Saraighat (from Howrah) remains one of the best trains to Northeast India.
It was pretty much on schedule. We had plans to visit Kamakhya and thanks to uncle and the helpful Panda (Nabapati - let me know if you need his number), we could register our gratitude to the God even in times of Navaratri and bomb blasts. We spent the rest of the day meeting our relatives in Guwahati. The weather was a little cloudy. Assam was reeling under dust storm till the week before. We brought in relief with splashes of rain. We had to bring out our woolens. Welcome to Assam.
Guwahati - Tezpur
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It takes around 3.5 hours by car. There are options of buses also which takes a little longer - 4.5 hours approximately.
The clouds/rains/mist made the day for us. I have always believed that the journey is more enjoyable than the destination (no pun intended though as I was heading to my in-law's place).
If you have never been to Assam previously, one thing that might strike you pretty early is the huge presence of Army at every corner of Assam. Tezpur being one of the Northeastern bases of Army, the abnormal presence of men in uniform might sometimes irk you. The men in uniform always move in herds with the red and green flagged armored trucks. The common people looks a little shaky in accepting them as part of their life - some of them opine that the men in uniform are too busy to protect themselves, instead of protecting the common people. There had been uproar in the past about the excesses of the men in uniform - though I didn't find any such strong sentiments these days in my last few visits. The mainland of India made very little effort of bringing Northeast to the mainstream - be it because of geographical constraints or cultural difference. The people out here always have a feeling that they were the deprived lot - which may be partially true if you look at the employment generation rate.
However times are a changing. Silchar has a full-fledged NIT. Guwahati has got an IIT. Shillong hosts the latest IIM. The Nation heads are frequently travelling to Assam & the other 6 sister states also. Increased employment and focused development are the only ways to bring the 7 sisters back in the mainstream of India.
Tezpur
-----------
There are many a places in and around Tezpur to consume your entire day. Tezpur observatory is one of best places around. On the banks of Brahmaputra (Luit in local dialect) river, the view can take your breath out. If you stretch your eyes, you can see the 3.5 km long Kalia Bhomora bridge (the longest on river Brahmaputra) and the bluish mountains of Kaziranga.
The sunset over Brahmaputra was one of the most memorable ones I have seen so far.
Guwahati - Tezpur
------------------------
It takes around 3.5 hours by car. There are options of buses also which takes a little longer - 4.5 hours approximately.
The clouds/rains/mist made the day for us. I have always believed that the journey is more enjoyable than the destination (no pun intended though as I was heading to my in-law's place).
If you have never been to Assam previously, one thing that might strike you pretty early is the huge presence of Army at every corner of Assam. Tezpur being one of the Northeastern bases of Army, the abnormal presence of men in uniform might sometimes irk you. The men in uniform always move in herds with the red and green flagged armored trucks. The common people looks a little shaky in accepting them as part of their life - some of them opine that the men in uniform are too busy to protect themselves, instead of protecting the common people. There had been uproar in the past about the excesses of the men in uniform - though I didn't find any such strong sentiments these days in my last few visits. The mainland of India made very little effort of bringing Northeast to the mainstream - be it because of geographical constraints or cultural difference. The people out here always have a feeling that they were the deprived lot - which may be partially true if you look at the employment generation rate.
However times are a changing. Silchar has a full-fledged NIT. Guwahati has got an IIT. Shillong hosts the latest IIM. The Nation heads are frequently travelling to Assam & the other 6 sister states also. Increased employment and focused development are the only ways to bring the 7 sisters back in the mainstream of India.
Tezpur
-----------
There are many a places in and around Tezpur to consume your entire day. Tezpur observatory is one of best places around. On the banks of Brahmaputra (Luit in local dialect) river, the view can take your breath out. If you stretch your eyes, you can see the 3.5 km long Kalia Bhomora bridge (the longest on river Brahmaputra) and the bluish mountains of Kaziranga.
The sunset over Brahmaputra was one of the most memorable ones I have seen so far.
Apart from the natural beauties, you may also stumble upon relics of ancient India scattered in utter negligence (Usha Pahar).
We also visited the Mahabhairav temple - if you are travelling with your family you have to visit temples as well.
A new Rock Garden has come up at the Dhenukuna Pahar - I thought the view from here was even better than the Tezpur Observatory. You could very well rename it as Tezpur peak (like Shillong peak etc). But that needs a little concerted effort to position it as a tourist destination to the rest of the world!
We also visited Maithan and the Cole Park.
I have met many a people who travel to Assam just to explore Kaziranga and then they return back. If you are planning to stay at Kaziranga, you can very well plan to roam around Tezpur for a day. Take a local cabbie. Ratan (Mandal, not the Tata one) was very enthusiastic in taking us around Tezpur. If you need his contact number, let me know.
More about Tezpur: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tezpur
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