Guwāhāti, India

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Guwāhāti, India

Region: Assam

---

Geographic Coordinates: 26.172200, 91.745800

Climate: Seasonal.

Population: 1116267

Language: Assamese

---

Guwāhāti, Also known as Gauhati, Is a bustling city located in the northeastern state of Assam in India. It is the largest city in Assam and serves as its commercial and educational hub. The city has a rich cultural heritage that dates back to ancient times and is home to several historical landmarks. One of the most iconic landmarks of Guwāhāti is the Kamakhya Temple, Which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. This temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya is situated atop Nilachal Hill and offers breathtaking views of the Brahmaputra River.

Another popular attraction in Guwahati is Umananda Island, Which houses a Shiva temple on an island in the middle of Brahmaputra River. Guwahati’s location on the banks of Brahmaputra River makes it an ideal destination for river cruises. Tourists can enjoy scenic boat rides along with stunning views of sunset over Brahmaputra River or opt for a day-long cruise that takes them through several small islands dotting the river. Apart from its natural beauty, Guwahati also has a rich history that can be explored at various museums and monuments scattered throughout the city.

The Assam State Museum houses artifacts dating back to prehistoric times while Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra showcases traditional art forms like dance, Music, And theater. The food culture in Guwahati reflects its diverse population comprising different ethnic groups like Bodos, Karbis, Mishings among others. The local cuisine includes dishes like bamboo shoot pickle (khorisa), Fish curry (meen kari), Duck meat curry (haanh mangxo kari) among others.

Guwahati also serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Northeast India such as Kaziranga National Park famous for one-horned rhinoceroses; Majuli Island, The world’s largest river island; and Shillong, The capital of Meghalaya known for its scenic beauty. Guwahati is a city that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, Rich culture and history. It is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore Northeast India.

---

---

1. Kamakhya Temple
2. Umananda Temple
3. Assam State Museum
4. Guwahati Planetarium
5. Nehru Park
6. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Basistha Ashram Temple
8. Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra
9. Navagraha Temple
10. Guwahati Zoo

---

1. Tea Industry: Assam is renowned for its tea production, and Guwahati serves as a hub for this industry.
2. Tourism: Due to its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and wildlife reserves, Guwahati has become a popular tourist destination.
3. Handicrafts: The city is famous for producing handmade bamboo products, handloom textiles, pottery items etc.
4. Oil Refineries: The Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and the Guwahati Refinery are two oil refineries located in the city that make significant contributions to its economy.
5. Pharmaceutical Industry: Several pharmaceutical companies in Guwahati manufacture drugs and medicines.
6. Education Sector: A number of universities, colleges and schools provide employment opportunities to people from various fields within the education sector.
7. Banking Sector: Several banks have branches in Guwahati that offer financial services to individuals as well as businesses alike.
8. Real Estate Industry: With rapid urbanization and an increasing population within the city over recent years there has been a high demand for real estate properties such as residential apartments or commercial spaces leading to growth within this sector also.

---

Historical Events:

1. The Battle of Saraighat in 1671, where the Ahom army under Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughal army led by Mir Jumla II.
2. The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Guwahati in 1921 during his non-cooperation movement against British colonial rule.
3. The Assam Movement from 1979 to 1985, a political and social movement demanding protection for the interests of Assamese people.

Notable People:

1. Bhupen Hazarika, a legendary singer-songwriter and filmmaker who was born in Guwahati.
2. Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam who played a significant role in shaping the state’s politics for over three decades.
3. Hima Das, an Indian sprinter who hails from Dhing village near Guwahati and has won several medals at international competitions.
4. Kanaklata Barua, an Indian freedom fighter who participated in Quit India Movement and was shot dead by British police at age 17 while hoisting the national flag.
5. Uddhab Bharali, an inventor from Lakhimpur district near Guwahati known for designing low-cost machines like paddy threshers and bamboo processing machines that have helped farmers across India.

These are just a few examples as there are many more historical events and notable people associated with Guwahati that have contributed to its rich cultural heritage over time.

---

1. Kamakhya Temple
2. Assam State Museum
3. Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra
4. Umananda Temple
5. Guwahati Planetarium
6. Basistha Ashram
7. Navagraha Temple
8. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Nehru Park
10. Sukreswar Temple

---

---

1. Guwahati FC is a football club based in Guwahati, Assam. It was founded in 2016 and currently competes in the I-League 2nd Division.
2. The Assam Cricket Association is responsible for organizing domestic and international cricket matches in the state of Assam, including Guwahati. It was formed in 1948.
3. North East United FC is a professional football club based in Guwahati that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL). The team was founded in 2014.
4. The Assam Rhinos were a rugby union team based out of Guwahati that competed in India’s Rugby Premier League from 2012 to 2013.
5. Gauhati Town Club is one of the oldest football clubs from Northeast India, established on August 28th, 1920 by sports enthusiasts who wanted to promote football among local youths and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their talents at various levels.
6. Oil India Football Club (OIFC) is a semi-professional Indian association football club based at Duliajan, Dibrugarh district, Assam which plays its home matches at Nehru Maidan Ground located within Duliajan Township premises.
7. Association for Cricket Coaching & Academy (ACCA) provides training facilities on cricket coaching to aspiring young cricketers of all age groups under guidance of experienced coaches having played at national level themselves or having trained national level players.

---

---

1. Ambubachi Mela is a four-day festival celebrated at the Kamakhya Temple to honor the menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya.
2. Bihu Festival is a three-part celebration that marks the harvesting season in Assam with cultural performances, feasts, and traditional games.
3. Brahmaputra Beach Festival is an annual event held on the banks of Brahmaputra River featuring music, dance performances, and food stalls.
4. Durga Puja is a Hindu festival commemorating Goddess Durga’s triumph over evil forces with elaborate pandals (temporary structures) and cultural programs.
5. Jonbeel Mela is a three-day fair held in January where various tribes from Assam come together to showcase their culture through dance, music, and food.
6. Rongali Bihu is the most significant Bihu celebration in Assam that heralds the start of a new year with traditional songs and dances.
7. Shillong International Short Film Festival (SISFF) occurs annually in Guwahati’s neighboring city Shillong showcasing short films from around the world.
8. Tezpur Mahotsav lasts for four days featuring local artists performing various art forms like theatre, dance, music etc., along with handicrafts and handlooms display by artisans from all over India.

---

• Assamese Thali – A traditional Assamese meal consisting of rice, dal, vegetables, fish or meat curry, and chutney.
• Khaar – A signature dish of Assam made with raw papaya or banana stem cooked in a gravy of mustard paste and bamboo shoot.
• Bamboo Shoot Fry – A popular snack made from the tender shoots of bamboo that are sliced and fried with spices.
• Pork Curry – Slow-cooked pork curry is a favorite among the locals.
• Momo Ghar – This restaurant serves delicious momos (dumplings) in various flavors such as chicken, pork, veggie, and cheese.
• Paradise Restaurant – Known for its authentic Assamese cuisine like duck curry and fish tenga (sour fish curry).
• Gam’s Delicacy – Serves traditional dishes like assam laksa (noodle soup), pitha (rice cake), khorikat diya masor jhul (smoked fish curry).
• Naga Kitchen – Offers an array of Naga delicacies such as smoked meat dishes like axone pork ribs along with other spicy curries.
• Khorikaa – Specializes in grilled meats including chicken wings marinated with Bhut Jolokia chili pepper sauce.
• Pub Kamrupi – Offers a blend of Indian street food along with Chinese delicacies at affordable prices.

---



Parks and Recreation

1. Nehru Park is a serene park located in the heart of Guwahati. It’s an ideal place for visitors to relax and enjoy nature.
2. Assam State Zoo is a popular attraction in Guwahati where visitors can see various animals like tigers, rhinos, elephants, and more.
3. Manas National Park is situated on the outskirts of Guwahati and offers visitors a chance to see rare wildlife such as tigers, elephants, and Indian rhinoceroses.
4. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is about 50 km away from Guwahati and has the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.
5. Umananda Island lies on the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati and has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
6. Kamakhya Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya that attracts thousands of devotees every year.
7. Basistha Ashram provides visitors with a peaceful environment for meditation and spiritual practices located on the outskirts of Guwahati.
8. Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra showcases traditional Assamese art forms like dance, music, theater, and handicrafts at this cultural center.
9. Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the western edge of Guwahati city limits providing habitat for many bird species like Greater Adjutant Stork, Kingfisher, White-bellied Heron, etc.
10. Kaziranga National Park: Kaziranga National Park lies around 200 km from Guwahati but it’s worth visiting. It’s home for one-horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephants, Tigers, etc.

---



Dream, Travel, Repeat.

---