Kamakhya Shakti Peeth
Maa Kamakhya or Kameswari is the renowned Goddess of Desire whose famous shrine is located in the heart of Nilachala Hill situated in the western part of Guwahati, the Capital City of the state of Asom in North East India. Maa Kamakhya Devalaya is considered most sacred and oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas on earth. It is the centrepiece of widely practiced, powerful Tantrik Shaktism cult in India.
Apart from the main temple of Maa Kamakhya ,there are temples of the Dasamahavidya (ten incarnations of the deity) namely Kamakhya (i.e. Tripura Sundari, alongwith Matangi and Kamala), Kali, Tara, Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, and five temples of Lord Shiva namely Kameswara, Siddheswara, Kedareswara, Amratokeswara, Aghora and Kautilinga around the Nilachala Hill which is also called as Kamakhya Temple Complex.
Guwahati is an ancient city and it is mentioned as Pragjyotishpur in many ancient literature and manuscripts. This capital city of the state of Assam is dotted with a number of ancient temples. The most famous among these is the Kamakhya Temple. The Hill of Nilachala, mentioned as Nilakuta, Nilgiri, Kamagiri in ancient texts and also popularly known as the Kamakhya Dham, where the famous temple of Mother Goddess Kamakhya is situated in the western part of the Guwahati (91042/ East – 26010/ North) the gateway to the North East India and capital city of Assam.
The Nilachala is comprised of three parts (i.e. the Brahma Hill, Vishnu Hill and Shiva Hill). This temple town is approximately 600 feet above the plains. The Bhubaneswari Temple is located at the highest point from where one is able to enjoy the panoramic view of the Guwahati City. The mighty Brahmaputra mentioned as Louhitya in epics and Puranas is flowing on the northern side of the Hill. The Nilachala Hill houses some other temples such as the Banadurga temple, the Jaya Durga temple, the Lalita Kanta temple, the Smasanakali temple, the Gadadhar temple, the Ghantakarna temple, the Trinath temple, the Sankheswari temple, the temples of Dwarpala Ganesha, the Hanuman temple, the Pandunath temple (located in Baraha Hill) etc.
Location: Kamakhya Temple, Kamakhya, Guwahati
Timings: 5:30 am to 10:00 pm
Entry Fee/charges: Free to visit
Nameri National Park
Nameri National park is an old set up in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas. A huge spread of lakes and water bodies, the sight of Rhinos, Elephants, Tiger, Leopard, Sambhar, Dhole, Hornbills, ducks and Storks are easy in the zone.
Someone having a love for vegetations like wide grassland, tall evergreen, and deciduous trees can totally spend a good time in the heart of Nameri. Moreover, it connects with Guwahati through swift roads and one will not face any hurdle in reaching this beautiful place. North to Tezpur, Nameri is 38.8 km and one can reach easily from here. Also, Guwahati airport and Tezpur airport can be chosen by the tourists who want to opt for flyway to be here.
Timings- 5:00 hours to 19:00 hours
Umananda Island
This island is a religious addition to the travel bucket list of Assam. Also named as Peacock island by the British, this has gained popularity because of its presence in between the river Brahmaputra and can be easily connected when you are in Guwahati. Umananda island is also known as one of the smallest islands of the world and comprise of Umananda temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The old form of rock-cut figures of Lord Surya, Ganesh and Shiva allows anyone to appreciate the beauty and skills of craftsmanship of Assamese people who showed their dedication towards spiritual energy. The sound of temple bells and water alongside uplifts the mood of devotees and tourists in one sway. This has become one the best tourist places in Assam as it is easily reachable by jetties which are available on the banks of Brahmaputra river.
Timing- 5300 hours to 1800 hours.
State Zoo cum Botanical Garden
Popular as the largest zoo in North East India, Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is situated in the Hengrabari Reserved Forest. Home to a number of animals, birds and reptiles, this place is a popular tourist attraction if you are a wildlife enthusiast. Also called ‘green lung’ for Guwahati, Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is a nice place to indulge in awareness activities and encourage animal welfare and education.
Offering a natural habitat for flora and fauna, this place is a great place to relax and unwind in the realm of nature when you are in Guwahati. Some of the popular animals which you can see in Guwahati Zoo are Royal Bengal tiger, white tiger, white rhino, black panther, Asiatic lion, deer, sambhar deer etc.
Location: Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, Zoo Road, Japorigog, Guwahati
Timings (If Applicable):7:00 am to 4:30 pm
Reference
https://www.thrillophilia.com/destinations/guwahati/places-to-visit
