Guwahati, also known as the "City of Eastern Light" is the largest city, not only in Assam, but also the entire north east. One of the fastest developing cities in the North East, Guwahati is an important educational and commercial hub and is home to many top class colleges and universities, such as Indian Institute to Technology ( Guwahati), Gauhati University and Cotton College to name a few.
the best time to visit Guwahati is between October to April.
The city of Guwahati is quite hilly and uneven, with approx. 1750 mm of rainfall per year and temperatures ranging between 40°C to 5°C. People all over the world prefer to visit Guwahati when there is moderate rainfall and the fluctuations in temperature are the least. Statistics show that mostly, two times in a year the streets of Guwahati are crowded with tourists. Mainly from the month of September to November and between the months of January and March, the weather is just right for visitors to tour Guwahati. In 2012, as many as 4,511,407 domestic tourists set foot in Assam, whereas the numbers of foreign tourists stood at 17,542. A majority of these visitors toured Guwahati as a part of their itinerary. The growth in number of tourist arrivals has been steadily increasing over the years.
Being one of the largest cities in the north east, Guwahati is very well connected to the rest of the country. Here is how you can reach Guwahati.
By Train:
Guwahati has its own railway station called the Paltan Bazaar Railway Station. Here are a few trains connecting to Guwahati from various parts of the country:
By Road:
Guwahati is very well connected by road to neighbouring towns and cities. Volvo buses run at regular intervals and are a convenient ay to get to and around Guwahati.
By Air:
Guwahati is served by the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport, which is located 20 km out of the city. This airport is connected to all major cities in India and abroad.
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The famous spots and events that make Guwahati a special tourist destination can be enlisted as follows:
A minimum of five days are needed to visit the city of Guwahati if a person wants to enjoy all the places of interest; otherwise, two or three days are enough to cover the main tourist attractions. On the first day, a local tour can be done covering Assam's state zoo, the Umananda Temple, the Kamakhya Temple, the Navagraha Temple, and the Botanical Gardens, which would take almost 10 hours approximately. On the second day, one can visit Guwahati planetarium, state museum and other attractions in and around the city. Another day can be left aside to explore the city for its vibrant culture and tasty street-food, besides having some time off and enjoying a quiet cruise ride on the majestic Brahmaputra. If one intends to visit Kaziranga or Manas, at least a day each will be required as they are situated in opposite directions from Guwahati. The parks too will require a couple of days extra in hand.
The cost of all travel depends on the mode of transport taken to visit the city, and also on the type of accommodation, besides shopping. Guwahati can be visited by air or by train or by road. The approximate cost of the journey is nearly 1,000 rupees if train journey is preferred. Journey by bus is cheaper. Though the bus route connecting Guwahati with other cities costs less, it takes a long time for many tourists to reach Guwahati, which can be a strong deterrent for the foreigners. Hotel accommodation can cost somewhere between 500-2,000 rupees each day, based on the accommodation features. Boat rides and local transport cost are nominal, not in excess of Rs. 100 in any case. Package tours to Kaziranga and Manas may cost Rs. 2,000 or more per day, depending on the accommodation and services availed. Overall, a person may visit the entirety of Guwahati in no more than Rs. 5,000.
There are many tourist guides and offices in Assam that provide good and proper facilities at a moderate cost. Listed below are the important tourism department numbers that may be helpful:
The following contacts can be the saviors in Guwahati in case of unintended emergencies. Please note that the STD code of Guwahati is 0361, which must be affixed before dialing all landline contacts.
Police: 100Items one can shop for in Guwahati include tea, silks, bamboo and cane decorative items. There are government run emporiums too which sell items at a fixed price. Paltan Bazaar is the main shopping area, though apart from that you can go to Fancy Bazaar and GNB Road. While shopping at local markets make sure you bargain hard to secure a good deal.
Assamese cooking involves a lot of drying and fermenting. The cuisine of this region uses very little oil and spices and has a characteristically strong flavour due to the use of fermented vegetables and fish. A typical Assamese meal would begin with "khar" and ends with "tenga", a sour dish. Apart from that, Assamese consume a lot of rice, fish and meat in their food. Most Assamese like to eat paan (betel nut) after their meal. Unlike the rest of the North East, beef is not commonly consumed in Assam, because majority of the population is Hindu.
