Situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, Guwahati is the largest city in the state of Assam and the gateway to the northeastern states. Guwahati is the business hub of the region and the site for the world's largest tea auctions.

History of Guwahati

The history of Guwahati dates back to the epic times. Guwahati is mentioned in the epic 'Mahabharata' as the capital of the demon king Narakasura of Pragijyotispura.So the city came to be known as Pragijyotishpura or 'Light of the East'. It is also the ancient land of 'Kamarupa', the land where the hindu God of beauty, fertility and source of life was reborn. The present day Kamrup administrative district under which Guwahati comes retains the name. The name Guwahati is an amusing combination of two words- Guwa meaning areca nut and Hat meaning market.

Attractions in Guwahati

The prominent tourist attractions in Guwahati are its ancient temples. The Kamakhya Temple situated atop the Nilachal Hill is considered to be the most sacred among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the world. Built in the 10th century by the Koch King Naranarayan, the Kamakhya Temple is famous for the ritual of animal sacrifice to appease the Gods. Above Kamakhya is a small temple, Bhubhaneshwari that gives a breathtaking view of the city of Guwahati. Umananda temple dedicated to Shiva is one of the most beautiful temples in Assam. The temple stands on an island and you have to take a motorboat or a public ferry from Umananda Ghat to reach the temple. The Navagraha temple in east Guwahati is as the name suggests the "temple of the nine planets," and was an ancient seat of astrology and astronomy. Housed in a red beehive-shaped dome, the central lingam is encircled by further nine representing the planets.

About 12 kms to the south of Guwahati is the Vashistha Ashram, which is believed to be the place where the famous sage Vasishta lived.

Besides the temple tour, Guwahati also has some interesting tourist attractions. Guwahati Zoo should be on the itinerary if you are a wild life enthusiast because it is the largest natural zoo of the country. There are various museums too like the State Museum, Anthropological Museum, Forest Museum, and Cottage Industries Museum, which are treasure houses of Assam's rich cultural past. The Guwahati planetarium, located on MG Road will also be a fascinating experience. To get a real experience of the rich arts of the Assam you should stopover at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Panjabari.
Excursions around Guwahati

Excursions from Guwahati can be made to interesting places like the Manas wildlife sanctuary, 176 kms from the city and the only wildlife reserve under Project Tiger.Pabitora, a small wildlife sanctuary about 60 kms from Guwahati. offers the pleasure of watching rhinos and various species of deer. Hajo, 25 km kms west of Guwahati has the famous Hayagriba Madhaya Temple, which can be reached by a long stone stairway. At the foot of the stairway there is a pond with a giant turtle considered to be one of the oldest residents of Hajo. Chandubi, a natural lagoon about 64 kms from Guwahati, is a popular picnic spot with options for fishing and rowing. Madan Kamdev, about 35 kms from Guwahati is famous for its archeological ruins with an ancient Durga temple. If you want to have see the traditional art of silk weaving, you should visit Sualkuchi, the weaver's village 32 kms from Guwahati. Located 181 kms east of Guwahati is Tezpur, a must see place famous for its historical attractions and adventure sports. The religiously inclined can make a visit to Barpeta, 185 kms from Guwahati, to the monastery and shrine dedicated to the Vaishnavite saint, Sankardeva.

Festivals in Guwahati

Bohag Bihu is the most famous festival in Guwahati, which falls sometime in mid-April. It marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, when the markets and homes are flodded with sweetmeats. Durga Puja is also a prominent festival celebrated in the month of October. 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.

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