AIR
Indian Airlines has regular flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Agartala and Aizawl and Jet Airways flies daily from Bagdogra, Kolkata and Delhi. Air Sahara also operates a daily flight from Delhi.

Airport
The Borjhar Airport, renamed as the Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, lies at a distance of 25 km from the city centre. The new terminal now operational, is better equipped with modern facilities and government tourist information counters. There is also a booking counter for Meghalaya Helicopter Service at the airport. A taxi transfer to the city costs around Rs 300 while share-taxis charge Rs 100 per head.

RAIL
Guwahati being the headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Railway, most trains, both on metre and broad-gauge, pass through the city connecting it with the rest of the country. While the Rajdhani runs to and from Delhi, Kamrup connects Guwahati with Kolkata and Dadar Express with Mumbai. Apart from Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri in northern Bengal is the most convenient railhead for Guwahati.

Railway station
Conveniently located near the Paltan Bazaar bus stand, it has a host of user-friendly features like snack bars, tourist information counters and even a chemist shop.

ROAD
The railway network being sparse beyond Guwahati, it becomes all the more important as the main hub for road transport in the region. Assam State Transport Corporation buses ply to and from the neighbouring towns of Shillong, Tezpur, Silchar, Cooch Behar, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Imphal and Agartala.

Some of the good private operators on these routes are Blue Hill Travels and Network Travels. Though the roads are not exactly in shape for a smooth ride, travelling by bus is much cheaper in the northeast.

Bus stand
At Paltan Bazaar, just across the overbridge from the railway station. A well-laid out complex, all the transport companies and reservation offices have their branches here: Assam State Transport Corporation, Meghalaya State Transport, There is also another bus stand at Machkhowa on H B Road from where you get buses for Hajo and nearby areas.

STD Code
0361

Climate
Hot and humid summers with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 34°C and cool winters varying from 8°C to 20C. The monsoon months (June to September) witness moderate to heavy rainfall of around 182 cm.

Languages
Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Nepali and English

Best Time to visit
November - Feburary

Kamakhya Temple
Perched atop the Nilachal Hill, this wonderful example of traditional Assamese architecture offers a breathtaking view of the Brahmaputra roaring below. A seat of tantric Hinduism, legend has it that when Shiva was carrying away the corpse of his wife Sati, her yoni or vagina fell here making it one of the greatest shaktipithas in India. Every year, hordes of pilgrims gather here during the Ambabuchi festival (June/ July) which celebrates the completion of the Mother Goddess s menstrual cycle. And, once you have been through the dark and eerie insides of the temple, you won t be surprised to know that it has been associated with an ancient Khasi sacrificial site. Frequent buses from the Paltan Bazaar stand will drop you at Kamakhya.

Umananda Temple
The best thing about this temple is its picturesque location on Peacock Island, the largest of the three islands in the middle of the River Brahmaputra. Built in the memory of Uma, the consort of Shiva, the three temples of Umananda, Chandrashekhar and Hargaura have exquisite rock carvings and are thronged by devotees on the occasion of Shivaratri. Add to it the excitement of a ferry ride on the wild Brahmaputra. Regular crossings between 7am and 5 pm, charging Rs 6 for a return trip from Umananda and Pan Bazaar Ghats.

Navagraha Temple
Accessible by a pucca road, the Navagraha Temple is located on the Chitrachal Hill close to Silpukhuri. The unique features of this shrine are the nine lingas inside the temple representing the navagrahas or the nine planets, which are worshipped to ward off evil.

Basistha Ashram
Legend has it that this beautiful site by a gurgling hilly brook on the southern limits of the city was once the haunt of the venerable sage Basistha. With a tiny old temple and picture perfect setting, it has now become a popular picnic spot for the city crowd.

Assam State Museum
A treasure house of archaeological and demographic specimens that go back to the 5th century, the museum, situated near Dighali Pukhuri in the heart of the city, is a must-see for anybody interested in the culture of the Assamese people.

Assam State Zoo and Botanical Gardens
At 5 km east of the railway station, the state zoo is a well managed, sprawling establishment unlike most other zoos in the country. Apart from tigers and leopards the one reason you simply cannot afford to miss out on the zoo is the rare one-horned rhino along with its two-horned African brethren.

You can browse through the roadside evening shops in the crowded Paltan Bazaar, Fancy Bazaar and Pan Bazaar areas for good buys. However, the best places to shop for Assam s world-famous silks ? muga, endi and pat and the exotic local crafts are the government showrooms on GN Bordoloi Road in the heart of the city.

 Kalpataru, Panbazaar: A good place to look for quality silk.
 Shankardeo Silk House, Fancy Bazaar (near Sikh Temple): A little on the steep side but perhaps the best place for exclusive silk products.
 Purbashree, GN Bordoloi Road (near AGP office): The North Eastern Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation run shop that stocks silks, laichampi (quilt material), Naga and Kuki shawls and cane and bamboo crafts.
 Pragjyotika, GN Bordoloi Road (near AGP office): The Assam State Emporium, where you can pickup some local bamboo handicrafts.
 Jagaran, GN Bordoloi Road (opposite AGP office): Another popular shop in the same locality that stocks silk textiles.

And, if you are a connoisseur of the cup that cheers , then follow the aromatic trail of the famous Assam tea that will take you to some of the oldest and best tea shops in the Paltan Bazaar area (opposite the Bengali High School). You can also try out the shops on the right side of the road as you come from Pan Bazaar? across the railway overbridge? towards Paltan Bazaar.