GUWAHATI-
Gateway to North East India.
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Guwahati
is a major city in eastern India, often considered as
the gateway to the North-East Region (NER) of the country
and is the largest city within the region. Dispur, the
capital of the Indian state of Assam is situated within
the city. Guwahati is one of the most rapidly growing
cities in India. During past few decades, it has experienced
unprecedented spatial expansion and steep rise in population.
In fact according to a survey done by a UK media, Guwahati
is among the first 100 fastest growing city of the world
and is fifth fastest growing among Indian cities.
| Geographical
Location: |
24 Degree
to 28 Degree North
90 Degree to 96 Degree East |
| Climate: |
Sub Tropical
Climatic condition |
| Altitude: |
55 meters
above sea level |
| Language: |
Assamese,
Bengali, Hindi and English |
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SIGHTSEEING IN GUWAHATI:
Kamakhya Temple:
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The
Kamakhya Temple is a shakti temple situated on the Nilachal
Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India.
It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples
dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess that
include Bhubaneshwari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta, Tara,
etc. It is an important pilgrimage destination for general
Hindu and Tantric worshipers. This greatest shrine of
tantric shaktism finds mention in the inscription of the
Allahabad pillar of Samudragupta.
A unique festival observed here is the Ambubasi (Ameti)
fertility festival. It is believed that, the Goddess (mother
Earth) undergoes her menstrual period during this period.At
that time the temple is closed for three days and opened
with great festivity on the fourth day. It is believed
to be inauspicious to till the ground or to plant seeds,
during this period. |
Nabagraha Temple:
The temple of nine planets situated on Chitra Chal Hill in Guwahati.
In ancient times, it was said to have been a great centre of
study of astronomy and astrology. Enshrined in this temple are
nine Shivalingams, representing the nine Celestial bodies, each
covered with a colored garment symbolic of each of the celestial
bodies. The nine planetary gods, namely area - Surya (Sun),
Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati
(Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu. There
is Surya Mandir near Guwahati on the Surya Pahar hill.
Umananda Temple:
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The
great Shiva temple situated on the Peacock Island (as
named by some poetic British Administrator) in the middle
of the Mighty Brahmaputra in Guwahati attracts devotees
from all over the country during Shiva Ratri.
Considered as one of the largest Beels in the Brahmaputra
valley of lower Assam, the Beel is a natural habitat to
many varieties of birds. 219 species of birds including
more than 70 migratory species are reported in the beel
area. Surveys have revealed 20 amphibian, 12 lizards,
18 snakes and 6 turtle and tortoise species in the beel.
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Deepor Beel :
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Dipor
Bil, also spelt Deepor Beel (Bil or Beel means "lake"
in the local Assamese language), is located to the south-west
of Guwahati city.It is a permanent freshwater lake, in
a former channel of the Brahmaputra River, to the south
of the main river. It is also called a wetland under the
Ramsar Convention, which has listed the lake in November
2002, as a Ramsar Site for undertaking conservation measures
based on its biological and environmental importance.
The temple has inherited some rock-cut figures, which
speak passionately of the masterly skill of the Assamese
artisans. The sculptures here show that the worshippers
there followed all the principal Hindu gods. We find representations
of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as
emblem) in addition to those of Visnu and his ten incarnations
(avatar). |
which supplies stock to other nearby
wetlands and rivers. The beel provides food, acts as spawning
and nursery water body; some of the species breed within the
beel. Wild Asian Elephants, Leopard, Jungle Cat and the protected
Barking Deer, Chinese Porcupine and Sambar are found in the
beel. Herds of elephants are reported in the beel.
Basisthashram:
Situated in the southern-most rim of Guwahati city on the Sandhyachal
hill is a well known holy cum picnic spot, called Basisthashram,
after the great vedic Sage Bashistha, who is said to have lived
here. Three rivulets named Sandhya, Lalita and Kanta meet here
and flow perennially adding scenic grandeur to the place.
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