Guwahati Tourism

TRAVEL GUIDE BOOK ON "The gateway to the North-East"

GUWAHATI & SHILLONG

A sprawling city located beside the mighty Brahmaputra, Guwahati is the epitome
of an amalgamation of ancient history and modernization. The largest city in all of
Assam, Guwahati stands as the gateway to the Seven Sisters of North East India.
A city shaped by time itself, Guwahati is home to age-old temples that take you
centuries back to the pages of ancient history, but it also boasts of a cutthroat
lifestyle and an electric nightlife, keeping up with the modern era of urbanisation
and commercialization. The gushing Brahmaputra river carries with it untold tales
from thousands of years past, and the peaceful ambience lingering in the city
despite its modern lifestyle is one of the main reasons you should visit Guwahati if
only to get a slice-of-life experience of the vivacious juxtaposition of the old and the
new.
Guwahati is home to a huge number of old temples, all of which have interesting
stories and legends behind them. The Kamakhya temple, arguably the most visited
temple in the city, is a temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya, who was also
known as the goddess of desire. Associated with a legend that finds its way in the
pages of history, this temple hosts the annual Manasha Puja and the Ambubachi
Mela, celebrations which see pilgrims from far and wide congregating to attend
them. Other temples in Guwahati worth visiting include the Umananda temple and
the Navagraha temple.
If you’re curious about the local folklore and culture, a visit to the Assam State
Museum, which houses artefacts belonging to ancient times, will give you an
authentic taste of the local history and its development through the years.
The Guwahati Zoo, also known as the Assam State Zoo, is the biggest zoo in the
entirety of North East India and houses a huge number of animals such as
monkeys, rhinos and pelicans, as well as a wide variety of exotic flora and fauna.
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Places to Visit In Guwahati : Kamakhya Temple Bhubaneswari Temple

Dedicated to Goddess
Bhuvaneshwari, this white shrine
perched atop a hill adjacent to the
city is a major draw amongst the
religious pilgrims. The temple
itself provides visitors with a
magnificent panoramic view of the
city of Guwahati.
The enchanting view of the
sunset on the Brahamputra River
as viewed from the hill attracts
many tourists. Though the temple
is high upon a hill, it requires a 20
minutes walk from the Bus Stand
below to reach the
Bhubaneshwari temple.

How to Reach Kamakhya Temple

How to Reach Umananda
Kamakhya Temple is situated on the Nilachal Hills. You can hire auto rickshaw
or taxi from any part of Guwahati. Regular buses of Assam Tourism
Temple
Department also ply to and fro the temple from various parts of the city. ASTC The Umananda Temple can be
also run bus services to the temple from the Kachari bus stoppage. The buses reached easily from Guwahati and
operate from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at a gap of every one hour. You can reach North Guwahati by ferries. Ferries are
Kamakhya Temple by two rock-cut stairs starting from the bottom of the available from the Fancy Bazaar ghat
and the Sukleshwar ghats. In spite of
Nilachal Hills right to the temple. On regular days, the temple remains open being expensive, travelling in ferries is
from 08:00 AM - 01:00 PM and 02:30 PM- 05:30 PM. However, on special quite an experience. Tourists get to
days, like Durga Puja, the timings changes are as follows:- experience the might of the
5:30 AM - Snana of the Pithasthana, 6:00 AM - Nitya puja, Brahmaputra River, and the view is
breathtaking. However, a much
8:00 AM - Temple door open for devotees
cheaper option is to avail the Inland
1:00 PM - Temple door closed for food offerings to the goddess Water transport which connects the
Kamakhya Temple is one of the most revered shrines of Goddess Shakti in India. Peacock island to Guwahati from
Uzanbazaar Ferry Ghat.
According to the Hindu scriptures, there are four important Shakti Peethas
(Temples with highest powers of divinity) in the country and Kamakhya Temple is
one of them. Kamakhya Temple celebrates the power of the woman to give birth
and is regarded as extremely auspicious among the followers of the Tantrik sect of Umananda Temple - is located on Peacock Island that lies on the mighty Brahmaputra
Hinduism. It was built and reconstructed multiple times between the 8th and 17th River. This serene place of worship is named after and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The name
Centuries and is a spectacle in itself. 'Umananda' comes from the two Hindi words, namely 'Uma', which was another name for Lord
Shiva’s wife and 'Ananda' which means happiness. In fact, Peacock Island is one of the smallest
The main entrance of the Kamakhya temple is beautifully designed with simple inhabited island and possibly one of the most beautiful too. The surroundings of the temple and the
yet elegant carvings that are decorated with colourful flowers. The temple has a divine but understated beauty of the island make it a haven for nature lovers.
massive dome which overlooks the quaint Nilanchal Hills in the background. It is The temple is situated on the top of a hill called Bhasmakala or Bhasmakuta. The island was
especially decked up during the Ambubachi Festival and fare that is held for 3-4 originally built in 1694 A.D. by King Gadadhar Singha. However, it was destroyed by an earthquake
Days in the month of June. in 1897 and later rebuilt by a wealthy local merchant. The Umananda temple was crafted
beautifully by the skilled Assamese workmen. Aside from Lord Shiva, there are 10 other Hindu
Gods whose idols reside in the shrines.
Aside from being a place of worship, The Umananda temple is also a pleasurable exception to the
typical places of worship. Devoid of the cacophony of forceful religion, this place has a serene
environment which makes you want to sit down for a while and absorb the beauty of the place.
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 Assam State Museum
How to Reach Assam State
Museum
It is located in Dighali Phukti
tank which is 10 minutes of
walk away from the Guwahati
Railway station. You can take
a rickshaw from railway
station to the museum.
Time Required: 2-3 hrs
Timings: Summers: 10:00
AM - 5:00 PM,
Winters: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
(Closed on Mondays, 2nd,
and 4th Saturday)

Assam State Museum, also known as Assam Rajyik State Museum, is located in
the heart of Guwahati city in Dighali Pukhuri tank. It is one of the most famous
museums of the North- East India that gives insights into the rich culture of ancient
history and as well as the modern history of North-East India. Its prominent
location in the center of the city attracts a large number of history buffs and
tourists visiting Guwahati.
The museum was established during the colonization of British in India in the year
1940. It was set up by the Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti, Assam research society
to showcase the history, sculptures, and handicrafts of North East India. The
museum was developed under the presidency of Kanklal Baruah, and it was taken
by the state soon after his death in the year 1953.
The Museum offers an extensive collection of artifacts and sculptures dating back
to the 5th-12th century to the new artifacts from the World War II. This museum is
a great place to visit if you want a sneak-peak of the history of the North-east
India.