bihu is festival of the Assamese New Year which falls in mid-April. During this festival the markets and homes are flooded with sweetmeats. Durga Puja is also a prominent festival celebrated in the month of October. This is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm for a period of nine days. The Ambubashi Mela at Kamakhya Temple celebrate in the months of June-July is a popular festival which attracts pilgrims from all over the India.PLACES OF WORSHIP
Kamakhya Temple
This temple is at a distance of about 8km away from the railway station placed on the top of Nilanchal hill. This is believed to be the most powerful tantrik shrines of Shakti form of worship in the world.Navagraha Temple - This temple is situated on Chitrachal hill dedicated to "Navagraha" or the "nine planets" worship. It is an important centre of astrology and astronomy.
Umananda Temple - This temple is situated on an island in the middle of Brahmaputra and it attract major crowd of tourists with its fascinating view.
Vashistha Ashram - This is the resendtial place of where rishi Vashistha lived .There is a temple inside this ashram with waterfall and has a beautiful natural scenario. It is about 12kms from the railway station.
MONUMENTS
Madan Kamdev
This is a magnificent archaeological ruins which is at a distance of about 40 kms from Guwahati.
Tourists get to see the carvings of deities lying on a small hillock which are supposed to be erected during the period of Pala dynasty.
PLACES OF INTEREST
PARKS AND SANCTUARY
Manas Sanctuary
The Manas National Park is situated about 176 km from the Guwahati city is known for its tiger projects.
It is one of the most magnificence parks of India.
Kaziranga National Park
The famous Kaziranga National Park is famous world wide for its one-horned rhino.
This widely spread park covering an area of about 450 sq km is situated at a distance of about 200 km from Guwahati.
It is one of the major tourist attraction in India.
Assam State Zoo and Botanical Gardens
This place is located at about 5km east of the railway station. The zoo accommodates tigers, leopards, Assam's famous one horned rhinos and a rich bird life among other species.MUSEUMS
Assam State Museum
The Assam State Museum has collections of archaeology, sculpture, paintings, metal, ivory and woodwork, costumes and ethnology. There are exhibits of reconstructed huts of Assamese tribes. There are also displays of weavings and musical instruments. This museum remains closed on Mondays.Assam Forest Museum
This forest more concentrated on the forestry is situated at South Kamrup where you get see collections of timber, cane and ivory work, tusks and horns and models of buildings and bridges.Commercial Museum
Guwahati University has a commercial Museum with a collection of art and crafts, commercial products, minerals and rocks, coins etc. It is closed on Sundays and University holidays.OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
Chandubi Lake
This lake at a distance of about 64kms from the city is a natural lagoon and a picnic spot which serves well as a holiday resort with entertainments like fishing and rowing.Sualkuchi
This village is known for its manufacture of Muga - the golden silk of Assam which is not produced anywhere else in the world.
Hajo
This sacred place for Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists, at a distance of about 28km from Guwahati is situated on the bank of the Brahmaputra. It is known for its bell metal work.Powa- Mecca
This is a Muslim shrine built by Mir Lutufullah-i- Shiraji, in 1657 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shajahan.This mosque is situated near Hajo and has a tomb of Gyasuddin Aulia who made the first attempts to propagate Islam in this part of the world. The most important feature about this mosque is that the foundation partly consists of some earth brought from Mecca.Sibsagar
This leading tea and oil producing district is at a distance of about 369kms away from the city.
Sibsagar houses the highest Shiva temple in India. It is a beautiful town located around the huge Sibsagar tank,
an artificial lake constructed by Queen Madambika in 1734 A.D.
Digboi
Digboi is known as the first refinery of Asia and as the second one in the world which was established in the year 1901.
It is worth visiting this place and get to see the hundred year old Refinery and it's hundred and twelve year old oil field.
Tezpur
History says that a major war was fought between Hari(Lord Krishna) and Hara (Lord Shiva) and as a result of which the whole city was said to have been drenched in blood.
Tezpur is situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra.
Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra
This Kalakshetra which signifies a multi art complex. It is at a dispose of a grand exposition of the life and culture of the people of Assam in 1990.This complex is situated at Panjabari.Majuli
Upper Majuli is inhabited by tribes like the Mising and the Deoris and is the centre of a living heritage of colourful costumes and festivals.
Plenty of migratory birds of great varieties are also seen here.
EAT OUTS
1.PARADISE AIRPORT RESTAURANT - Guwahati Airport2.THE DOOR CHESTER RESTAURANT - Chand market
3.UTSAV RESTAURANT - Brahmachari Road
4.SAGARS IN FLIGHT - A.T. Road
5.Kasturi Restaurant - kamrup
6.Lazeez Restaurant - Kamrup
7.Akhaj Restaurant - RGB Road, Zoo Road Tiniali
8.Hotel Rajmahal- Guwahati
9.Sangai Restaurant - Train Station road
SHOPPING
The city of Guwahati has a number of fancy malls and markets in the main city area. The most popular item here in Guwahati includes bamboo and cane products. The other items in the shopping list include furniture, hairclips, fashion accessories, 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. The main area of shopping in Guwahati includes fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, Ulubari, Ganeshavri and GNB Road. There is also couple of government emporiums.
ACCOMMODATIONHIGH RANGE HOTELS1.Hotel Brahmaputra AshokMahatma Gandhi Road, Guwahati, Assam 781001 0361 2602284 2.Hotel Dynasty S S Road Lakhtokia Guwahati Manali, 781001 0361 510496 3. Hotel Rajmahal A.T. Road, Guwahati, Assam 781001 0361 522478 4.Nandan Hotel G.S. Road, Paltan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam 781008 0361 2540855 5.Ambarish Grand Residency Hotel MD Shah Road Paltan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam 0361 2605701 BUDGET HOTELS1.Mayur Hotel,Paltan Bazar, 0361 2541115 2.Blue Moon Hotels & Resorts (PVT) LTD. Latasil, Bhubon Road City – Guwahati – 781001 State – Assam Telephone – (0361) 2540059, 3.Hotel Chilarai Regency. Paltan Bazar. Guwahati-781008. Ph:- +91-361-2546877, 2639748 4. Hotel Nova Fancy Bazaar Guwahati, Kamrup, Assam 0361 - 2511464, 2633629 5.Hotel Minerva G.N.N Road, Panbazar Guwahati -1. 0361 - 2732084 HomestaySanjiwani Homestay2,Pragati Path,Mathura Nagar, Near Down-town Hospital, Dispur, Guwahati-781006 Phone: 9854034168 |
Travel Guide
Travel Information
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