Guwahati is a modern cosmopolitan city with a Heritage flavour . It is the biggest city in Eastern India after Kolkata . Guwahati sightseeing tour have some Forest Safari , Some ancient Hindu Temples or Islam Dargah and some Heritage sites . Guwahati is home to maa kamakhya temple which is infamous for the epicentre of Tantric rituals . In Guwahati there were lots of ancient temples like sri Haygriv Mahadev Temple , Umananda Mandir , Kedareswar Temple and Basistha Temple . Your Guwahati trip will be uncomplete , if you don’t visit the UNESCO recognized Forest Manas and Kaziranga which are famous for the one horn Rhino . Assam state Museum and Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra are the prominent places to visit in Guwahati .
guwahati tourist places :
Guwahati has lots of places to visit . This list contains places which are situated inside the city or just outskirt of the city .
Hajo :
Hajo is a place which is situated just 30 KM from the Guwahati city . This place is famous for the religious harmony . Some famous religious places of hindus , Muslims and Buddhist are coexist here . This places were called “Panchatirtha” as it has five famous religious sites like Haygriva Mahadeva Temple , Kedareswar Mahadeva Temple , Kameswar Temple , Poe Macca Dargah and Shah Amal Majar . Most of this places were situated in the hill top and nearby to each other .
Poe Macca Dargah :
This dargah is holy among the local Muslims . It was established on the tomb of 12 th century persian religious leader Gisuddin Auliya . He come here with his 70 disciples. carrying the holy soil from mecca.
People believe that , visiting and praying here will fulfill 1/4 th benefit of visiting the Mecca . For that reason word “poe” is used here which means one quarter .This was situated in the hill top of Garurachala hill . From this place you can enjoy the panoramic view of the near by Forest .Prasadam was distributed in a certain time in this Dargah .
This dargah is opened 24 hours .
Haygriva Mahadeb Temple
This is a mediaval HIndu temple which is situated upon the Monikut hill in the Kamrup district of Assam . It was established by the king Raghudeva Narayan in 1583 .
Inside the temple there is a Vishnu statue . In his left is Jagannath and in the right side is the Sri Krishna . Inside the temple there is five oil lamps which always lighting . This lamps were called Akhanda Pradip .
In the outer wall of this temple , there are statues of 10 avatars of Vishnu and lots of elephants faces . Beside this temple there is a smaller Laxmi Temple .
This temple is opened from the 4 am to 10 pm daily .
Umananda Mandir
This temple is situated in the world’s smallest river island – Mayur Island which is situated inside the Bhrambhaputra river . This temple is dedicated to Shiva . When you just enter the temple there is a small Ganesha and Mouse statue .
The only way to reach there is by the stemer .This steamers will drop you in the jetty . From here you have to climb to the temple by stairs . Inside the temple there is a cave type of structure under which the actual deity reside .
The temple is pened daily from 9 :30 am – 5 : 30 pm . You have to come back in the jetty before 5:30 because this is the last boat from here .
Basistha Temple :
This is one of the most popular temple in Guwahati city . It is said in the Mythology that Rishih Vasistha meditate in this place . Historical evidence also confirms that a stone temple was found in this place of 11 th century . There is also another temple of Ganesha and Durga inside this complex .
Buses will directly come to the temple gate . After that you have to walk a litlebit . A small stream of water passing by this temple . Garbhanga National Park is just beside this temple .
The temple is opened daily from 5am – 8 pm .
Kamakhya Temple :
This temple of Kamakhya (a form of Kali ) is one of the 51 shakti peethas of sati and one of the most famous temple of kali in eastern India . It is situated in the Nilachal hills and is the centre of the Tantric practices and Aghori sadhus .
This temple was established around 8-9 th century . Different dynasty ruled Guwahati and this temple has been the pride for their Kingdom .
Ambubachi Mela is the annual fair organized here and on those time the temple door were closed as people belived that , this was the period time of the maa Kamakhya .
Kamakhya temple is opened daily from 8 am – 1 pm and 2: 30 pm – 5: 30 pm but in the time of Ambubachi mela the door is closed for certain days .
Assam State Museum :
If you want to learn the Assamese culture and history then this place is an Important place . Ancient statues , replica of traditional village life and the large Mayurpankhi boat in the Majuli are some special attraction . In the ground floor ,in a tin shaded building this large Majuli boat is kept . In certain section of the museum , they show the dress codes of different tribes in Assam . They also made replica showing village life inside this museum .You can see , there was some big clay pots which were used to store the food grains .
Ticket price of this museum is 30 INR for entry and 50 INR for still photography . The museum is opened daily from 10 am – 4 :30 pm except Monday .
Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra :
This is the best place to experience the culture of the North East as well as of Assam . In the cultural museum you can experience different dress code of the different ethnic people inside north east of India . There is also models which depict the lifestyle of this place .
Inside this park there is a art gallery , a museum specially dedicated to Srimanta sankardeva , who was a famous religious drama maker in the fifth century and this museum is dedicated to him . Here is a place dedicated toward the famous singer of assam Dr Bhupen Hazarika . There is also a small park for children .
This place is opened daily from 10 am – 7 pm .
War Memorial :
This is a place where Indian military capabilities were shown to the general public . Inside this area , there was a tank , a Mig 27 fighter plane and some missiles , which were used inside the previous battles .
There is a small museum inside this complex which depict the history of Indian army and the battles fought by the them . It also gives information to the general public about the Indian army and it’s previous generals .There was also a statues of the peoples fought the first Independence battle in India which were before the sepoy mutinies .
This memorial is opened daily from 10 am – 1pm and 3 pm – 8 pm except Tuesday . The Museum is free to the general public .
Dipor Beel :
Dipor bill is situated just 30 km from the Guwahati city . It is one of my favorite places in Guwahati . This is a big waterbody . People come here to see different types of Birds . Inside this waterbody there is a island . I think most of the birds were concentrated in this island . If you want to reach there , then boat services is also available here
There is a watch tower to see birds from a height . In this park you can see lots of Kites and crane bird . It is the place for picnic and a relaxed winter afternoon .
Famous forest Manas and Kaziranga :
Manas and Kaziranga National Park were listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List . Kaziranga is most famous for the One Horn rhino and some other animals and Manas National Park is famous for the Elephants , rhino and bird watching .
Kaziranga National Park is 230 km from the Guwahati city and Manas National Park is 146 km from the city . For a single person like me it is very expensive . You have to book your own private trip .
In Manas national park there is three jeep safari timing from 6:30 am – 9:30 am , 10 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm daily . Kaziranga National Park has two jeep safari timing from 5:30 am – 7:30 am and 3 pm – 4 pm .
Summary :
Guwahati is the gateway to the North East of India . This is a old city and have some religious temples , some Forest and also some museum . Kamakhya temple is the most famous temple in Guwahati but there was some not so famous great temples in Guwahati . Kaziranga and Manas are some of the most famous Forest which were situated near to the city . Assam state Museum and Srimanta sankardeva Kalakhetra are some famous museum to see here .
