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Guwahati - Tourist Attractions in Guwahati

Guwahati is is commonly known as the “Gateway to the Northeast”. This hill-ringed, green-woded, river-bordered urban centre was also known as the Pragjyotishpura or the Light of the East, in the ancient times and was a vast kingdom during the epic period of the Mahabharata. The word Guwahati is made up of two words, ‘Guwa’, which means areca nut, and ‘hatt’, which means bazaar. Today, Guwahati is the commercial hub of the region and is known by a moniker that emphasizes its ‘marketplace’ character. Guwahati is also the largest city. Today, Dispur, the area in south Guwahati is the official seat of the Assam Government. Assam as a whole is rich in its temples. Most of the temples around Guwahati are perched on hills or on hillsides, which afford panoramic views of the vast Brahmaputra and as well as of the bustling city itself.

Tourist Attractions in Guwahati

Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra
The Srimanta Sankardeva kalakshetra has been set up as a grand exposition of the life and culture of the people of Assam. This Kalakshetra is named after Srimanta Sankardeva, the greatest Vaishnava saint and the greatest integrator of the Assamese society. The Kalakshetra is a multi-Arts complex. It houses a Central Museum where cultural objects and day-to-day articles used by different ethnic groups are preserved and exhibited, an Open Air Theatre with the capacity of about 2000 people to hold folk festivals and to present traditional dance and drama of the State, an Artists' Village which offers the visitors and the residents an atmosphere of the village of Assam, the Sahitya Bhavan which is a library of rare books and manuscripts, the Lalit Kala Bhavan which has sufficient space for exhibition, art and sculpture workshops, and a Heritage Park.

Kamakhya Temple
Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati

The Kamakhya temple is one of the busiest place in the region. The Shakti Temple of mother Goddess Kamakhya is situated on the top of Nilachal Hills. This place was once a Khasi place of worship and is today, a prime centre for Tantric practices and a very important Shakti Peeth. The temple is also mentioned in the inscription of the Allahabad pillar of Samudragupta. It is believed to be the site where Sati’s reproductive organs fell, following the destruction that took place after Daksha’s yagna. There is no image of any deity inside the temple. So, one has to go down into a natural cave, where a yoni-shaped rock, washed constantly by natural spring is the main focus. 

The original 9th century temple was destroyed by invaders, but rebuilt by the Koch king Naranarayan in 1665. Architecturally, it is an interesting fusion of styles, and the Assamese beehive dome is main part of this temple. Every year, in the month of July, the temple is closed for three days to worshippers, for it is believed that Mother Kamakhya is ‘unclean’ at that time. The Ambubachi Mela and Manasha Puja is held in the temple and tantrics and devotees from all over the country gather here for worship, study and deliberation.

Navagraha Temple

Navagraha, the temple of nine planets is situated on Chitra Chal Hill in Guwahati. This temple belongs to the 7th century and was a great centre of astronomy and astrology. This is also one of the reasons why Guwahati is referred to as Pragjyotishpur or the city of eastern Astrology. Though the frequent earthquakes in the region have taken their toll on this temple, and the floor plan is said to be of that period. Much of the temples as it stands today was built by the ruler Rajeswar Singh in the late eighteenth century.

Navagraha Temple, Guwahati

Umananda Temple

Umananda, the great Shiva temple is situated on the peacock island in the middle of the Brahmaputra river in Guwahati. This temple attracts devotees from all over the country during the Shivaratri festival. One can visit the temple by crossing the river by country boat plying from Kachari ghat. On the north bank of the Brahmaputra, there is a small place where the third Pandava Arjun is believed to have watered his horse while undertaking journey during Ashwamedh Yajna. Regular ferry services are available to this place.

Basisthashram

Basisthashram, a well known holy and picnic spot is situated in the southern-most part of Guwahati on the foot hills of Meghalaya. The great Vedic sage Bashistha, lived in the Basisthashram. Three rivulets named Sandhya, Lalita and Kanta meet here and flow perenially adding scenic grandeur to the place.

 
Mahabhairab Temple

Mahabhairab Temple is an ancient temple where King Bana worshipped Mahabhairab, another incarnation of Lord Shiva. This Shiva temple is regarded as the oldest Shiva shrine and a famous pilgrimage place where thousands of devotees gather here during the Shivaratri festival.

Madan Kamdev Temple

Madan Kamdev temple is only 40 kms. away from the metropolitan city of Guwahati, on N.H. 52. This temple is an enigma, a mystery, and a marvel. Very little is known about the origin of this magnificient archaeological ruins, making it a mystery. Kamrupa, the ancient name of Assam, derived its name from the Kama or Madan god, who was turned into ashes by the Shiva, was reborn here. Some people believes that Madan god was reborn and united to Rati on this tiny hillock.

Satra

The Institution of Satra is a unique feature of Vaishnavism in Assam. The Satras were founded by Sankardeva, the father of Assamese culture. Satras are basically the monasteries which propogate neo Vaishnavism. They also became centres for education and dissemination of the art of harmonius living. In the 15th century the first Satra was founded in Majuli. Since then sixty five Satras have come up for the propagation of ethics and socio-cultural ideals. At present, there are only twenty two Satras in Majuli. The others had to be shifted to safer places due to the devastation of flood and erosion.

 
Poa-Mecca

Poa-Mecca is a mosque built by Pir Giasuddin Aulia and has one-fourth sanctity of Mecca. It is believed that by offering prayer, the faithful gains one-fourth (poa) spiritual enlightenment of what could be gained at Mecca. 

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