Guwahati is full of tourist attractions, which lure the visitors from far and wide. Apart from that, there are innumerous places to see around the city as well, within a distance of 50-150 km, which have been termed as Guwahati excursions. Each of these places has its own charm or charisma. They present scenes and sights unique to this region, thus drawing travelers from various corners of Assam as well as India. Some of the famous tourist places near Guwahati have been mentioned below.Excursions From Guwahati
Sualkuchi
Situated at a distance of 35 km from Guwahati, Sualkuchi is known for the elusive Assamese silk woven here. The weaving custom of the place can be traced back to the 11th century, when King Dharmapal of the Pala Dynasty sponsored the craft and brought to this region, 26 families, for the purpose of weaving. The entire process of silk manufacturing, right from the early stages of cocoons to spinning, dyeing and finally weaving into exquisite saris and mekhela chaddar (traditional attire of Assam), can be seen in the numerous cottage industries and indigenous workshops here.
Jatinga
The mystery of Jatinga remains unsolved till date. On foggy, moonless and windy nights, thousands of migratory birds die or rather commit suicide here, normally between 7 pm and 10 pm. Scientists believe that this rare phenomenon is due to the birds getting disoriented in the late monsoon season, because of the wind and fog. The disoriented birds, trying to reach any light source in the village, gets struck by trees and such other sources, which finally leads to their death. This amazing phenomenon has attracted the attention of the natives as well as of the thousands of tourists, who come to visit the place every year.
Chandubi Lake
This is an ideal destination for tourists to relax and rejuvenate themselves from the stresses of routine city life. Its main attraction lies in the natural lagoon that has formed in the lake. There are ample opportunities to have fun in the area and people often come here for picnic or on a day’s trip. There are provisions to go fishing and rowing in the calm and placid waters of the lake as well. Situated at a distance of about 64 km from Guwahati, Chandubi Lake can be easily reached by buses operating regularly from the centre of the city.
Madan Kamdev Temple
Madan Kamdev or Pancharath Temple is a complex of 24 temples, located at a distance of 34 km from Guwahati. It is also known as Khajuraho of Kamrup, as basic mortal weaknesses, like love and passion, have been engraved in the walls of the temple just, like those found in the Khajuraho temples of Madhya Pradesh. Studies have revealed that the ruins of the temple belonged to the era when Assam was ruled by the Pala Dynasty i.e. around 10th or 12th century AD. Such ethereal and breathtaking beauty is seen in these carvings that tourists from all over the world come to see and admire these ageless creations.
Vaishnav Monastery
The Vaishnav Monastery of Shri Madhabadeva is located in the town of Barpeta, which is a mere 137 km from the city of Guwahati. This place is very famous across the country, as thousands of people gather here to celebrate the occasion of Doul Jatra, every year. Besides this, the place is also famous for its unique ivory carvings and gold jewelry designs.
Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, earlier known as Orang Wildlife Sanctuary, is situated about 150 km from Guwahati and covers a total area of 78.81 sq km. The park is actually spread over two districts of Assam - Sonitpur and Darrang. Mostly covered by grassland, the area received rainfall between May and September. Hence, the touring season is usually from November till April. The major attractions of this place include one-horned rhinoceros, barking deer, tigers, leopards, elephants and a large number of water birds. Besides these, the sanctuary also has a rich collection of valuable trees, like Teak, Sal, Simuli and Eucalyptus, which add to the beauty of the place.
