Beyond being a backdrop to city life, the Brahmaputra and its banks are key sites for slow travel in Guwahati. Several operators like Assam Bengal Navigation and Raw Tourism, run short and long-format river cruises. They offer access to shifting sandbars, riverine islands like Majuli, home to the 15th-century Vaishnavite monasteries, mask-making traditions, and the Mising community’s weaving and cane crafts. Some cruises include night halts and camping on the seasonal sandbanks complete with bonfires, acoustic sessions, and a full canopy of stars. These activities typically run between October and April, when the water levels are stable and the weather mild. While luxury multi-day cruises head further west or north to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks such as Pobitora and Kaziranga, shorter leisure trips around Guwahati provide a quick immersion into the region’s landscape and biodiversity.
Nehru Park
Located opposite Cotton University in Panbazar, Nehru Park is one of Guwahati’s oldest public green spaces, originally known as Church Field. Spread across 18 bighas, the park sits within the city’s historic academic quarter, an area once home to a colonial-era church and its adjoining cemetery. In 2020, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority undertook a major renovation, adding a waterbody around the Ashoka Stambha, constructing a multi-utility building, and restoring key sculptures including that of Swahid Kushal Konwar. A new statue of Gopinath Bordoloi, an independence activist and Assam’s first chief minister, was also installed. While the park has been modernised, the redesign preserved its full canopy cover, maintaining its role as a central and shaded spot for walks, informal gatherings, and weekday quiet.
Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra for art exhibits and performances
Spread across 17.5 hectares in Panjabari, the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra is Assam’s most ambitious state-supported institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of its diverse artistic heritage. Conceived in 1986 by the Government of Assam’s Cultural Advisory Committee, the cultural complex is named after Srimanta Sankardev, the 15th-century poet, reformer, and cultural unifier. The complex includes two fully equipped auditoriums, the 300-seat Sri Sri Madhavadeva International Auditorium and the 1,250-seat Srimanta Sankardev International Auditorium. Along with these, there are also two outdoor performance spaces in the complex: the Rang Ghar Bakori Mancha and an open-air amphitheatre that can accommodate 2,000 spectators. These venues regularly host traditional music, theatre, and school festivals, particularly in the cooler months. Also on site are a museum, a library, and the Lalit Kala Bhawan art gallery, which has been hosting rotating exhibitions since 2002 by local artists to display their work. Artists and cultural organisations can rent the space for shows, making it a working platform built by the region’s inhabitants. A dedicated study centre for research on Sankardev’s legacy in literature, music, theatre, painting, and philosophy was added in 2016 and holds a growing archive of manuscripts, books, and academic papers. More than a museum or venue, the Kalakshetra functions as a live institution, hosting festivals, performances, and art education programs that reflect the pluralism of Assam and the wider Northeast. The centre is open from 10am to 7pm every day with an entry fee of Rs30 for adults. Instagram.
Dipor Bil
Dipor BilGetty Images
English