Assam

      Assam is a state in Northeast Region of India known for it's wildlife sanctuaries, Bio-diversity park, Tea plantation and Oil refinery. But apart from this it is much known to the world for the river

Brahmaputra which flows through the states. The Kamakhya temple, the one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas is also a centre of attraction amongst the pilgrims and foreign tourist and researchers.
      Assam is the most vibrant of eight states comprising the Northeast. Bounded by nine neighborhoods - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, its strategic location in the northeast India and its accessibility from the rest of the country makes it the gateway to the northeastern states.
      Synonymous with natural beauty, teeming wildlife, amazing river cruises, temples, rural charms and fabulous peoples, Assam is mosaic of various culture and traditions. From wildlife safaris, to cruises on the mighty Brahmaputra, to pilgrimages, to walking on the biggest river island in the world, to visiting the vast tea gardens, Assam has much to offer.
      The places you would like to visits are:

Sacred & Religious sites: Kamakhya Temple, Purva Tirupathi Shri Balaji Temple, Umananda, Bhubaneshwari Temple, Iskcon Temple.

Natures & Parks: Deepor beel wildlife sanctuary, Kaziranga national park, Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Manas national park, Brahmaputra river, Majuli Island.

Historic sites & Museums: Agnigarh hill, Talatal ghar & Kareng ghar, Madankamdev, Assam state museum, Guwahati planetarium, Jorhat Science Centre and Regional Science Centre.

Landmarks: Saraighat bridge, Shri Manta Shankardev kalashetra, Mask Masking at Sanghri Sattra, Accoland, Gandhi Mandap.

Kamakhya Temple

      Kamakhya Temple  located at Guwahati, Assam is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mother

goddess Kamakhya. It is one of the most revered shrines of Shakti in India. Kamakhya Temple is located on Nilachal Hills in western part of Guwahati on adjoining banks of Brahmaputra river. There is a complex consisting of several temples around Kamakhya Temple. Apart from this, there are also the temples of 10 Mahavidyas in and around temple. These include Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta,Tripura Sundari, Tara, Kali, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Matangi and Kamala Temples. Among these, Tripurasundari, Matangi and Kamala reside inside the main temple whereas the other seven are individual temples located on Nilachal Hills.

Kamakhya is the Goddess of Desire, and celebratory for the Tantrik sect of Hinduism. Followers of the Tantra Sect place their belief in Kamakshi or Kamakhya.

Kaziranga National Park 

      Kaziranga National Park is a world heritage site and is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, It is famous for Great One-horned rhinoceros and hosts two-thirds of its population in the world which accounts for more than 2200  Indian one-horned rhinoceros. In the year 1985, the park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Kaziranga also boasts the highest density of tigers among the protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. Though sighting of tigers are difficult because of the tall grasses that provide excellent camouflage, their presence can be felt everywhere by way of pug marks, kills and territorial markings. Along with Rhino and tigers, the park is the breeding ground of elephants, wild water suffalo, Swamp deer, hoolock gibbon, leopard and sloth bear. Also, the park is recognized as an Important Bird Area and birds like lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, Baer's pochard duck and lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-necked stork, and Asian Openbill stork specially migrate from the Central Asia during the winter season.

The vast stretch ground of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense forests makes the park look beautiful but the presence of Brahmaputra river makes it look enigmatic.

Best Time to Visit

November to April is the best time to visit Kaziranga Park.

Summer (April to May): During this time of the year, the climate remains dry and windy; one can

find animals around the water bodies.

Monsoon (June to September): From June till September, the region receives heavy rain, approximately 2,220 millimeters (87 in); thus the climate remains hot and humid. The park remains closed from May to October due to warnings of Brahmaputra river floods.

Winter (November to February): Perhaps the best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park as the climate is mild and dry. Chances of spotting rhinos are more in winter as the grass burn off and the background becomes clearer.

Safari Timing

To promote wildlife tourism in Assam, Kaziranga Park authorities organizes a jeep and elephant safari tour.

Jeep Safari Timing:

Morning-  07:00 AM to 09:30 AM Afternoon- 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Elephant Safari Timing:

Morning- 05:30 AM to 07:30 AM Evening- 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Purva Tirupathi Shri Balaji Temple

      The Tirupati Balaji Temple is a magnificent temple located in Guwahati city. The temple complex is built on the vast 2 acres land. The white colored temple is built in the similar architectural style of the South Indian temples. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and is considered to be a very holy place for the Hindu pilgrims. At the entrance, a Ganesha Temple is established. The main temple is the Home of Lord Balaji. The deity inside the sanctum sanctorum is carved out of a single stone that weighs more than 4 tonnes. Besides, there are also the temples of Goddess Padmavati and Garuda- the vahana of Lord Balaji inside the premises. The pure white structure of the complex allures the visitors the most. The temple organizes regular pujas and other religious ceremonies. There is a beautiful park attached to the temple where you can sit and relax for sometime after completing the puja in the mandir. The serenity and pleasant ambience of the place makes one relax keeping all the worries aside.

Timings:

Summer : 07:00 am – 11:00 am, 3.30 pm – 8.00 pm Winter : 07:00 am – 11:00 am, 3.30 pm – 7.30 pm

Agnigarh

      Agnigarh is a hillock located in Tezpur, Assam. It is the site of the fortress which was built by Banasura to keep his daughter Usha in isolation. Legend has it that this fortress was surrounded by fire at all times so that nobody could go in or out of the perimeter without permission. Present day Agnigarh is a hill on the right bank of Brahmaputra River. Agnigarh is one of the most important tourist destinations of Tezpur. A circular stairway leads to the peak of the hill and offers a good trekking option. In fact, people often come here for picnic or simply to enjoy the scenes and sights. From the hilltop the entire view of the city can be viewed along with the magnificent view of the Kolia Bhomora Bridge on River Brahmaputra.

Kareng Ghar & Talatal Ghar

Kareng Ghar & Talatal Ghar is located in Rangpur in the Sivsagar District of Assam. History has it that the Ahom ruler of the 17th century Swargeo Rudra Singha, during his time

constructed a palace in the city, from wood and stones and such other locally available materials. Later, his successor Rajeswara Singha made few alteration and added some more stories to the palace, making it a seven-storied edifice. The upper four stories are known as Kareng Ghar, while the three underground floors are collectively called Talatal Ghar. Even today, the seven storied palace stands proud and tall. The Talatal Ghar was initially built for the purpose of serving as a military base for the Ahom Kingdom. Apart from Kareng Ghar and Talatal Ghar, it has two underground tunnels as well; connecting Talatal Ghar and the Gargaon Palace with the Dikhow River. It was used as an emergency exit during wars. Now, tourists and visitors can only view the ground floor and certain sections of the upper floors. The underground stories have been completely sealed off. Indeed, a visit to this palace is a must if you want to know more about the rich cultural heritage of Assam.

Assam State Museum

      Assam State Museum, also known as Assam Rajyik State Museum, is located in the heart of Guwahati city in the southern end of Dighali Pukhuri tank. The Museum was established by the Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti (Assam Research Society) in 1940 which was taken over by the State Govt in the year 1953.

It is one of the most famous museums of the North- East India and surpasses all the other museums in India, as one of the biggest multipurpose museum. The exhibits of the Museum are displayed under different sections, viz., Epigraphy, Sculptures (the sculptures from the Assam region fall into four principal categories - stone, wood, metal and terracotta), Miscellaneous, Natural History, Crafts, Anthropology and Folk Art & Arms section. The collections which are on display here, are very rare. It offers an extensive collection of artifacts and sculptures dating back to the 5th-12th century to the new artifacts from the World War II. This museum is a great place to visit if you want a sneak-peak of the history of the North-east India.

Shri Manta Shankardev Kalashetra
      Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra commonly known as Kalakshetra is a cultural institution in the Panjabari area of Guwahati, Assam, named after the medieval poet, playwright and reformer Srimanta Sankardev. Kalakshetra has been envisioned as a centre, an institution for the grand exposition of all aspects of Assamese life and culture. It includes a cultural museum, library and various facilities for preserving, demonstrating and performing cultural items, besides a children's park. In addition to being Northeast India's largest cultural congregation, the Kalakshetra is also a major tourist spot in Guwahati. The Kalakshetra is

divided into several complexes. The Central Museum exhibits the articles used by different ethnic groups of Assam. The Kalakshetra also has the Artists' Village, which replicates the village society of Assam. A replica of the Rang Ghar (an Ahom Amphitheatre in Sivasagar district of Assam), is positioned in the entrance corridor to the main Central Museum. The Central Museum preserves some of the traditional articles, or artifacts of Assamese culture. A heritage park is also a part of the huge complex of the Shankardev Kalakshetra. Now a cable car facility is also available inside the park to commute the tourists. 

Saraighat Bridge

      Saraighat is a place near Guwahati which is  located on the northern bank of the River Brahmaputra. This was the place where the famous battle of Saraighat was fought. The Saraighat bridge is the first ever road cum rail bridge which has been constructed over the Brahmaputra River. This bridge connects the north and south banks of Saraighat. The view of the Brahmaputra River flowing under the bridge is simply breathtaking. This place is ideal for photography and one can click amazing pictures of the surroundings which would be memorable for lifetime. On the southern end of the bridge is the Lachit Borphukan Park and the northern end has the Chilarai Park. These spots are vital tourist spots that are often visited by the travelers. The bridge appears to be even more beautiful at night when the lights are all lit up and the place adorns a new and vibrant look. It is at a distance of about 11kms from the Guwahati railway station. The Bridge was inaugrated long way back in the year 1962 and its time span is over. So, a new Saraighat Bridge has been constructed beside the old bridge and was inaugrated on 28th Jan, 2017.

Brahmaputra River

Iskcon

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Manakamdev

New Saraighat Bridge

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