Guwahati,
the capital of Assam, straddles both banks of the Brahmaputra
river. The town is said to be the legendary Pragjyotishpur or
City of Eastern Light. It is a bustling, busy and crowded city
taking its name from two words: Guwa meaning areca nut and
Hat, meaning market, and thus becoming a market for areca
nuts. But the town goes beyond areca nuts, for it is the most
important commercial hub of the region
Guwahati
has several places of historical interest. Perhaps the biggest
attraction is the Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal hill, where
the Goddess Kamakhya is worshipped. The hill commands a
majestic view of the city and the river. The ponds here are
home to giant turtles which are quite used to being fed by
visitors.
Another
temple which draws people is the Shiva temple on the island of
Umananda. This site is especially busy during the Shiva Ratri
festival when pilgrims ply to the island. There are other
centres of religious and archaeological interest such as the
temples of Nabagraha and Basista as well as of Janardhana.
Those who are interested in cruises have a choice of either
the regular ferries between Sulkheshwar Ghat and North
Guwahati, or the more comfortable vessels of the State
Government's Tourism Department. The State Museum is a must
for visitors, with exhibits which date to the 7th Century A.D.
including stone sculptures and bronzes.
Day Trips Sualkuchi
is an hour's drive from Guwahati and produces the golden
silken thread for which Assam is famous. One can see the silk
begin its journey from the cocoon stage, to its unravelling
and then to the loom to finally emerge as a saree or the
traditional Mekhala Chador, the two piece saree, which women
wear on festive occasions.
Hajo,
25 kms West of Guwahati, is the site of the Pua-Mecca mosque,
set up by an Iraqi prince who turned preacher and travelled
all the way to Assam in the 12th century to spread the
Prophet's teachings. Hajo is revered by Muslims and Hindus,
for in the town is the Hayagriba Madhava Temple, reached by
way of a long stone stairway. At the base of the stairway is a
large pond where resides one of Hajo's most famous residents:
a giant turtle. The town is also well-known for its bell metal
work in plates and serving bowls.
Madan
Kamdev, about 35 kms away, is an archaeological site where
erotic sculptures and other stone carvings abound.
