 Guwahati
is the largest city in Assam and also
in the entire North East of India. With a population of a
million, Guwahati is the gateway to the North East. Dishpur,
The capital of Assam, is a part of the Guwahati City.
Situated on the bank of River Brahmaputra,
Guwahati is the centre of socio-cultural, political and economic
activity of the entire region. Guwahati is situated in the
Kamrup district of Assam. The name Guwahati is derived from
‘Guwa’ meaning betlenut and ‘Hat’
meaning market in Assamese. Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English
are commonly spoken and understood in the city.
Guwahati is well connected to the rest of
the country by air, train and road. There are direct train
and flight services from most major Indian cities such as
New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore etc. The LGB
International Airport is connected by air with major cities
in the country. Road transport network in Guwahati is also
very strong with regular bus services to all the major destinations
in North East is available. Guwahati is connected to the rest
of India through a small corridor in West Bengal known as
the “Siliguri Corridor” or the “Chickens
Neck”. The Head office of naturebeyond is located in
this corridor. naturebeyond North East regional office is
also situated in the city of Guwahati.
 Tourist
Attractions
There are several tourist attractions within the city of Guwahati
and in its outskirts. Within a few hours’ drive from
Guwahati, several places of tourist attraction are located
including the Kaziranga NP, Shillong
and many other natural parks, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations.
Kamakhya Temple : The Kamakhya
temple is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in India.
The Temple complex is situated atop the Nilachal Hills in
Guwahati close to the Brahmaputra River. According to Kalika
Purana (ca 20th century), the temple denotes the place where
Sati used to visit Shiva. It is also the spot where the “Yoni”
of sati fell when Shiva danced with her corpse. The present
temple structure was constructed in 1656 by the coach kings.
At an altitude of about 800 feet from Sea level. The top of
the Nilachal hill provides excellent view of the Brahmaputra
River as well as parts of Guwahati City.
Basistha Ashram : About 12km from the city
centre, the Basistha Asram is said to be established by Rishi
Basistha. It is a pilgrim centre and picnic spot.
Umananda Temple : This Temple is located
on the middle of the Brahmaputra river on an island known
as the peacock island. Boat riders are available for visitors
intending to visit the temple.
Pan Bazaar and Paltan Bazar: Located close
to the Guwahati railway station, this is the area where most
of the hotels are located. The area is dotted with shops selling
books, traditional art and crafts, traditional garments etc.
that might be of tourist interest. Many important city attractions
such as the Cotton College, Digholy Pukhury, The State Museum,
etc. are located nearby. The regional bus stand (ASTC) is
also located in the area. The area is the busiest and most
congested in Guwahati.
G S Road : This is the
most important road in Guwahati connecting Ganeshguri and
Paltan Bazaar. Most of the major offices and modern shopping
complexes are located here.
Deepor Bil : It is a large natural wetland
spread over more than 4 sq. km. area. The place is declared
as a Bird Sanctuary. A large number of avifauna including
varieties of migratory birds can be seen here.
Assam State Museum : This is the largest
museum of its kind in the North East India. The museum has
several sections and showcases the rich history and culture
of the region.
Zoo cum Botanical Garden: Covering an area
of 175 hetares of land, this zoo-cum Botanical Garden is a
house for endangered and rare species of wildlife and plants. |
