Photo Travelogue :
Even though I've lived more than half my life in Bombay ( Mumbai ), Guwahati continues to be my native place - because, I was born and had done my schooling here. It ( dispur ) is the capital of Assam and largest city in the northeast. Like rest of India lands in Bombay to seek education, jobs etc, the rest of northeast lands in Guwahati to seek the same. Many even land from neighbouring country Bangladesh, illegally. I had left the city quite early ( just after my 11th std ) and spent more than two decades away from it - except coming for holidays, so, I had quite limited knowledge of the city for a very long time. Its only recently, I started discovering it and I have loved it so far. It has quite an ancient past ( Pragjyotishpur ) as it was known then - linked to the Mahabharata epic. Lots of history here, remnants of which lie scattered around the city. Recent excavations in Ambari ( near Dighalipukri ) and cotton college premises etc many more places, are a testimony to that. Here are some of the places that I visited and found interesting around the city. Some are new, many old. In no particular order, here they are ~ ( will do detailed posts on some of them later )...
and yes, I did...
1...
BASISTHA ASHRAM AND TEMPLE...
Basistha temple, located in the south-east corner of Guwahati city, Assam, India, is a Shiva mandir constructed by Ahom King Rajeswar Singha in 1764 along with gift of land 835 Bighas for the ashram. The history of the Basistha Ashram where the temple is located dates back to the Vedic age. About 30 minutes drive ( in a city bus going right to its entrance ), with a gushing water-fall, it is an ideal picnic spot ( wiki ).
Address: Baistha, Mandir, Basistha Rd, Guwahati, Assam 781029
2...(A )
PURVA TIRUPATI SHRI. BALAJI TEMPLE...
...(B)
MANIRAM DEWAN TRADE CENTRE
The Tirupati Balaji Temple is a magnificent temple of the city, Guwahati. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and is considered to be a very holy place for the Hindu pilgrims. The temple has a very unique 'southern' architectural design and is built over a large area of land. Next to the temple, in the adjoining compound, is the Maniram Devan Trade Centre, where many fairs and functions of importance take place throughout the year.
Address : National Highway 37, Bethkuchi, Adjacent to ISBT, Guwahati, Assam 781035
3...
KAMAKYA TEMPLE...
Kamlakhya is a locality in Guwahati, Assam, which is 20 kilometres from the Guwahati Airport and about 6 km from Guwahati Railway Station, it also has own railway junction called Kamakhya Junction. Kamakhya is known for presence of ancient Kamakhya Temple in Nilachal pahar or hill. The Kamakhya Temple ( 1565 ) also known as Kamrup-Kamakhya temple, Kamakhya Devalaya, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya. It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti. The annual Ambubachi Mela is held here in the month of June-July ( wiki ).
Address : Nilachal Hill, Guwahati 781010
4...
SUKRESHWAR TEMPLE AND GHATS...
Sukreswar Temple is an important Shiva temple in the state of Assam in India and was constructed in 1744 by Ahom King Pramatta Singha (1744–1751). Vishnu Janardhan a 1000 year old sculpture is located here ( wiki ).
Address : MG Road, Panbazar, Guwahati 781001
5...
UMANANDA ISLAND AND TEMPLE...
Umananda Island is the smallest river island in the midst of river Brahmaputra flowing through the city of Guwahati in Assam, just opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup or the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati. The British named the island Peacock Island for its structure. Umananda Devaloi is a Shiva temple located at the Peacock Island. It was built by the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha, who was a devout Shaivaite ( wiki ).
Address : Peacock Island, Baruah Souk, North Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781030
6...
NABAGARAHA TEMPLE...
The Navagraha Temple is found on the top of Chitrasal Hill (or Navagraha Hill), in Guwahati city, Assam, India. Navagraha temples are temples devoted to Navagraha—the nine (nava) major celestial bodies. Enshrined in this temple are nine Shivalingams, representing the nine Celestial bodies, each covered with a colored garment symbolic of each of the celestial bodies, with a Shivaligam in the centre symbolising the Sun ( wiki ).
Address : Chenikuthi, Guwahati, Assam
7...
33 CRORE DEVTA AND OTHER TEMPLES...
This unique temple is located in Kahilipara battalion road. Another temple of same name exist at Hemgiri Path, Ulubari.
ISKCON...
The ISKCON Temple is located on a hillock in Ulubari Chariali area, 2 km away from Guwahati railway station. The stark white exterior of the marble-floored Temple makes it a landmark of the locality. There are idols of Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmani, both dressed in beautiful attires ( wiki ).
Address : South Sarania, Ulubari, Guwahati
GANESH TEMPLE AT GANESHGURI...
It is located at the south part of the busy Ganeshguri locality.
Address : Ganeshguri, Guwahati, Assam.
HANUMAN TEMPLE AT GANESHGURI...
Although small, it is frequented by devotees.
Address : GMC Ward Number 44, Swaraj Nagar, Ganeshguri, Guwahati, Assam 781005
HANUMAN TEMPLE AT LACHITNAGAR...
Tuesdays are particularly crowded on this temple. The idol is kept covered by a cloth during particular times of the day, and unveiled during arti.
Address : G.S Road, Guwahati, Assam 781007
ULUBARI SHIVA TEMPLE...
This is quite an old temple. It's grounds transforms into a Bihu-toli every year during Rangali Bihu festival. There is also a namghar here popular with local ladies.
Address : Ulubari Chariali, Guwahati
UGROTORA...
Ugro Tara Temple is a temple dedicated to Tara located in the western side of Jor Pukhury tanks in the heart of Guwahati city in the Lotaxil locality in Northeast India. The Ugratara Temple in Uzan Bazaar in the eastern part of Guwahati, Assam is an important Shakti shrine ( wiki ).
Address : Lamb Rd, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam 781001
NEPALI MANDIR...
This is a Nepal-style Hindu temple in the Paltan Bazar area. This area is also a transit to go to Lokhra.
Address : Paltan Bazaar, Guwahati, Assam 781008
GANESH TEMPLE NEAR HIGH COURT...
Its a busy temple in a busy locality, situated between the new building of High Court and Guwahati Planetarium.
Address : MG Road, near High Court ( new bldg ), Guwahati, Assam 781008
Disclaimer : Although, I've posted many temples, I'm not a religious person myself. This is just to showcase that Guwahati rightfully claims its title of - a city of temples. There are many more temples scattered that I haven't covered. Will do a separate post on it.
8...
ASSAM STATE MUSEUM...
The Assam State Museum is located in the southern end of Dighali Pukhuri tank which is in the heart of Guwahati city, Assam. The Museum was established by the Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti in 1940. The late Kanklal Baruah was the founder and president. In the year 1953, it was taken over by the State Government ( wiki ).
Address : GNB Rd, Near, Dighalipukhuri, Guwahati, Assam 781001
9...
SRIMANTA SANKARDEV KALASHETRA...
Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra commonly Kalakshetra is a cultural institution in the Panjabari area of Guwahati, Assam, named after the medieval poet-playwright and reformer Srimanta Sankardev ( wiki ).
Address : Panjabari Rd, Batahguli, Guwahati, Assam 781037
10...
PLANETARIUM...
Guwahati Planetarium is one of its kind centre of astronomical education and research in Assam and the entire North-Eastern region of India. The Guwahati Planetarium is unrivalled in Assam and rest of northeast India with its distinctive dome and sloping walls that sets it apart in the skyline of the area ( wiki ).
Address : MG Road, Latasil, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam 781001
11...
DIGHALIPUKHURI...
Dighalipukhuri is a rectangular man-made pond in Guwahati, about half a mile long. Dighalipukhuri is occupied altogether area of garden and pond between 17-18 bigha lands. Boating is a popular activity on this small, relaxed lake with a dock & adjacent lawns ( wiki ).
Address : Hem Baruah Road, Guwahati, Assam, 781001
12...
NEHRU PARK...
Scenic, landscaped park featuring many flower gardens & sculptures, plus play areas for children. Named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, this park is centrally located, opposite the famous Cotton College. It is one of the greenest and most beautiful places in the city. The park attracts many visitors because of its green cover and musical fountain. Adorned by an open air theatre, it has beautiful flower beds and aesthetically placed statues. It is also a favourite spot for children, with lots of open space for running around ( wiki )
Address : Cotton University Rd, Pan Bazaar, Guwahati, Assam 781001
13...
ASSAM STATE ZOO CUM BOTANICAL GARDEN...
The Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is the largest of its kind in the North East region and it is spread across 432 acre. The zoo is located within the Hengrabari Reserved Forest at Guwahati, India ( wiki ).
Address : RG Baruah Rd, Ambikagirinagar, Guwahati, Assam 781005
14...
DEEPOR BEEL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY...
Dipor Bil also spelt Deepor Beel, is located to the south-west of Guwahati city, in Kamrup district of Assam, India It is a permanent freshwater lake, in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River, to the south of the main river. Considering the varieties of bird species found in the beel, Birdlife International has also declared Dipor Bil as an Important Bird Area (IBA) ( wiki ).
Address : Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam
15...
GANDHI MANDAP...
Read my post on it - Here! Gandhi Mandap is a Museum constructed in memory of "Father of the Nation" Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, on the hilltop of Sarania Hill ( wiki ).
Address : Sarania Hills, Guwahati, Assam 781003
16...
( GMCH ) NARAKASUR HILL...
