Famously regarded as the gateway to North-East India, Guwahati is the largest city in the state of Assam. It is also the largest metropolis in the entire North-Eastern region of India, making it the most preferred staging point to other destinations in the region. Sandwiched by the river Brahmaputra on one side and the Shillong Plateau on the other, this city was formerly known as Pragjyotishpura. The name Guwahati is derived from the union of two Assamese words – ‘Guwa’ meaning Areca Nut and ‘Haat’ meaning market.

The capital of the state of Assam, Dispur, is located within Guwahati. Serviced by Lokpriya Gopinath International Airport towards the west and India’s first fully solar-powered railway station at its heart, the city is well connected to other regions of the state and India. Millions of people each year traverse through the city for their livelihood, travels or for religious purposes. Kamakhya Temple, located at the top of the Nilachal Hill and dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, plays host to thousands of devotees each day. Lakhs of pilgrims and tourists throng to this holy site during the Ambubachi Mela each year. Apart from the Temple of Kamakhya, other sacred temples such as Umananda and Navagraha are also present in the city.

Home to the largest population of the one-horned rhino on earth, Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s national treasures in terms of flora and fauna. Located in the state of Assam in North-Eastern India, its total area is shared by the districts of Nagaon, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong placing it roughly at the centre of the state. Approximately around five hours by road from Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park stands tall as the epitome of successful wildlife conservation in India. In 1985, it was awarded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Lying on the floodplains of the mighty river Brahmaputra, rich vegetation covers almost the entirety of Kaziranga National Park. Receiving massive amounts of rainfall each year, at times even crossing dangerous levels, this national park is characterised by tall elephant grass, marshlands and tall tropical broadleaf forests. Here, a wide variety of fauna thrives including the one-horned rhino, Asiatic elephants, wild water buffalo, leopards and Royal Bengal Tigers. Kaziranga National Park is also listed officially as a Tiger reserve and is home to one of the world’s largest population of tigers.

Majuli is a lush green environment-friendly, a pristine and pollution-free freshwater island in the river Brahmaputra, just 20 km from the Jorhat city and located 347 Kms from Guwahati. With a total area of 1250 sq. km, Majuli is the world’s largest river island and it attracts tourists from all over the world. Among one of the most surreal places in India, Majuli is also a strong contender for a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Mostly inhabited by Tribals, the culture of Majuli is unique and quite interesting and is one of the key reasons why people love this place so much. It is also called the cultural capital of Assam. The festivals celebrated here are all joyous and vibrant. The main festival in the town of Majuli is called Raas and it is an exciting and interesting spectacle.

Top Places to visit Majuli

Kamalabari Satra

Dakhinpat Satra

Garmur

Tengapania

Auniati Satra

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