Guwahati Travel Guide

Guwahati, also known as the "City of Eastern Light" is the largest city, not only in Assam, but also the entire north east. One of the fastest developing cities in the North East, Guwahati is an important educational and commercial hub and is home to many top class colleges and universities, such as Indian Institute to Technology ( Guwahati), Gauhati University and Cotton College to name a few.

Guwahati is rich in wildlife and animals like Asian elephants, pythons and tigers can be found here.

Climate of Guwahati : 
Guwahati experiences a moderate climate. Monsoons are during June to October, during which it rains heavily.

Best Time to Visit Guwahati : the best time to visit Guwahati is between October to April.

Crowded Fancy Market in Guwahati	Priests at Kamakhya Temple, Nilachal Hill	Saraighat Bridge over Brahmaputra River
Ferry at Brahmaputra River	Steps leading to the Aswaklanta Temple	Chinese fishing nets used for fishing in Assam

Tourist Attractions in Guwahati

Being well connected to the rest of the country, Guwahati witnesses many tourists year after year. Here are some of Guwahati's popular tourist destinations:

• Assam State Museum : Run by the government of Assam, the Assam state museum has an impressive collection of antiques dating back o the pre historic times. The collection comprises of metal, ivory paintings and ancient costumes etc. Constructed in 1940, this museum has taken the initiative to incorporate the lifestyle of the Assamese community. Photography here is permitted only after permission has been obtained.
  
  
• Assam State Zoo : Spread over 130 hectares, the Assam State Zoo is home to some rare species of animals, such as the white tigers, one horned rhinos and leopards to name a few. Apart from animals, the zoo also has many different species of birds as well.
  
  
• Guwahati Planetarium : The Guwahati Planetarium is an excellent place to visit by children and those interested in science. Apart from the regular sky watching, there are special shows which are projected on an overhead screen in the planetarium.
  
  
• Bhubaneswari Temple : Perched on a hill, the Bhubaneswari temple is one of the most important tourist attractions in Guwahati. Dedicated to Goddess Bhubaneswari, this temple is set in beautiful surroundings and provides a beautiful view of the city of Guwahati. The view of the sun setting over the Brahmaputra is also another reason why many tourists visit this temple.
  
  
• Kaziranga National Park : Located 200 km from Guwahati, the Kaziranga National Park is one of the main attractions in the state of Assam. Spread over an area of 45 sq km, this national park is known for being home to and breeding the one horned rhino. Apart from that, this national park is also home to the Pond Heron, Fishing Eagles and Shallow Water Fowls, among others.
  
  
• Bamuni Lake : Located 40 km from Guwahati, this is a great place for fishing. Fishing gear and other required items are available at the pond itself.

How to Reach Guwahati

Being one of the largest cities in the north east, Guwahati is very well connected to the rest of the country. Here is how you can reach Guwahati.

How to Reach Guwahati by Rail : Guwahati has its own railway station called the Paltan Bazaar Railway Station. Here are a few trains connecting to Guwahati from various parts of the country:

• Guwahati Express: From Bangalore
• Porvotr S Krnti: From Delhi
• ScGhy Exp: From Hyderabad
• Brahmaputra Mail: From Delhi

How to Reach Guwahati by Road : Guwahati is very well connected by road to neighbouring towns and cities. Volvo buses run at regular intervals and are a convenient ay to get to and around Guwahati.

How to Reach Guwahati by Air : Guwahati is served by the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport, which is located 20 km out of the city. This airport is connected to all major cities in India and abroad.

Getting Around Guwahati : The biggest challenge in Guwahati is the lack of road space, which makes traveling within the city difficult. To get around Guwahati one can take buses run by the Assam State Transport Corporation. Another option is something called a "Trekker Service", which is essentially a soft top multi-utility vehicle with a seating capacity of ten to twelve people. Though as a warning, these vehicles are usually overloaded and travel very fast, causing frequent accidents. Auto rickshaws which run by the meter are another good option to get around the city. A Metro Rail project has also been planned to reduce the congestion on the streets.

Hotels in Guwahati : One of Assam's biggest and most popular cities, Guwahati also acts as a gateway to the rest of the north east, as a result of which the city is very popular and constantly visited by people. Due to this Guwahati has a wide range of options for accommodation. Here are a few of them.

Budget Hotels in Guwahati:

Hotel Suradevi MN Road Guwahati

Prashaanti Tourist Lodge Railway Station Road Pan Bazaar Guwahati Assam - 781001

Mid Range Hotels in Guwahati:

Sundarban Guest House ME Road Train Station Area Guwahati

Hotel Prague Continental M Nehru Road Pan Bazaar Guwahati

Top End Hotels in Guwahati:

• Dynasty
  SS Road
  Lakhtokia
  Guwahati
  Phone Number: 0361 611 0555

Shopping in Guwahati

Items one can shop for in Guwahati include tea, silks, bamboo and cane decorative items. There are government run emporiums too which sell items at a fixed price. Paltan Bazaar is the main shopping area, though apart from that you can go to Fancy Bazaar and GNB Road. While shopping at local markets make sure you bargain hard to secure a good deal.

Guwahati Cuisine

Assamese cooking involves a lot of drying and fermenting. The cuisine of this region uses very little oil and spices and has a characteristically strong flavour due to the use of fermented vegetables and fish. A typical Assamese meal would begin with "khar" and ends with "tenga", a sour dish. Apart from that, Assamese consume a lot of rice, fish and meat in their food. Most Assamese like to eat paan (betel nut) after their meal. Unlike the rest of the North East, beef is not commonly consumed in Assam, because majority of the population is Hindu.

Restaurants in Guwahati

Here are a few popular restaurants in Guwahati:

• Tandoori : Located inside the premises of the Dynasty Hotel, this restaurant is famous for serving North Indian food like kebabs and daal and rotis.
  
  
• Kurry Pot : Famous for its wide and delicious range of dosas.
  
  
• Beatrix : Popular with students, this restaurant is famous for its Momos and Hakka Noodles.
  
  
• Paradise : This is where you should go if an authentic Assamese thali is what you're looking for.

Last Updated on: 2^nd April 2013



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