Aswaklanta
On the north bank of the Brahmaputra, opposite Guwahati, 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.
Nearest PS : Panbazar Phone 0361)540106
Distance from PS : 2 km

Basisthashram
Situated in the southern-most rim of Guwahati city on the Sandhyachal hill is a well known holy cum picnic spot, called Basisthashram, after the great vedic Sage Bashistha, who is said to have lived here.

Three rivulets named Sandhya, Lalita and Kanta meet here and flow perenially adding scenic grandeur to the place. It is 12 Kms. from the Guwahati Railway Station. City buses ply regularly to the Ashram.

Museum
Assam State Museum is 10 minutes walk from the Railway Station.
Opening hours:
10:00 – 17:00 hrs. during Summer
10:00 – 16:30 hrs. during Winter (Monday closed).

State Zoo-cum Botanical Garden
Situated 5 Kms. from the Guwahati Railway Station

Opening hours:
07:00 hrs.-17:00 hrs. in Summer
08:00 hrs.-16:30 hrs. in Winter (Friday closed)

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. Named after the greatest Vaishnava saint and the greatest integrator of the Assamese society Srimant Sankardeva, 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 will be preserved and exhibited, an Open Air Theatre with 2000 capacity 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 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. The Kalakshetra has been chosen as the venue for many cultural activities.

Sualkuchi
Situated at a distance of 24 kms. from Guwahati, Sualkuchi is a renowned centre of silk production and is particularly known for Muga – the golden silk of Assam which is not produced anywhere else in the world. Buses ply regularly from Adabari.

Chandubi Lake
A natural lagoon and fine picnic spot which is 64 kms. from Guwahati. The lake and its surroundings, broken by cliffs and forests, is an ideal holiday resort and has the added attraction of fishing and rowing opportunities in the lake itself. The place is easily accessible by bus from Adabari, Guwahati. The best season to visit is from November to April.

Hajo
Located 32 kms. from Guwahati on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, it is a place where three religions meet – Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. It has a large number of temples, the chief among them being Hayagriva-Madhab Temple. There is a belief that this temple contains the relic of Lord Buddha, while a section of the Buddhists hold that Lord Buddha attained Nirvana here.

Large number of Bhutanese visit this temple every year during the winter season. There is also a mosque built by Pir Giasuddin Aulia and is held that it has one-fourth the sanctity of Mecca and so it is known as Poa-Mecca.

It is believed that by offering prayer the faithful gains one-fourth (poa) spiritual enlightenment of what could be gained at Mecca and so is known as Poa-Mecca.

According to mythology, the Pandavas had taken shelter in this region during their “agyatvas” or the period in hiding. One can see the stone bowl used by Bhima during this agyatvas. The legendary “Netai Dhobini Ghat” is also to be seen here though the river Brahmaputra has changed course in recent times.

Madan Kamdev
Barely 40 kms. away from the sprawling metropolis Guwahati, Madan Kamdev is an enigma, a mystery, a marvel. Very little is known about the origin of this magnificient archaeological ruins. Written history is almost silent on it, leaving wide room for conjectures and hypothesis.

Kamrupa – the ancient name of Assam, is believed to have derived its name from the legend that love God Kama or Madan, after being turned into ashes by an angry “Shiva”, was reborn here. One school believes that Madan was reborn and united with Rati in this tiny hillock.

How to get there
Baihata Chariali, 35 kms from Guwahati, is on the National Highway 52 and is well connected with buses which ply every 15 minutes from Guwahati. Madan Kamdeva is 5 kms. to the Southeast of Baihata Chariali. Taxis, minibuses are also available. Transport at moderate price can be hired from the Travel agency at Guwahati.

Where to stay
There is no hotel, restaurant or other places of accommodation at Madan Kamdeva due to its proximity to Guwahati. A visitor can spend a day and return to Guwahati on the same day.

What to wear
Cotton in summer and light woollens in winter.

Other Attractions
Boating at Dighalipukhuri, cruise the river Brahmaputra in the ‘Jolporee’, Balaji Temple.

Conducted Tours
Local sight seeing in and around Guwahati on every Sunday and Wednesday.
Weekly conducted tour to Shillong on every Sunday and Wednesday.
Weekly conducted tour to Madan Kamdev, Hajo and Sualkuchi on every Sunday, 2nd Saturday and 4th Saturday.

Other Places

Majuli
The world’s largest river island Majuli is the seat of several Satras or Vaishnava Monasteries, established by the great Vaishanav revivalist, Sankardeva. The satras are the centre of learning, art and culture. It is also famous for migratory birds and Mising culture.

Where to stay
Tourist Lodge, Jorhat or in the Government Guest House at Majuli

Sibsagar
Sibsagar is 369 kms. towards east of Guwahati and is the headquarter of a district of the same name. Modern Sibsagar is a fast developing town.

The Eastern Regional Headquarter of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission is located at Nazira – only a few kms. from the town.

How to reach
Jorhat is the nearest airport (60 kms.) and Simaluguri is the nearest railway station (20 kms). Buses are available from Guwahati and other towns.

Where to stay
Tourist Lodge, Dak Bungalow, Government Circuit House, Hotel Siddhartha, Hotel Brahmaputra, ONGC Guest House etc.

Haflong
Up in the rugged terrains stands Assam’s only hill station Haflong, where one can see the rainbow down below. It is the district headquarter of North Cachar Hills and is a place of scenic beauty which is why it is often referred to as ‘Scotland of Assam‘. A beautiful lake ‘Haflong Lake’ is located in the heart of the town.

How to get there
Haflong is 353 kms. by road from Guwahati. Bus services are regularly available to and from Guwahati. Lower Haflong, the nearest Railway Station, is 285 kms. from Guwahati.

Where to stay
Tourist Lodge, Government Guest House, Hotel Eastern, Hotel Kusum, Hotel Sanjiv.

What to see
Jatinga, 9 kms. from Haflong is famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds ‘committing mass suicide’. The migratory birds come during the month of August to November and it becomes the Orinthologists’ attraction. From the elevated watch tower one can see them yielding to their death wish and their little plumage dropping down.

Season
August to November

What to wear
Heavy woollens in winter, cottons in summer.

Other Attractions
Exciting trekking in Borail Hills; visit to Orchid Garden; traditional dances of the tribals.

Batadrawa or Bordoa

It is the birth place of the greatest Vaishnava Saint Srimanta Sankardev and is a centre of Vaishnava art and culture. It is about 140 kms. from Guwahati and about 15 kms. from Nagaon town.

Digboi
Surrounded by numerous tea gardens and mystic blue hills, Digboi is a major oil town. One of the oldest refineries of the world exist here. There is also a War Cemetry aand Golf Course in Digboi.

Tezpur
Tezpur, known as Sonitpur (city of blood) of Puranic fame, is associated with the legend of Usha’s love with Aniruddha, grandson of Lord Krishna. Situated on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, present Tezpur town which is of magnificient scenic beauty and exquisite archaeological ruins, is the head quarter of Sonitpur district.

Undulated green valleys surrounded by the hills of Arunachal Pradesh, with snow capped peaks of the Himalayas as the northern backdrop, lush green tea gardens and magnificient archaeological ruins have all contributed to make Tezpur a tourist’s delight.

Her contribution to art, culture, literature particularly her contribution to the freedom struggle have earned for Tezpur a unique niche in the history of Assam. In 1942, for the first time in entire British India, the tricolour (Indian flag) was hoisted in the police station at Gahpur, a quiet mofussil town under Sonitpur district. Fourteen year old Kanaklata braved British bullets and died holding the national flag aloft.

Where to stay
Assam Tourism Department has a well furnished tourist lodge with modern amenities. Circuit House, Dak Bungalow and a number of hotels like Luit, Parijat Hotel International, Kanyapur with reasonable a tariff offer comfortable accommodation.
How to get there

Tezpur, one of the major towns on the north bank, is well connected by rail, road and air with the rest of the country. Both Government and private buses and taxis ply from Guwahati. The nearest airport is Saloni (about 10 kms.) and nearest rail station is Rangapara. Tezpur is 181 kms. from Guwahati, 82 kms. from Kaziranga, 60 kms. from Bhalukpung and 65 kms. from Orang Wildlife Sanctuary.

What to see

Da-Parbatia
The ruins of the door frame of Da-Parbatia Temple is a few kms. from Tezpur town, is perhaps the finest and oldest specimen of sculptural or iconoclastic art in Assam. Its carving has the characteristics of the style of early Gupta School of sculpture.

The door-jambs having two goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, standing below with garlands in hands in artistic pose and elegance are decorated with beautiful ornamental foliage.