Places to visit in Guwahati

Guwahati, a sprawling city in Assam situated beside the Brahmaputra River is one of the entertaining tourist destinations in Northeast India. It is popularly known for its temples, making it a popular pilgrimage destination, and river cruises. Guwahati offers places worth visiting and draws visitors from all around the globe.

There is no better place to learn about state’s history and cultural heritage than at a museum. Also known as the Assam Rajyik State Museum, the State Museum in Guwahati Assam, is one of the biggest museums in India that you must visit. This interesting city is also popular for the State Zoo cum Botanical Garden that is always flooded with tourists who come to witness the picturesque landscapes, water bodies and large enclosures. While exploring these places in Guwahati, do not miss visiting one of the oldest parks in Assam, the Nehru Park. Located opposite of Cotton College in Panbazar area it is highly popular for its scenic beauty and musical fountain. With 25 concrete sculptures around the park depicting the dance forms of Assam, this park is worth visiting. Another interesting place is the Guwahati Planetarium, a centre of astronomical education and research in Assam located at M G Road in Guwahati. A highlight at Guwahati Planetarium is its special shows projected on a dome-shaped overhead screen.

The sacred Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati also magnetizes people from across the globe. Dedicated to mother Kamakhya this temple is the centre of tantra worship and a must visit place in Assam. Assam is well known for wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, Assam tea and religious places. Some of the most visited religious places apart from the holy Kamakhya Temple are the Umananda Temple at the famous Peacock Island in Brahmaputra River and the Navagraha Temple that lies on top of Chitrachal Hill in South Guwahati. If you are someone interested in historical sites, you must visit the Guwahati War Cemetery that has graves of soldiers and Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War. Some of the other enchanted places not very far from Guwahati that you must not miss visiting are Tezpur, Sualkuchhi, Nalbari etc.

Assam is one great holiday destination that is home to one horned rhino, bewitching landscapes, large water bodies and spectacular places to visit. It is as asset to the country, a place worth visiting.

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/places-to-visit-in-guwahati

The ever-enchanting Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim

The small and beautiful wonderland of Northeast India, Sikkim has places where you can feast your eyes and soul with many beautiful lakes dotting its landscape. The North Sikkim plateau interconnecting Tibet has a number of lakes of which Gurudongmar and Chho Lamo are the most famous. Gurudongmar Lake and Chho Lamo are few of the sources of the River Teesta; a very important river in Sikkim, North Bengal, and Bangladesh, which finally merges in Bay of Bengal.

Located at an altitude of 17,800 feet (5,425m) Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world. This lake is considered to be sacred and adulated by people encircled by snow-capped mountains and crystal clear icy water.  It lies in the north side of the Khangchendzonga Range, and the beautiful view of Mount Siniolchu can be witnessed from here. The splendid beauty of the place is breathtaking, a sight to behold and cherish. The lake Gurudongmar is located in a small and beautiful village Lachen in North Sikkim. The strategic location of this mesmerizing lake and its proximity to other popular attractions further appeals to the tourists and makes it one of the most popular attractions in Sikkim.

The lake also has religious significance attached to it and is revered by most of the faiths in Sikkim. The Lake is named after Guru Padmasambhava AKA Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. This sacred lake freezes during the winters except at one spot, which devotees believe has been especially blessed by the Rinpoche. The water of this Lake is believed to have healing powers and possess miraculous power of granting children to childless couples.  

A trip to Gurudongmar Lake will disconnect you from the world and connect you with nature. Think of the snowy mountains, curvy roads, valley of flowers, countless waterfalls, pristine water gushing in rivers; that is exactly what a visit to this place offers. What more can you ask for your dream destination?

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/the-ever-enchanting-gurudongmar-lake-sikkim

Tourist places in Assam

Assam, also considered as the ‘tourist’s paradise’ is a great destination for adventure excursions such as safaris, cultural trips, pilgrimage tours, and leisure trips. Each part of the state offers unique experiences for every type of tourist. There are many places worth visiting that can be included in doable day excursions in Assam.

Hajo is one such place popular among religious tourists and history enthusiasts. Situated on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, 32 km from Guwahati, Hajo is the meeting point of the Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu faiths. Even if you are not a religious person you should visit Hajo since it is famous for historic sites as well. Tezpur is another place of attraction in Assam popularly known as the city of eternal romance. It is 180km away from Guwahati. Witness and enjoy delightful views of the Brahmaputra River at dawn and watch the flurry of activity as the day begins for the boats and vessels line up near the banks in Tezpur. Another popular site of tourist’s attraction in Assam is Sivasagar that is about 363km from Guwahati. It is one of the places with great history, making it a must visit place in Assam.

Assam is richly blessed with natural beauty and historic sites. Apart from such places the state also offers spots for leisurely picnics with picturesque views. Bhalukpong is one such place that is situated on the Assam-Arunachal border about 250km from the capital city of Assam. The only hill station in Assam is Haflong, 325km from the capital city the picturesque and unspoiled environs of Haflong make this place worth visiting.

The nature has showered India with places that are no less than heaven. The Majuli Island in Assam is also one of them. It is the world’s largest inhabited riverine island and is renowned for its important ‘satras’ or Vaishnava monasteries. Apart from these extremely bewitching places in Assam, you can always go for wildlife safaris and live some of the best moments of your life. Also, there are places in Assam that offer river cruises in mighty Brahmaputra River.  Spending your holidays in Assam can be one of your best holiday decisions. Take home wonderful memories with so places to visit and things to do in Assam.

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/tourist-places-in-assam

Guwahati to Shillong

Heading to Guwahati for your next vacation? Then add the scenic city of Shillong to your trip as well which is about a 3-4 hours drive. Clubbing these two cities offers a wonderful contrast to tourists. The bustling port city of Guwahati is popularly known for its temples and river cruises and its hustle and bustle. Whereas Shillong, also called the ‘Scotland of the East’ has a serene landscape of rolling highlands, picturesque vistas and pleasant weather year round

Here is our recommendation to make the most of this route on a holiday. Start at Guwahati. If you are travelling from outside, enjoy the evening at leisure over a candle-light dinner atop a cruise on the Brahmaputra. Spend the next day covering major tourist spots here like the Kamakhya temple (one of the 51 shakti pithas), then head to Peacock Island to see Umananda Temple located on the famous Kachari Ghat in Guwahati. There are many other temples to visit here too if you wish to. Otherwise indulge in shopping at Paltan Bazaar. You can spend another day visiting the Assam State Zoo, the Guwahati Planetarium, enjoy a picnic at Nehru Park and pick up curios from the Maati Centre and Paan Bazaar.

The next day drive down to Shillong, enjoy the scenic route and watch the sun glisten over the Umiam Lake just outside town. Enjoy the evening at leisure. The next day start the day by visiting the stunning blue colored Don Bosco church and museum, the Butterfly Museum, the Ward lake and the Japanese themed Lady Hydari Park. The following day can be enjoyed visiting the Elephant Falls, Air Force Museum, Shillong Peak. Enjoy a boat ride at Umiam lake or enjoy evening shopping at Police and Bara Bazaar for local handicrafts. On your way back to Guwahati on the final day, Visit Sankardev Kalakshetra, a cultural institution near Guwahati and enjoy one last cruise before you head back.

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/guwahati-to-shillong

Guwahati- the Gateway to Northeast: Tourist places in Assam

Guwahati’s graph of interest started rising after the capital was shifted from Shillong to Dispur (part of the city) in 1972. Assam is fondly called the “Gateway to the Northeast” as it is connected to the 8 states in this region as well as neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Burma. Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport is one of the busiest in India connecting to most of the major cities and towns as well as international destinations such as Bangkok (Thailand) and Paro (Bhutan). This kind of connectivity makes Guwahati a leading tourist destination. Guwahati, Assam, is not only a place but has a large heart too, catalysing the process of assimilation of various South Asian cultures and offering the best of hospitality. From fabulous viewpoints and bird-watching spots to theme parks and river cruises, the tourist city of Guwahati, Assam, offers almost everything for every type of tourist.

Apart from connectivity, Guwahati is also a treasure trove of culture, feature and history. Kamakhya, Guwahati has many ancient and medieval temples, 19th century mosques, churches, and gurudwaras. One of the modern additions is the Balaji Temple, the showpiece of South Indian cultural influence in Assam. Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra on the southern edge of Guwahati is a microcosm of Assam’s cultural diversity of various communities that have shaped Assam. At Guwahati’s heart is an epic tank named Dighalipukhuri, named after its elongated (dighal) shape. Then there is Guwahati Planetarium, Assam State Zoo, and Botanical Garden housing 200 species of captive and resident mammals. Again, luxury liners offer more meals with fabulous accommodation and trips to popular tourist destinations such as the silk town of Sualkuchi and Kaziranga.

Other tourist places to visit in Guwahati are the Assam State Museum, Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, the Guwahati Planetarium, the Guwahati War Cemetery, Nehru Park etc.  Apart from Guwahati, there are many tourist places in Assam that are worth visiting. Like Nameri National Park, Padam Pukhuri in Tezpur, Majuli Island, Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakochang Waterfalls, Tocklai Tea Research Centre in Jorhat and Haflong Hill, Haflong Lake, Panimoor Falls in Haflong

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/guwahati-the-gateway-to-northeast-tourist-places-in-assam

Tour Genie’s travel management system

The work of a travel agent or a tour operator is both exciting as well as demanding. We at TourGenie understand the pain points in running operations and have created an easy yet effective solution that can ease the everyday operations of a tour operator.

Introducing the TourGenie Travel Management System

The TourGenie Travel Management System is a cost-effective management tool that aims to resolve crucial operational difficulties: from saving every enquiry that comes through to diligently keeping track of bookings at every stage, and finally getting them confirmed.

Benefits of Travel Management System

  1. Easily create and customize itineraries.
  2. Easily track ongoing and upcoming bookings.
  3. Seamlessly communicate with customers through the inbuilt messaging feature.
  4. TourGenie Travel Management System can be accessed from anywhere with the use of a smart device be it a mobile, desktop, laptop, or tablet.
  5. You don’t have to worry about your data getting lost because all your data (information) is safely stored on a cloud server, which means you will never lose data even when your computer or phone crashes.

The TourGenie Travel Management System is also the best entrant this year in the Northeast India, Bhutan, and Nepal market for travel agents.

TourGenie offers an extra benefit for the North East India, Nepal, and Bhutan users, wherein they can market their packages on TourGenie’s website. The site gets over 4000 views per day, which ensures maximum exposure for the packages and the assurance of receiving genuine enquiries. The best part is we will constantly market every package online for absolutely zero cost. 

The TourGenie Travel Management System is suitable for any size company, big or small, and can be used by any travel agent around the world. 

“Simplify Travel” with a yearly subscription to the TourGenie Travel Management System.

Dare to go offbeat in Sikkim

Visiting a popular tourist destination means taking a round of the usual attractions. Ever thought of visiting offbeat places instead that will push you out of your comfort zone?  If yes, then we think Sikkim will be a cool destination for you to make a start. Read on to find a doable itinerary that will take you to some cool offbeat places in Sikkim. 

Azing Lepcha’s farm in Rinchenpong

This tour will take you from Gangtok in East Sikkim, through the tea plantations of South Sikkim, and finally onto West Sikkim where you will find a totally different rhythm of life.

On day 1, start early from Gangtok towards Temi Tarku. Enjoy a stunning view of the tea gardens while having lunch at Temi Tarku Tea Point or book one of the many homestays that fall along the way for a day and have the most relaxing offbeat experience. These homestays are run by down-to-earth people with beautiful properties comprising vegetable gardens, fruit trees, livestock, and traditional kitchens; you are free to try your hand at gardening and use the traditional kitchen to cook up a meal. A bonus is the permanent views of the distant hills and mountains. 

Temi Tarku

Next, drive onto Namchi. Make a stop at the gold-colored Sai Baba Mandir. It will most probably be early evening, so you can catch the temple radiating with a golden hue.  Move on to see the Namchi helipad and chill under the starry sky. Halt at Jorethang for the night.

Day 2, drive to the offbeat places of Okhrey and Bhareng in West Sikkim. Stay in a traditional homestay, revel in nature, and stay off the grid for a while for a mental detox.

Next day, drive to Hilley and check into the offbeat Mushroom Homestay, a few feet away from the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. Go for a hike or simply explore the surroundings while sipping on some Rhododendron or wild strawberry wine available from the Red Panda Homestay located just beside the sanctuary’s entrance.

Mushroom Homestay

Head to Sreebadam for a lesson on rainbow trout framing or for meditation and healing; it’s worthwhile to spend an entire day here. Stay at Dawzong Homestay. This offbeat property reflects a rural setting replete with a cow shed, wood shed, a traditional smoking oven for cardamoms, and plantations all encircling the owner’s 300-year-old house, which stands in the center of the property.

Dawzong Homestay

Drive to Hee-Bermiok, a delightful offbeat village. You will see cardamom plantations and orange trees as far as the eye can see. The homestays here radiate a traditional charm and worth the stay over.  

Make a last stopover at Azing’s Farm in Hathi Dhunga. You can spend your day learning about organic farming and rearing stingless honey bees. Sit under the shade of a tree and try their fruit wines and honey sold at the property before heading home.

Darjeeling Gangtok Tour Package

Magnificent glacial lakes, endless pastures, and waterfalls at every turn, quiet monastery towns, the mesmerizing tea gardens, and scenic drives are what can be experienced in amazing Sikkim and Darjeeling. These two places have become popular tourist destinations, especially with honeymooners, because any trip to these places ensures you leave with a memorable experience.

View of Mt. Khanchendzonga from Pelling

The state of Sikkim is nestled in the northeastern part of India. Words fall short to describe its natural beauty. Towns such as Gangtok and Pelling have some gorgeous hotels and sights that ensure a memorable holiday.  Sikkim and Darjeeling will have you captivated with their beauty and the welcoming nature of the local people.  If you are planning for some exciting memories to take back home, you must tour Sikkim and Darjeeling together. Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or adrenaline junky, Sikkim and Darjeeling satiate every traveller’s interests.  A budget-friendly option is TourGenie’s Sikkim Darjeeling Tour Package. (Read: Darjeeling Gangtok Tour Package)

Darjeeling Toy train

This is a 7days-6nights itinerary. In this package you will get to explore all the local sightseeing places in Gangtok, including offbeat places and as well as leisure. This package lets you explore east, south and west Sikkim, with each region surprisingly different from the others in terms of landscape, culture, traditions, and way of life.  

Also experience the scenic beauty of the queen hill Darjeeling, their culture, and the local food of Darjeeling. This package will offer you all the local sightseeing of Darjeeling. Witness the mesmerizing sunrise in the tiger hill. Darjeeling’s splendor can be best seen on the Rangeet Valley passenger cable car. You will witness a spectacular view of the valley bedded with lush green tea gardens, dense forest, and small gushing streams.

The queen hill Darjeeling

Sikkim and Darjeeling will surely astonish you. Visiting the hills will be great decision and you can return home rejuvenated and much more relaxed. This package will give you a complete tour of Sikkim and Darjeeling, with all the amazing experiences of staying in a hilly place.