TRAVELOGUE: KAZIRANGA AND GUWAHATI

Hi! We took a beautiful short trip to Assam, mainly Guwahati and Kaziranga!

We took a train from Kolkata to Guwahati, but got down at a station before Guwahati, Kamakhya Railway station. Here we hired an auto to Kamakhya Temple for 200INR. The auto took us to the mountain top where the temple complex is.

 

This ancient temple is one of the very holy Hindu temple, also known as Pitha-Sthaan.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakhya_Temple 

 

The temple complex has many deities stone carvings. Animal sacrifice is still practiced  here.

Then we went to our guest house, freshened up, had a quick lunch and went to Assam State Museum.

There are beautiful collection of artifacts here. The kids specially enjoyed the Assamese village household made inside the museum.

 

This statue of Durga in the museum was dug up in Assam. Hindu mythology talk of Goddess Durga, who was empowered by many Gods to fight the demon King Mahisasur. Here Durga is seen with 20 hands with various weapons riding a lion slaying Mahisasur  who appeared out of a cut buffalo(mahish) body.

In the evening we went to nearby markets namely Paan bazaar and Fancy bazaar.

Get yourself a Mekhala Chador, traditional wear of Assamese women.

The next morning we went to Tezpur.

Lovely, peaceful place.

BEHOLD! We are in KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK!

 

We took a jeep safari. Here we saw elephants, deers, wild boar, pelicans, famous Indian one horned Rhinoceros and many other birds. Tigers are a bit difficult to spot. It was great fun. My hubby, Suman was most thrilled of the lot.

 

Can you guess, what plant or fruit is this?

?

This is peppercorn.

Tasted it. Fresh, strong flavor with sharp heat. 

 

Another question

Where am I?

?

I am standing in a TEA GARDEN

These manicured shrubs caught my attention while traveling. Found that these are tea plants, and so went in.

The trees in between the the TEA shrubs have  PEPPER climbers on them.

Very Interesting!

Even chew some raw tea leaves. They leave the tastes of tannin behind..

These are orchids

This one in particular looks like the flower of banana and also smells like it..

 

We were lucky to be able to visit KAZIRANGA NATIONAL ORCHID PARK. Just 2 to 3 kilometer from main gate of Kaziranga National park, was inaugurated on 14th October 2015. This is the effort of  motivated people under guidance of eminent activist Akhil Gogai. It was honour to meet him in person. Very humble and enthusiastic person.

Best time to visit is March and April when all orchids are in full bloom.

 

Kids thrilled after they saw pitcher plant. There is cultivation of all the orchids of North East India, 200 varieties of rice, medicinal plants, two ponds full of fishes and picture gallery. They also have authentic Asamese cuisine served here, Asamese cultural pro gramme including Bihu danced being showcased and also a real tree house. MUST GO....

 

Here we are on Agnigarh hill top. Strain your eyes and see behind us the Kolia Bhomora Setu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolia_Bhomora_Setu This is 3015 meter long bridge built on Brahmaputra river not only joining two parts of Assam but also an important landmark joining North Eastern states of India with the mainland.

Kids having fun of Agnigrah hill. Agnigarh tells the mythological story of Tezpur. The Har-Hara war when the place was strewn with dead and blood, gives this now peaceful place its name "Tezpur".

We came back home refreshed with lovely memories...

Enjoy Assam...