Guwahati - On the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra
     
The mighty Brahmaputra flows beside the Guwahati city. Formerly referred to as ‘Kamrupa’, the city is one of the fastest developing cities in India. This city is the gateway to seven other sates of north-east India. The skyline of the city today is a fine blend of old world charm and new age shopping malls and multi-storied buildings. Guwahati is also a revered destination because of its holy shrines like the Kamkhya and the Nava Graha temple. Assamese are very warm and hospitable and tourists, especially backpackers, will find their hospitable nature very helpful in exploring the city. A tranquil evening on the banks of the Brahmaputra River is a life long cherishing experience.

Modes of transport

The distance between Guwahati and New Delhi is around 2000 kms.
Air: All the leading carriers have flights flying to Guwahati, like Kingfisher Class, Kingfisher Red, Indigo, Spicejet, Jet Lite, Jet Airways and Air India.

Rail: Trains running between New Delhi and Guwahati are Rajdhani Express which reaches up to the city of Dibrugarh in upper Assam; North East Express; Purvottar Sampark Kranti; and Abodh Assam. All the aforementioned trains run between New Delhi and Guwahati Railway station. A train by the name of Brahmaputra Express runs from Old Delhi Railway station.

Moving within the city: There are three popular modes of transports to commute within the city: buses, auto-rickshaws and hand pulled rickshaws. Buses are easily available, but they are crowded during office hours. Auto-rickshaws are costly and hand-pulled rickshaws are reasonable and comfortable to commute within a particular area.

Places to see:

• Kamakhya temple, a revered shrine, has a lot of mythological connotations. The temple is located over the Kamkhya Hill. It also offers an awesome view of the Guwahati city.
• Nava-graha temple, a holy shrine, is located over a hillock.
• Gandhi Mandap, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, is located over a hillock. Instead of taking an auto or a taxi, it will be a more enjoyable experience if you trek up the way.
• A lot of cruises are organized on the Brahmaputra River. The cruises are enjoyable in evening.
• Umananda Temple and island is a small island with a temple called Umanada. To reach the temple, tourists have to board a ferry. The ride is very enjoyable.
• A ferry ride between Guwahati and North Guwahati.
• Lounge on the banks of Brahmaputra River
• Guwahati is a city of hillocks. A trek up and down these hillocks is great for travellers looking for some soft adventure.
• There is a place called ‘Kharguli’ in Guwahati. The place is spread over a few hillocks and situated on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra. Tourists can trek up to the top of the highest point and can enjoy a pristine view of the Brahmaputra River.

Places to eat

Guwahati has a plethora of eating joints and small fast food outlets. A few have satiated the taste buds of Guwahatians for years. Don’t forget to enjoy the noodles at a small eating joint in a place called Panbazaar. The eating joint is bang opposite a very famous sweet shop called Guwahati Dairy. There is another famous eating joint called ‘Momo Ghar’ near a popular cultural centre called ‘Rabindra Bhavan’. The pork momos of this restaurant are yummy and mouth watering. The sweet shops are popular for Bengali sweets. Two not to miss delicacy in sweets are ‘Goza’ and ‘Lobongo’. There are few upmarket restaurants as well that serve ethnic Assamese cuisine. The most popular of them is ‘Paradise’ in the Silpukhuri area of Guwahati.

Places to shop

The popular shopping areas of Guwahati are Fancy Bazaar, Panbazaar, Paltanbazaar and Ganeshguri. The old shops are being replaced by big retail outlets and malls. If you are looking forward to buying ethnic handicrafts and artifacts, then there are few stores in the Ambari area of Guwahati, known as Jagran, Artfed and Pragjyotika.

Article by A.Sarwar Borah

An Indian Backpacker