5 Breathtaking Getaways From Guwahati

Situated on the bank of mighty river Brahmaputra, Guwahati is rightly the Gateway of North East India. A settled city with almost all comforts of modern day life yet close to nature, Guwahati is a perfect example as to how an ideal urbane should look like. Apart from being an inspirational city, Guwahati is also the object of envy as around it are situated some of the most scenic and enthralling destinations of North East, to where one can easily plan a weekend trip. Most of these destinations are still virgin lands that add yet another reason to plan a holiday near Guwahati. Also, there are some places that are historically rich and almost all places are culturally affluent giving you enough reasons to be on toes even on a weekend. Here is a list of some of the best weekend getaways from Guwahati.

* Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

Popular as the wettest place in India (Recently, the second wettest place after Mawsynram), Cherrapunjee is a great weekend getaway from Guwahati. Situated 150kms from Guwahati, Cherrapunjee is a scenic land with waterfalls, living Root Bridge, rolling mountains and verdant greenery. Although famed as the wettest place in the country, very few people know that it is also dubbed as the Land of Oranges. Since, it is situated at a short distance from Guwahati; it is seen swarmed with tourists especially over the weekend. Tourists can enjoy trekking, river canyoning from Nongthymmai to Mynteng steel rope bridge, rock climbing and camping.

* Tezpur, Assam

After spending a hectic week amidst the bustling city, one must retire to a peaceful place that is nestled in the lap of the nature AND Tezpur is just that! Being close to the nature and to the history of Assam, Tezpur is probably one of ideal places to explore over a weekend. This fifth largest city of the state is also the oldest inhabited place with historical evidences dating back to 4th century. Over a quiet weekend in Tezpur, one can visit the lush tea estates, majestic Hindu temples and suburb-located wildlife reserves.

* East Garo Hills, Meghalaya

There are several places in Garo Hills that have incredible tourism potential and amongst one of them is the East Garo Hills. There are several places in the East Garo that have immense historical importance, rich cultural and traditions and scenic locales. Since, the area is still untouched, it is able to retain original flora and fauna. The unexploited nature is what awaits here and that is why it is a great idea to spend weekend holiday exploring this mini paradise on earth.

* Kaziranga National Park

Famed for being the largest shelter for one-horned Rhinos in India, Kaziranga is an ideal weekend destination from Guwahati. Apart from Rhinos, Kaziranga is home to the tigers and a large breeding population of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. The park is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Bird Life International for conservation of avifaunal species. One can also find a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests, crisscrossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, and the park includes numerous small bodies of water as well.

* Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya

Located in the neighbouring state Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills is like a slice of heaven on earth with its breathtaking sceneries and tranquil spots. Spread in an area of 3819 sq. Km, Jaintia Hills offers several attractions to its visitors that have picturesque views and innate serene beauty. The tourists can flock in here to enjoy and absorb the beauty of some of its scenic attractions.