A Day In Guwahati

Guwahati - The Gateway to the NorthEast

When most of you plan a trip to NorthEast India you realise the need to make a stop over in the capital city of Assam, either at the beginning or culmination of the trip in order to avoid a hectic travel schedule.

The next question that comes to mind is 'What can I do in Guwahati to spend the day?'. Obviously, after travelling hundreds of miles to get here why not make most of this trip. You never know when you'll get the opportunity to visit this beautiful region again.

Guwahati is like any other city now and when you travel in from the major metro cities there is nothing much new in terms of visual aesthetics. Same old buildings, cars, pollution, lots of people - 'I could have just stayed home'.

But since it is part of your itinerary, let's take a walk through what all you could do to spend 'A Day in Guwahati'.

For the Religious

There are lot of temples spread in and around this ancient city which is home to Hindu deities and boasts of the divine.

The main attraction being Kamakhya Mandir along with others namely Ganesh Mandir, Sukreswar Mandir, Umananda Mandir, Basistha Ashram, ISKCON, Bhubneshwari Mandir, Navagraha Mandir, Ugra Tara Mandir, Janardana Mandir, Dirgheshwari Mandir, Lankeshwar Mandir amongst many others.

However, just a visit to the Maa Kamakhya Mandir would take up most of your day here, even though I would recommend you reach there early in the morning due to the heavy foot traffic of worshippers who flock the temple throughout the year.

For those who wish to take a beautiful drive outside the city and avoid the human heat, while still wishing to pay respect to the Almighty, can go to Hajo.

At a distance of around 25 km, along the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra, the ancient pilgrim centre of Hajo finds it uniqueness in being an attraction for three religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

For the Curious Minds and Familia

For some of us who want to know more about the historical and cultural facts of the region, or are travelling with kids, there are a few places of interest you can visit.

Guwahati Zoo
Assam State Museum
Guwahati Planetarium
Maati Centre
Regional Science Centre / Science Museum
Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra
Guwahati War Memorial
Nehru Park

All of these places have a very minimal Entry Fee (₹ 5-30) and one spends around 2-3 hours per spot.

For the Cool evenings and late nights...

Now you guys have plenty to do in Guwahati. Yup, you read right. Even though the night life may not be as exciting as the major metro cities of the country, you can still spend a pretty good evening filled with some great food, beer, cocktails and some awesome live music.

Live Music Joints/ Pubs/ Bars

For good Live Music or casual places, I would suggest

Café Hendrix
Underdoggs Sports Bar and Grill
Terra Mayaa
River Cruise (Alfresco Grand) for traditional live music
Shanghai Salsa
Reign Bar and Lounge
Brooklyn Blues
Topaz 2.0
Urban Mantra
Café Copa
The Socialite

If clubbing or nightlife is not your cup of tea, the other ways to spend the evening are

Stroll along the mighty Brahmaputra, it is calm and relaxing. And while you're at it, don't forget to catch a glimpse of the great Ahom warrior, Bir Lachit Borphukan's statue in the heart of the river. It is lit up in the evenings, a very pleasant sight.
Head over to Fancy Bazaar, go shopping, bargain, devour some street food.
Go to the Sarania hilltop to visit Gandhi Mandap. From here, you get to see awesome 360° views of the city as it starts to light up.