Guwahati is the gateway to the North East. A major commercial hub of Assam, the city is sandwiched between Brahmaputra river and Shillong peaks. Formerly known as Pragjotishpura, the city is home to one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage – Goddess Kamakhya.
Where to Stay
There’s no dearth of staying options in Guwahati. The city offers a wide range of hotels and homestays. We stayed at Vishwa Ratna hotel- a four-star property centrally located in Guwahati. The rooms were clean and comfy and the breakfast was sumptuous.
How to reach Guwahati
Guwahati is easily accessible via road, rail, and flight. We took a flight from Delhi to Guwahati to reach Shillong by road. Guwahati, in fact, is the gateway to North East.
The Unskippable Stop Over
On our way back from Shillong, we stopped at Guwahati. We spent a day at Guwahati and the next morning caught our flight to Delhi. We had a limited number of things itinerary – The Kamakhya Temple and Brahmaputra River Cruise. Many tourists also head to Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary and spend a day or two. Due to the paucity of time, we skipped it.
The Legend Of Kamakhya Temple
I had heard many a story about this revered Hindu pilgrimage since childhood. And finally had a chance to visit it. There are interesting legends surrounding the temple. Located in the Nilachal hills in the Guwahati city, the deity – Kamakhya Devi is known as the bleeding Goddess. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, it is believed has the Goddess’ mythical womb and vagina. Interestingly in the month of June, the Brahmaputra river near the temple turns red. It is believed that the goddess menstruates in this season.
The Temple Visit
Be ready to stand in the queues. You can opt to take the VIP lane by paying INR 500 extra. This lane cuts short the time by almost half. But the tickets are limited.
When you would step into the temple, you would be able to spot a number of rituals. Also, you would be required to leave your shoes outside. The shops outside will offer you to leave it with them, expecting you to take a few puja offerings from them. We did the same.
The temple visit took longer than expected- approximately 4 hours, post which we booked our Brahmaputra river cruise.
Brahmaputra River Cruise
We had heard a lot about the cruise and were thrilled to take it. The Alfresco Grand offers cruises at various times. We picked up a dinner cruise that offers not just a ride across the Brahmaputra river but also sumptuous drinks, dinner, and snacks.
The whole package cost us INR 1200 per head including the meals. It was a close to 2-hour cruise that came with cultural programs, welcome drinks, snacks, and dinner. There’s also a bar available on the cruise and drinks on extra charges.
Final Words
While we missed the Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, but the visit to Kamakhya temple and the river cruise was worth the visit.
