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Tourist Places in Guwahati

There are a number of temples that are built in and around Guwahati in Assam. These places are not only popular as religious centers but also as tourist attractions. Purva Tirupati Sri Balaji Temple is one such place of interest for tourists in Guwahati. Its premise stretches for two acres of land and its serene atmosphere pleases the mind.

Shiva Temple

This temple is situated on an island of Brahmaputra river. One has to climb the steep steps to reach the temple. Tourists can visit this temple by taking a ferry or motor boat from the Umananda Ghat. A serene religious ambiance prevails in the temple premise. The short trip to the Shiva Temple in a motor boat or ferry on river Brahmaputra is really a thrilling experience for tourists.

Kamakhya Temple

This temple is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Guwahati. Travelers from different parts of India come to visit this temple. Specially during Manasha Puja and Ambubachi, this holy place is thronged by devotees. It is located on the Nilachal Hill and it is at a distance of about 10 km from the railway station of Guwahati. Naranarayan, one of the Koch Kings built the temple of Kamakhya in 10th century B.C. This temple is famous for Shakti worship or Tantrism. Very near to this temple, Bhubaneswari Temple is located. It is also a holy place and visited by many tourists.

Vashistha Ashram

This popular ashram is located at a distance of 12 km from the railway station in Guwahati. This ashram is considered to be the abode of the Vashistha - a sage of ancient times. He is considered to be the author of the great Hindu epic Ramayana. The lush greenery around the ashram pleases the eye. The ashram is situated near a lovely waterfall which makes the spot more attractive to visitors.

Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra

This cultural center is named after Srimanta Sankaradev. He was a Vaishnava saint of Assam. A visitor to this kalakshetra can get a glimpse of the Assamese heritage, culture, ethnic groups and about the artistic pursuits of the local people. The Central Museum of this cultural center is a must visit to the tourists. The Sahitya Bhavan houses valuable books and manuscripts. Cultural programs are regularly arranged at the open air theater of the kalakshetra.

Navagraha Temple

The Navagraha Temple or the 'temple of nine planets' is one of the places of interest to tourists in Guwahati. This is an ancient seat for practicing astronomy and astrology. The nine planets represented as Ravi, Chandra, Sukra, Mangal, Buddh, Sani, Brhaspati, Surya and Soma encircle the central portion of the temple. Later Rahu and Ketu were also added.

Guwahati Zoo

Guwahati Zoo is one of the attractions in the city. It is a natural zoo and it receives a number of tourists and local visitors every year. From the center of the city, this state zoo is located at a distance of 5 km. The primary attraction of this well maintained zoo is the one horned rhino, one of the rare species of animal. Leopards and tigers are also kept in the Guwahati Zoo.

Guwahati War Cemetery

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains this memorial cemetery erected during World War II. This is one of the places in Guwahati that tourists and local people often visit.

Places to Visit Near Guwahati

Tourists visiting Guwahati city can also visit the nearby places of attraction in Assam. Among the nearby places of attraction of Guwahati, the Kaziranga National Park is the most visited spot by tourists. The national park is located at about 200 km east of Guwahati. It is a haven for wild animals and birds. The one horned rhino is the main attraction of the Kaziranga National Park. Some of the bird species found here, are the gray headed fishing eagle, white tailed eagle, Brahminy kite, black kite and many others.

Some other nearby attractions are:

Pobitora Wildlife Santuary (60 km east)
Manas National Park (150 km west)
Tawang (200 km north)
Shillong (100 km south)

Shopping in Guwahati

Tourists in Guwahati can buy Assamese silk and Assamese garments from local shops. Shawls, fashion accessories, handicrafts and other objects of decorations that are made from cane and bamboo are also sold in the shops of Guwahati. Fabric designed with thread work is also popular to shoppers in Guwahati city. There are local shops and government emporiums in Guwahati where tourists can go for shopping.

One of the popular markets and commercial place in Guwahati city is the Fancy Bazaar. Garments, beverages, food and various other goods of daily necessity are sold in this market. Other popular market centers in Guwahati are the Paltan Bazaar, Beltola Bazaar, Ganeshguri and Pan Bazaar.