Guwahati is the gateway to the natural treasures of the Northeast. Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, no matter where you’re headed, a 2-day halt in Guwahati is more than worth your time. You will be amazed by the number of things you can do in Guwahati if you happen to be there for just 48 hours. By Shubhanjana Das
First Day:
The Zouq Restro Cafe:
Before you start your two-day exploration of Guwahati, you need to fuel yourself with some jolly-good food and what better place to do so than The elite and chic Zouq Restro Cafe, which is known to have some of the best Italian and breakfast options in town?
Kamakhya Temple:
Once your stomach is happy and you’re all energised, it’s time to witness what Guwahati is most famous for- the Kamakhya Temple. You can choose not to enter the innermost sanctum of the temple if you wish to avoid the never-ending queues but make sure you visit this Shati Peeth, which is one of the oldest of the 51 all across the country.
Fancy Bazar:
How can it be that you go to Guwahati and come back empty-handed? A trip to what is hailed to be the best flea market in Assam, the Fancy Bazaar will make the shopaholic in you supremely happy. You will be surprised at the sheer variety of things you can find here for dirt cheap wholesale prices! So, grab your shopping bags, and get, set, shop!
Mayong:
After your shopping spree, head out of the city and drive 40kms to the land of black magic. The Mayong village in the small Morigaon district is mystic as well as mysterious. While some villages pass down farming or artistry skills, this village has had decades of black magic practice, so much so that even the Mughal armies during Aurangazeb’s reign feared the power of black magic that was contained in Mayong village more than its armies.
Paradise Restaurant:
The unadulterated bewilderment and borderline shock after the Mayong village visit, you need to bring yourself back to the normal world with some comforting Assamese food. We suggest you head to Morung restaurant whose Parampara Thali is an absolute indulgence. Khar, Khoroli, Pitika, Tenga, and the exclusive Amloki (Amla) soup, as well as the chicken prepared in bamboo, are absolute must-haves.
Second Day:
11th Avenue Cafe Bistro:
Start your second and last day with the finest Assam tea at Avenue Cafe Bistro along with sandwiches, burgers, and English breakfasts for a fine, fine start to another lovely day in Guwahati.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:
You may not be able to make it all the way to Kaziranga National Park but there’s the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary at a distance of 55km from Guwahati to more than make up for it. Home to the highest population of the Greater Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros in the whole world, Pobitora is a sanctum of wilderness and cultural beauty.
Peacock Island and Umananda Temple:
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If you’re not scared of water and are okay with boating down the mighty Brahmaputra, make your way to the Umananda Temple, situated in the small, hidden Peacock Island. You can access this island by taking a boat either from Kachari Ghat or the Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat.
Sualkuchi:
Just about 35 km from Guwahati, in the Kamrup district of Assam, is the weaving village of Sualkuchi. If you have to take back only one souvenir from Assam, make sure it is a mekhela chadar made in Sualkuchi, which has centuries of history of weaving.
Cafe Hendrix:
After two days of intense exploration, natural, historic, and cultural, you can finally sit back and relax and have a few drinks at Cafe Hendrix, the first-of-its-kind live blues cafe in Guwahati, the perfect place to experience the amazing nightlife of Guwahati under one roof.
