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Guwahati is the most important tourist destination in Assam. The city lying on the banks of River Brahamaputra is the largest commercial, industrial and educational center of the region. Guwahati can be easily accessed by road as NH 37 passes through it along the south of river Brahamaputra and goes to Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. Infact, Guwahati is the junction of NH-31, 37 and 40.

It is a common practice here to offer animal sacrifice to appease the Goddess. Above Kamakhya is another small temple, Bhubaneshwari, from where one can have a bird’s eye view of the city. The Shiva temple of Umananda, reached by motor boats and public ferries from Umananda Ghat, stands on an island in the middle of the Brahmaputra. Atop another hill in east Guwahati is the Navagraha temple-the ’’temple of the nine planets,’’-an ancient seat of astrology and astronomy. Housed in a red beehive-shaped dome, the central lingam is encircled by further nine representing the planets (graha)-Sun (Surya, Ravi), Moon (Chandra, Soma), Mercury (Buddh), Venus (Sukra), Mars (Mangal), Jupiter (Brhaspati) and Saturn (Sani). Two more were added, Rahu and Ketu, the dragon’s head and the dragon’s tail, or the ascending and descending nodes of the moon.

 The Guwahati planetarium, located on MG Road, is one of the finest in the country. Guwahati Planetarium located on MG Road is the finest and most sophisticated one in India after the one at Patna. The Assam State Museum was established in 1940 as a non-government body but was taken over by the state government in 1953. It is the biggest museum of the north east region and one of the biggest multipurpose museums in the country. Da Parbatia Temple Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden- The botanical garden was established in 1982, has an area of 82 hectares. It has an orchid house packed with 44 varieties of rare orchids of the North East region. The garden has various types of palm, shrubs, herbs, conifers and broad leaved plants. To complete one’s tour of Guwahati, one must visit the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra. Built in the 1990’s, this modern complex at Panjabari provides a one-stop review of the artistic excellence of the region.

Nearby The Manas wildlife sanctuary, 176 km from the city, is situated on the banks of river Manas. It is the only tiger project of its kind in Assam. Pabitora, a small wildlife sanctuary, 60 km from Guwahati is also worth a visit. Rhino and various species of deer abound here. Hajo, 25 km west of Guwahati, is a sacred place for Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. The town also boasts the Hayagriba Madhava Temple, accessible via a long stone stairway.