Day 119 - Dispur

Dispur is the capital city of the state of Assam, which is situated on the outskirts of the city of Guwahati. Dispur City became the state's capital after the former capital, Shillong, left the union to become the capital of Meghalaya. The city of Dispur is known for the natural beauty of the Brahmaputra River, on whose bank it is situated; and is a place that people visit to observe the way of life of the nearby tribals who remain cut off  from the rest of society.


How to reach here:

By Air: Guwahati international airport is the main airport which is 18 km east of the city center.

By Rail: Guwahati railway station is the major rail head  which is also the headquarters of the North-East Frontier Railway.


Best time to visit: Throughout the year.


Languages spoken: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi.


Must eat: Khar, Tenga, Tamol.


Famous Restaurants: JB's.


Places you must visit: 

Sualkuchi  is famous for  the production of silk and Assam’s specialty, Muga, which is a  golden variety of silk, that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is located about 24 km from the town of Guwahati and is particularly famous for this Muga silk.





Pandu is located on the southern bank of Brahmaputra River, in the western part of Guwahati; Pandu acted as the entry point to Guwahati during the period of early 1960’s, prior to the building of the Saraighat Bridge.



The Kamakhya Temple, that is considered one of the Shakti Peethams in India, is located on top of Neelachal Hill. This spot is the highest point of this city and draws good crowds, especially during the time of the Ambubachi festival. It is highly regarded by the followers of the ShaktiShakta sect and is linked with the legendary mother Goddess who is known to have killed Narakasur, the demon king, who supposedly, was the ruler of ancient Assam. It is also associated with the legend of Daksha Yagna and Shiva. Legend has it that Kamakhya came into existence when Lord Shiva was carrying the corpse of his wife Sati, and her "yoni" (female genitalia) fell to the ground at the spot where the temple now stands. The temple is a natural cave with a spring. Down a flight of steps to the bowel of earth, is located a dark, mysterious chamber. Here, draped with a silk sari and covered with flowers, is kept the "matra yoni". At Kamakhya, tantrik Hinduism has been nurtured by generations of tantrik priests down the centuries.Every year, on the seventh day of Ashaad , it is said that the pool containing the uterus turns red for three days.While there is no scientific backing to the event ( many believe that lots of vermilion powder is poured into the water, which then turns red). The holy water is distributed by the priests among the pilgrims.









The Uma Nanda Temple that dates back to the 17th century is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located on a river island. King Gadapani of Ahom constructed this temple on the small yet scenic Brahmaputra isle that is also known by the name of Peacock Island. This island acts as a sanctuary to the endangered golden langurs.. As this island is not  frequented much by people, these species live here peacefully and are in larger numbers than their last home that was Manas National Park. Another attraction in this island, which is quite small and can be covered by foot, is the Ganesh Temple.







Tourists interested in learning about the culture and life of the Assamese people, their various tribal groups and the sub-groups; can visit the Srimanta Shakardeva Kalashetra that is located on the Panjabari Road. This center not only captures the essence of the state but also the essence of the spirit of Srimanta Sankaradeva, who was a great seer from the 15th century. He is known to be one of the most important integrators of the Indian society and also a major unifier of Assam, who had popularized the idea of unity amidst diversity, preached about universal brotherhood of man and sang the Bharata-Varsha song. This institute targets at developing, promoting, researching, preserving and restoring the vivid cultural heritage of various communities residing in Assam.











The pilgrimage spot of Vashistha Ashram is located  at the confluence of the three rivers: Sandhya, Kanta and Lalita. According to legend, these three rivers were named after the wives of Vashistha Sage, who is known to have established this ashram.







Assam State Zoo and Botanical Gardens that is situated on the RGB Road that is popularly known as the Zoo Road. This Zoo is home to animals like white tiger, leopards, African as well as Indian rhinos; and various rare species of birds that are only found in North-East India.







Close to the Shukaleswar Ghat of the Brahmaputra River, the Janardana Temple is located atop the hillock of Shukaleswar.The unique feature of this temple is the delicate mix of the architectural styles of Buddhists and Hindus. It is believed to have been constructed in the 10th century A.D. and was renovated reconstructed in the 17th century.




In Hinduism, nine celestial bodies of the Solar system are considered to be Gods who have influence on the destiny of all creatures and hence they are to be worshiped  It is for this reason, that around the 18th century, the Navgraha Temple dedicated to those nine celestial bodies, was created on the top of the Chitrachal Hill which is Guwahati’s second highest hill.





The UgraTara Temple houses the Goddess Tara, who presides here, not in the form of an idol but as a well filled with water.





Tourists can also go for evening cruises on the Brahmaputra River. This river is one of the main rivers in Asia, which originates in the southwestern part of Tibet. There it is known as the Yarlung Zanbo River. The river enters India through the gorges of Himalayas into Arunachal Pradesh, where it gains the name of Dihang.







In 1994, in the Kamrup District of Assam, the Regional Science Center and Museum was established at Khanapara. This is an ideal place for students and kids, as it offers interactive demonstrations on education, science, life in the pre-historic age and other topics. Special scientific equipment like fun mirror, magic tap, cliff lift etc are displayed here. This museum also exhibits the many contributions and developments brought about in the world of science by the Indian Nobel laureates and scientists.