Overview
Where the North East begins
Guwahati sits on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, Assam's largest city and the transport hub almost every visitor to the North East passes through. Above the city on Nilachal Hill stands Kamakhya Temple, one of the most important Shakti Peeths in India and a major pilgrimage site, drawing devotees and visitors year-round.
Down at the river, Guwahati is one of the few places you can watch the Brahmaputra up close — sunset cruises out to Umananda Island, said to be the world's smallest inhabited river island, are a city ritual. Fancy Bazaar and the surrounding lanes are worth a wander for silk, spices and Assamese handicrafts before heading further into the hills.
Best time to visit
October to March is coolest and driest, and the clearest window for river cruises and temple visits. Summers (April–June) turn hot and humid, and the monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain and occasional flooding along the river.
Things to do
- Climb Nilachal Hill to Kamakhya Temple, best visited early morning
- Take a sunset cruise on the Brahmaputra to Umananda Island
- Browse Fancy Bazaar for Assamese silk and handicrafts
- Visit the Assam State Museum for Ahom-era history and tribal artefacts
- Walk along the Brahmaputra riverfront at Sukreswar Ghat
Getting there
Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is the main air gateway to the entire North East, with direct flights from most major Indian cities. The city is also a major rail junction and the starting point for road trips into Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
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