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In the following write-up, explore about the travel and tourism details of the Gateway to the North East- Guwahati.


Location: Kamrup District, Assam
350 C (Maximum), 250 C (Minimum)
Winters: 200 C (Maximum), 100 C (Minimum)
Best Time to Visit: October to April
Nearest Airport: Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
Nearest Railhead: Guwahati Junction Railway Station
Must Visits: Uma Nanda Temple, Janardana Temple, Ugro Tara Temple, Assam State Museum, Kamakhya Temple and Pan Bazaar
Language Spoken: Assamese, Hindi & English.
STD Code: 0361

Guwahati is one of the major cities of Eastern India. It comes under the administrative district of Kamrup in the Indian state of Assam. Sprawling over an area of 556 square kilometers, this city is the largest city of northeast region and one of the largest cities of India. Thus, it is often referred to as "The Gateway of the North-East". Even the state capital, Dispur is a part of this city. Sited at an elevation of 55 m above the sea level, Guwahati has a subtropical climate with light summers (April-May), pleasant winters (October-March) and moderate monsoons (June-September) with an annual precipitation of 1613 mm. It is sited on the southern banks of swiftly flowing Brahmaputra River and the foothills of the Shillong plateau, the combination of which makes the place naturally beautiful.

The name Guwahati has been derived from Assamese words, "Guwa" meaning Areca nut and "Haat" meaning market place, which when combined form Guwahati. However, in earlier time, it was known as "Pragiyotishpura" literally meaning "The Light of East". This city's earlier history is unclear, but the evidences of its existence can be traced back to the epics, puranas and other traditional histories. Guwahati has a complex history which dates back to the 6th century AD, when it was the capital of the Varman and the Pala dynasties of the Kamarupa kingdom. But after the destruction of them in 12-15 century AD, it became a strategic colony of the Koch Hajo and Ahom Kingdoms of western and eastern Assam. Due to its existence in many ancient epics and puranas, this city is believed to be one of the oldest cities of Asia.

The city is also a major center for cultural and sports activities in the northeastern region and for the administrative and political activities of Assam. The city is also an important hub for transportation in the northeast region. The main factors of its economy are tourism, recreation, education, research and cultural activities. Guwahati, with its ancient roots, offers an abundance of archeological sites, historical monuments, educative museums and various religious places. Some of the tourist attractions of Guwahati are Uma Nanda Temple, Janardana Temple, Ugro Tara Temple, Assam State Museum, Guwahati Planetarium, Navagraha Temple (Chitrasal Hill), Kamakhya Temple, Bhubaneswari Temple, Basistha Ashram. When in Guwahati, don't miss a chance to lay your hands on the authentic handicrafts and artifacts as souvenirs from the shopping arcades like G.S. Road, Pan Bazaar and Fancy Bazaar.

Best Time To Visit Guwahati
Set amidst green hilly terrains and skirted by rolling hills, Guwahati, the capital city of Assam has etched a unique status for itself in the country's map. Popularly deemed as the gateway of the northeast, this old city has evolved immensely over the past few years to become the hub of northeastern India.

History Of Guwahati
Fondly dubbed as the gateway of the northeast, the importance of the age-old city of Guwahati can be in no way undermined. The origin of Guwahati still remains ambiguous with several myths surrounding its existence. Guwahati, meaning 'areca nut marketplace' in Assamese,

How To Reach Guwahati
Earlier known as Pragjyotishpur, the current-day capital city of Assam, Guwahati have indeed come a long way. Said to have been built by the demon king Narakasura and home to Hindu god of love, Kamdeva, Guwahati has scores of mythical lores tagged to its name.

Places To See In Guwahati

Shopping In Guwahati
Even after years of insurgence and political upheavel, Guwahati's magical aura remains intact and continues to woo every visiting tourists. Shopping is equally enjoyable here and no traveler risks to leave the city without buying memorable souvenirs like bamboo and cane products,