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              GUWAHATI TRAVEL GUIDE

Guwahati is a major city in eastern India, often considered as the gateway to the
North-East Region (NER) of the country and is the largest city within the region.
The nerve centre of northeastern India, this city is well connected by air, road and rail.

Guwahati is among the first 100 fastest growing city of the world and its 5th fastest
growing among indian cities. Today, the city straddles between the LGB International
Airport in the west to Narengi in the east for almost 45 kilometres
Guwahati is also one of the most beautiful cities in South Asia with the mighty and
picturesque Brahmaputra, river islands , beaches, beach-islands (balicapori), thick
tropical green cover, natural sweetwater lakes, hills with thick forests and with
beautiful and lively native population.

The Ambari excavations trace the city to the 6th century AD. The city was known as
Pragjyotishpura and Durjoya in different periods of time and was the capital under
the Varman and the Pala dynasties of the Kamarupa kingdom. Descriptions by
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) reveal that during the greatest Varman king
Bhaskaravarma 7th century AD, the city was stretched to 19 km and probably was the
principal base for his strong naval force (30,000 war-boats, with officers knowing
details of the sea-routes in Indian Ocean to China - Xuanzang). The city remained as
the capital of Assam till 10-11th century AD under the rulers of the Pala dynasty.
Excavations in Ambari and the brick walls and houses excavated during construction
of the present auditorium of Cotton College, Guwahati suggest that it was a city of
great size with economic and strategic importance till the 9-11th century AD.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone         IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                   216 kmē (83 sq mi)
Elevation           55 m (180 ft)
District(s)          Kamrup
Population        808,021 (2001)
Density              3,935/kmē (10,192/sq mi)

PLACE TO VISIT

Kamakhya Temple -  This ancient temple atop the Nilachal Hills is the seat of
tantrik worship and shakti culture. Any person visiting Assam and Guwahati in
particular , invariably pays a visit to this temple. Flooded with devotees throughout
the year and mainly during the Ambubachi Mela , Kamakhya Temple is the religious
heartthrob of the Assamese populace.

Gandhi Mandap -  On the top of Sarania hill is Gandhi Mandap a memorial
built in honour of Mahatma Gandhi.

Deepor Beel -  A large natural lake in the western parts of the city. Provides
quality aesthetics and is popular among the bird watchers, ecologists, etc.

The Artificial Lakes -  Within the city there many man made fresh water
tanks/small lakes built during Ahom era including Dighalipukhuri, Silpukhuri,
Nakkatapukhuri and Jorphukhuri. During the Ahom period the Dighalipukhuri used
be an inland port for war ships and boats. In those days it was connected to the
Brahmaputra river by a channel. On the western bank of Jorpukhuri (Jor means twin
in Assamese; Jorphukhuri meaning Twin tanks) is the Ugra Tara Temple, dedicated
to a form of the Hindu/Buddhist goddess Tara (Devi).

Guwahati Zoo -  Guwahati Zoo is one of the richest of its kind in India. Major
attraction is the one horned rhinoceros.

HOW TO REACH

By plane - Guahati has daily flights from Kolkata and New Delhi, and twice
weekly flights connecting to Mumbai and Bangkok [1].

By train - Guwahati is connected by train with major cities like Kolkata, New
Delhi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai

By car - By road - NH-31, NH-37 and NH-40 pass through Guwahati. It is a three
hour drive to the Bhutanese border town of Samdrup Jongkhar.

By bus - It is connected to all major cities of North East India by bus. There are
overnight bus services for Kohima, Imphal, Itanagar, Siliguri