Of Temples and Bombs

After a bit of a slow day yesterday, today started with aplomb with a trip to the Kaamakya temple. It is one of the oldest temples in Guwahati and one of the 51 temples in India dedicated to Shakti (female cosmic energy). Set atop the highest hill in all of Guwahati, it led to some spectacular views on the climb up. Fair warning though, this is not a place for animal lovers or people who’s religious inclinations are a bit lax (they go old testament with goats and pigeons. The actual temple itself is beautiful, but with calls to donate to idols and priests willing to show you around, expenses can rack up quick. There is a better alternative though, if you continue the ride up the hill you reach the Bhuvaneshwari temple. This temple is at the highest point of the hill and offers breath taking views of the river Brahmaputra without the incessant foot falls of the main temple. Our pieties at an end, we descended for a small brunch of a chicken roll (Rs. 65 and roll rating – 6.5/10). Energised, we proceeded to the Assam State Museum (Entry- Rs. 5). The highlights were the armoury, which housed un-exploded Japanese bombs, the life size village coupled with the traditional attire and tools of the tribes and examples of the architecture. It would be wise on their part to invest in better lighting, as some pieces were horrendously lit or not lit at all.

The next stop was Umananda or Peacock Island. Right in the middle of the Brahmaputra, a quick ferry ride (Rs. 10 for a round trip) drops you off at its shores.After climbing some stairs, you reach the main temple on the island, dedicated to Shiva with the sanctum sanctorum being oddly subterranean. For the adventurous though, there is a rocky outcrop where you can dip your feet in the mighty river. Keep your eyes out for the Golden Langur, who’s population has thrived in the island without much human interference. This elusive animal was even missing during our visit to the zoo. The ferry back can be caught at any time. Exhausted, we headed home to rest and pack for tomorrow’s trip to Nagaland.