Many of us have always wished to visit Northeast India!
Though heard from the mouth of others and through the tales of various occasions, this unexplored paradise invites us to pay a visit quite often.
While the northeastern states are all connected through the state of Assam, the state capital Guwahati is often referred to as the gateway to the paradise unexplored.
When you stop by Guwahati, go to the nearby places surrounding this capital city and enjoy the bounties of the diverse nature and the culture. Tourists and travelers get a wide gamut of options to choose from depending upon the purpose of their travel, i.e. whether spiritual, cultural, nature and wildlife exploring. Within a radius of 200 Kms around Guwahati the list can extend up-to a considerable length.
We have picked out the best for you;
- Hajo, Assam (Spiritual & Cultural)
29 Kms from Guwahati – (40 mins by car)
It is a famous pilgrimage center for the Hindu, Muslim and the Buddhist society located near the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River. Also known as the temple town, this place is a hub for many ancient monuments and sightseeing. It is believed that the great Lord Buddha first attained his nirvana here.
Stairway to the Madhab Mandir, Hajo.
The elements to look out for are the – Hayagriva Madhava Mandir, Ganesh Temple, joy Durga Temple and the Kedareswar Temple.
- Nalbari, Assam (Spiritual & Cultural)
55 Kms from Guwahati – (1 Hr 30 mins by car)
This place is a great travel destination especially in terms of its location. In the north is our neighboring country Bhutan, the Brahmaputra River on the south and provides a gateway to the foothills of the great Himalayas. It holds numerous Hindu and Buddhist shrines and caters a wide range of folk culture.
Look out for– Baghehwari Dewbahar Guri Debalaya, Bileshwar Temple, Jaypal Than, Hari Mandir and Thetha Gohain.
Bileshwar Temple
- Barpeta, Assam (Spiritual & Cultural)
96 Kms from Guwahati – (2 Hr 30 mins by car)
Called the “Land of Satras – cultural institutions”, this place gained religious importance during the 16th century when the Assamese culture and the heritage was started by the great saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Due to its numerous cultural institutes, Satras; this town attracts tourists from far and abroad. It also provides a majestic sightseeing of the riverside landscapes. .
Inside the Barpeta Satra
To look for – Barpeta Satra, Brahmaputra River.
- Shillong, Meghalaya (Nature)
98 Kms from Guwahati – (2 Hr 30 mins by car)
Often referred to as the Scotland of the East and the Rock Capital of the Northeast, the city is the capital of the Meghalaya state. It provides a scenic view of the rolling hills and the countryside landscape of the greenery. A perfect hub for rock concerts, most rock concerts in India are held here.
Look out for – Police Bazar, Shillong Peak, Elephant falls, Lady Hydari Park and Golf course.
Shillong Barapani Lake
- Tezpur (Nature)
164 Kms from Guwahati – (4 Hrs by car)
An ancient city on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, this place is a hub for the tea-based economy. Archaeological pieces ranging from 4th and the 8th – 9th century are scattered around this city of interest. It even has few hillocks nearby that adds to the landscape of the area.
The tea plantations in Tezpur
Evening by the Brahmaputra bank of the Koliabhumura Bridge, Tezpur.
Look out for – Mahabhairab Temple, Nag-Shankar Temple, Agnigarh, Cole Park and Bamuni Hills.
- Cherrapunjee (Nature)
167 Kms from Guwahati – (4 Hr 10 mins by car)
Also known as Sohra locally, this place has the mystique of nature where the Khasi hills and the Silver clouds greet us. The visitors are surely assured of charismatic and scenic beauty. Very often under the influence of the rain, this place holds the record of maximum rainfall in a year (1860 – 61) and for the maximum rainfall in a month (July, 1861).
Cherrapunjee
Also look out for – Mawsmai Falls, Eco Park, Nohkalikai Waterfalls, Dainthlen Waterfalls and Mawkdok Dympep Valley view.
- Orang, Assam (Wildlife)
113 Kms from Guwahati – (2 Hr 30 Mins by car)
Also referred to as the “Mini Kaziranga”, it is the oldest national park of Assam. Now renamed as the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park’, this place shelters over more than 200 species of birds (both migratory and domestic) and the famous One-horned rhinoceros. The milky-white Pelican form the Western world is the major attraction in the summers.
The Orang society
Look for – Jeep Safari
- Manas (Wildlife)
131 Kms from Guwahati – (3 Hr 18 Mins by car)
Originally a game reserve for the royal family of Coch Behar and Gauripur, this place was named after the river Manas flowing through it. Declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and a Bio-sphere Reserve, this reserve boasts to be one of the earliest to be included in the Project Tiger, 1973. Spread with varied grasslands, Manas offers travelers an experience of a lifetime.
Manas National Park
- Kaziranga (Wildlife)
223 Kms from Guwahati – (5 Hrs by car)
A must see for any traveler coming to the Northeast, this is the home to the iconic One-horned rhino. A reputed icon in the wildlife tourism, KNP has three zones – the western, central and eastern zone. An hour long elephant safari ride takes place in the core central zone, where the rides provide a fantastic moment when the elephant passes by the rhinos. Apart from the one-horned rhinos, KNP also houses a wide range of flora and fauna.
Look for – Panbari Reserve Forest and kakochang falls.
Kaziranga National Park
Come pay a visit to this abode of the unexplored desire!