| Northeastern
India |
| Destination:
Guwahati |
| Exploring
India is always an experience of a lifetime and it may not be possible
for one individual to cover the whole Indian subcontinent during lifespan.
As many of us travel to experience and share some of the unique locations,
I am trying to experience India’s northeastern region, which is still a
mystery and is least explored.
Guwahati (also
spelt as Gauhati) is the gateway to Assam and the Northeastern region is
a fast growing metropolis and the most important city of Assam. Once known
as “Pragjyotispura” or “Light of the East”, the city is situated on the
southern bank of the river Brahmaputra.
Guwahati |
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Is the nerve
point of all the business activities of the whole northeastern region and
also is the main educational center of the northeastern region.
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When To
Go:
It remains
pleasant all through the year but the best time to visit is between October
and April. |
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| Getting
There:
Almost all
the major international Air Lines fly to Indira Gandhi International Airport
in New Delhi as well as other major touchdown points such as Mumbai, Chennai,
Kolkatta, Bangalore etc. from where a direct flight option is available
for Guwahati.
Jet Airways,
Indian Airlines and Air Sahara are the three major airplane operator within
India and all of them have convenient connections to Guwahati. For accurate
information on your scheduled date, please check with your travel agent
for details or you can check www.airindia.com.
The city is
also connected with almost all the major Railway stations of India and
you can avail the option of arriving by train with Rajdhani Express running
daily from New Delhi. |
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Offshore
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| The Guwahati
Railway station is located in Paltanbazar, which is in the center of the
city and the Assam State Transport Corporation Bus stand is adjacent to
the Railway Station, which also has a Left Luggage Service (04:30am – 10:30pm).
The Paltanbazar area is a place of various business activities and is chaotic
too. It has some of the cheap hotels of the city and has share Taxi service
for the airport from near the Hotel Nandan. Within the ASTC Bus Stand Complex,
there is a Tourist Information Center run by Vraman Versa Holidays along
with the Assam Tourism Development Corporation, which can provide you with
the up-to-date information on the region and can also arrange for your
stay (Ask for the Paying Guest Options) and sightseeing within the city
and across the state.
What To
See While In Guwahati:
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Kamakhya
Temple: At distance of 8km from the town, the temple is situated
in the Nilachal Hill overlooking the Brahmaputra River and the Guwahati
City is one of the most important Shakti temple of India. Thousands of
visitor’s offers prayers to Kamakhya everyday and the temple is being renovated
in recent times with the objective of providing visitors with better facilities.
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It is one
of very few temples in India who in spite of having
strict Hindu rituals offers western tourist to visit the inner sanctum.
Animal sacrifice is very much a part of the ritual here. It is believed
that the blessings of Goddess Kamakhya may help a barren woman to bear
child.
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Navagraha
Temple: Located on top of a hill surrounded by trees and monitored
by monkeys, Navagraha Temple or the “Temple of Nine Planets” is an ancient
seat of Astrology and astronomy.
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Umananda
Temple: It’s a Shiva Temple, which is located in the middle of
the Brahmaputra River near Guwahati and said to be one of the smallest
human inhabited river island in the world. The presence of few Golden Langoor
attracts visitors to this temple.
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Assam State
Museum: Located near the Standard Chartered Bank on the G.N.B Road,
the museum displays various aspects of Assam’s Culture and has Epigraphy,
Sculpture, Natural History, crafts and few other sections as well.
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Srimanta
Sankaradev Kalaksetra: At a distance of 10 km from the city, it
is a modern cultural complex at Panjabari. Cultural events, Musical &
Dance performances are held regularly.
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Jolporee:
A luxury cruise vessel run by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation
offers a thrilling river cruise experience on the Brahmaputra river which
runs daily during the evening time.
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Sualkuchi:32
km from Guwahati on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River, Sualkuchi
is famous for Assam Silk.
Accommodations:
The city has
plenty of options for the travelers. Standard Hotel option is available
in Paltanbazar.Some of them are: Hotel Mahalaxmi (Ph: +91 361 2602063/2602508);
Hotel Vikas International (Ph: +91 361 2600338/2635037/38/39); Hotel Nandan
(Ph: +91 361 2522464/65/66); Anada Lodge (Ph: +91 361 2544832); Hotel Tibet
(Ph: +91 361 2639600).
In the Luxury
range: Hotel Landmark (Ph: +91 361 2455248/2528218); Hotel Rajmahal (Ph:+91
361 2522476/2511602-607); Hotel Dynasty(Ph: +91 361 2510496-99); Hotel
Brahmaputra Ashok(Ph: +91 361 2602282-85); Hotel Belle Vue(Ph: +91 361
2540847).
For Paying
Guest Options call +91 361 2226908,09864042282. Best recommended for single
woman travelers and budget class globetrotters.
Dining:
Guwahati offers
a wide variety of eating options to choose from where most of the restaurants
concentrating on Mughlai and Chinese food. If you are interested to taste
the local Assamese cuisine visit Paradise in the Silpukhuri area of the
city. Xica, another newly opened restaurant near Paradise offers Thai and
Mexican dishes. If you are either Mexican or a Thai national, do visit
to find out the taste.
Shopping:
Paltanbazar
along with Panbazar and Fancy Bazar has the distinction of being the major
shopping areas of the city. Some shops in Panbazar sells the Famous Muga
Silk of Assam.
Emergency:
ISD /STD
Code: 91 is the India Country code and 361 is the Guwahati code.
Police:
2540138,2540113
Ambulance:
2544356,2544357 (GLP Social Circle)
Fire Control:
2540222
Post Office:
General Post
Office (2541293), Near the State Bank of India, Panbazar.
Telegraph
Office:
Central Telegraph
Office (2542892), Panbazar.
Foreign
Exchange:
Standard Chartered
Bank (2540597/2632255), G.N.B. Road.
State Bank
of India (2543576/2540634)
Information
Offices:
1. Directorate
of Tourism, Station Road, Guwahati 781 001,Ph.: 2544475,
2. Assam
Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Ulubari, Guwahati 781 007, Ph.: 2454421
3.
Vraman Versa Holidays, # ATDC Information Center, ASTC Bus Complex, Paltanbazar,
Guwahati 781 007, Ph.: 2607058
Rajdeep Bhattacharjee
is a Travel Writer and can be contacted at rajdeep@ecotourism.cc
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