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Straddling either banks of the
Brahmaputra
, Guwahati-said to be the legendary Pragiyotishpur or City of Eastern Light-is a
bustling, busy and crowded city. Guwahati is actually two words: Guwa meaning
areca nut and Hat, meaning market of market for areca nuts.
Although Guwahati is the most
important commercial hub of the region, this capital of
Assam
is located at the adjoining
township
of
Dispur
.
Places of Tourist Interest
Kamakhya
Temple
Guwahati has several places of
historical interest. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the
Kamakhya
Temple
atop Nilachal hill, where the Goddess Kamakhya is worshipped and which commands a
majestic view of the city and the river. The ponds here are home to giant turtles
which are quite used to being fed by visitors.
Shiva temple
Another temple which draws people
is the Shiva temple on the
island
of
Umananda
. This site is especially busy during the Shiva Ratri festival when the god is
worshipped and boats, packed with pilgrims, ply to the island. There are
other centers of religious and archaeological
interest such as the temples of Nabagraha and Basists as well as of
Janardhana.
Those who are interested in
cruises can take one, either on the ferries that travel regularly between
Sulkheshwar Ghat and North Guwahati
or travel in style in the vessels of the State Government’s Tourism Department.
State
Museum
The
State
Museum
is a must for visitors, with exhibits which date to the 7th Century
A.D., stone sculptures and bronzes.The collection includes stone and
copper plate inscriptions dating from the 5th century, a 12th century
sculpture of 'Surya', terracotta pieces and costumes. Also see the
weaving exhibit and sculpture gallery.
Excursion
Sualkuchi is an hour’s drive
from Guwahati and produces the golden silken thread of which
Assam
is famous. One can see the silk begin its journey from the cocoon stage, to its
unraveling and then to the loom and finally as a saree or the traditional Mekhala
Chador, the two piece saree, which women wear on festive occasions.
Hajo, 25 kms. West of
Guwahati,
is the site of the Pua-Mecca mosque, set up by an Iraqi prince who turned preacher
and travelled all the way to Assam
in the 12th century to spread the Prophet’s teachings.
Hayagrina
Madhava
Temple
Hajo is
revered by Muslims and Hindus, for in the town is the
Hayagrina
Madhava
Temple
, reached by way of a long stone stairway. At the base of the stairway is a large
pond where resides one of Hajo’s most famous residents: a giant turtle. The town
is also well-known for its bell metal work, of plates and serving bowls.
Madan Kamdev
Madan Kamdev, about 35 km. Away,
is an archaeological site where erotic sculptures and other stone carvings abound.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga, is one of the most
visited wildlife reserves of India
and figures quite often on the itinerary of the discerning tourist from around the
world.
Kaziranga is
spread over more than 430 sq. kms. At the sanctuary, you can sight herds of wild
elephants, the massive wild buffalo, huge numbers of deer- the hog deer, the bara
singha of twelve antlered and the large and stately sambhar. Wild boar abound as
do many water birds as well as migratory species, including hornbills, storks,
such as the Great Adjutant Stork and cranes.
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