Overview of the destinationGuwahati, famously referred to as the city of light, is a place of many surprises. The mighty Brahmaputra, the only male river of India, that comes all the way from Tibet is one of the main highlights of the city. The enitire city is bordered by this beautiful, shimmering river that seems to have a powerful presence of its own. And to add to all this beauty are the green hills, just a few miles away. You can go for a trek to any nearby hillside location or spend your time on a boat sailing the river. The choice is yours and time moves slowly here! Take your time and enjoy the misty river and serene hill side views.
Food, sight-seeing and shopping
When it comes to North East cuisine, there's nothing to beat the fish items. Very similar to the Bengali cuisine, Assam has it's delilcious preparations of fish items that include the famous 'Maas tenga'. For vegetarians there are mouth watering preparations made from potatoes and green vegetables. Owing to its close proximity to Tibet and China, oriental restaurants are a common sight in almost every street in Guwahati. A very popular fast food snack is the 'momo', sumptuous hot steamed dumplings served with a tangy, chilly or sweet sauce and hot soup. Get the best of the Orient and North East Indian cooking in this interesting city of mixed cultures.
Sight-seeing is an absolute delight in Guwahati. From the old historical temples like 'Kamakhya' to new age planetariums, you have everything you can ask for. A popular shopping destination is 'fancy bazaar'. This market is a great destination for ethnic wear items like 'mekhla chadar' (Two piece Assamese saree). For other authentic Assamese items, you can visit any of the numerous Assam emporiums. All kinds of bamboo items- baskets, chairs, wall hangings, jewellery are available in beautifully hand crafted designs.
If you are into ethnic and tribal designs, Guwahati is just the place to shop.
Activities & things to do
You will have lots to do in this city of hills and water. If you are a water person, there is a water world in the outskirts of the city. Here you can have fun in an artificially built water reserve. For those who want the real thing, you can go fishing in the Brahmaputra or for long boat rides. The 'Umananda island temple' in the middle of the river is a popular tourist attraction. Trekking, rock climbing and short trips to the nearby destinations like, 'Kaziranga', 'Shillong' and 'cherrapunjee' are good options.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc.
It's best to travel by train if you can make time. It's a wonderful sight to watch the tea gardens and hills unfolding before your eyes as you enter Assam. However, if you are pressed for time, there are direct flights from Delhi and Calcutta. Guwahati is easy to reach from any destination with a connecting flight in Calcutta. You could even take a train to Calcutta and fly to Guwahati or vice versa. Guwahati has a newly built posh airport with all the modern facilities. During winters, it could get very cold; visitors are warned to bring warm clothing. Since the political situation is not always stable, visitors are advised not to roam around till late in the night. Other than that, it's a perfectly safe place, and a pleasure to spend your holidays in.
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