Home > Destination > Assam > Guwahati

Guwahati

North-east India's areca market

Guwahati meaning ‘the areca market’ in the local dialect, is often considered the gateway to the relatively unexplored north-east India. Straddled between the Brahmaputra river and a plateau to its south, Guwahati has long been a commercial and education capital for the north-eastern states, and with its Kamakhya Temple – dedicated to the Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva’s consort, is a magnet for pilgrims seeking fertility boons. The river has been a mainstay of local traditions and beliefs for centuries, and certain river islands have temples with interesting lores. Ferries zigzag their way across the river offering connectivity between the banks, and sometimes glimpses of the brown Gangetic river dolphins.

Image credits: Sagarika Dev Roy, CC-BY-SA

Recommended Activities

Immersive, thematic activities to explore destinations

Ambubachi Mela

Glimpse the Tantric traditions of a fertility festival

Guwahati

Related Destinations

Places of interest to weave into your itinerary

Kaziranga

North-east India's greatest safari experience

East India

Assam
Majuli

A study in how island cultures evolve in isolation

East India

Assam
Dibru Saikhowa

A habitat for the endangered white-winged duck

East India

Assam
Dibrugarh

The tea plantation carpeted gateway to north-east India

East India

Assam