Guwahati (Assam, India)

he city Guwahati, derives its name from two Assamese words, 'Guwa' meaning a chewable betel nut and 'Haat' meaning Market. Set amidst the scenic hills of the eastern Himalayas, Guwahati is well known for its sprawling tea gardens and the place has emerged as one of the largest tea-auctioning center in the world. Guwahati is referred as the 'Gateway to the Northeast', as all the seven northeastern states of India are easily accessible from here. Guwahati is also an important place of Hindu pilgrimage and the place is popular for its unique, vivid and colorful culture. Guwahati is also famous for its colorful festivals such as Majuli Festival (21-24 November), Elephant Festival (11-17 February), Dehing Patkai Festival (16-19 January), Tea Festival, Bohag Bihu (April) and Rangoli Utsav (28 -30 April). Guwahati also offers exciting shopping experience to its visitors.

Sightseeing:
Apart from its exceptional scenic beauty and fascinating culture, there are several tourist attractions in Guwahati. The major tourist attractions of Guwahati include the famous Kamakhya Temple, Vashistha Ashram, Guwahati Tea Auction Center, Guwahati Zoo, Dol Gobinda, Gandhi Mandap, Forest Museum, Anthropological Museum and Guwahati Planetarium.

How to Reach:
By Air: Guwahati is an important airport in the region. There are regular flights to Guwahati from Delhi, Calcutta, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh and Jorhat.
By Rail: Guwahati is the headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway and so is well connected by Rail with the rest of the country.
By Road: Guwahati has a well-developed road networks and is the most important hub for road transport in the region. Assam State Transport Corporation buses connect it to neighboring towns of Shillong, Tezpur, Silchar, Cooch Behar, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Imphal and Agartala.