Guwahati and The Pathway to Divinity

 

View from Nilachal Hills - Guwahati

This trip was to find a deeper meaning in life.

On a six-day trip, I walked, explored, ate local cuisine, saw the mystical Kamakhya Temple, met a few people and took adequate rest. 

Guwahati has a peculiar charm that entails chaos, but there is tranquillity within its vast façade.

Day 1

I took a power nap and, in the evening, went to find peace at the Brahmaputra River - a beautiful experience, particularly because I had been feeling stagnant in the city and travelling to the mountains, a water therapy to remove the negative ions I had absorbed. Watching the river, with the sky turning pink and people basking in divine grace and beauty, was surreal. River watching therapy ended, and I ate dinner at a restaurant called Michinga, a local Assamese thali. The staff were hospitable and courteous, and I felt the essence of Assamese people.

Around 11 pm,  a dangerous thunderstorm struck, and I slept like a baby.

Brahmaputra River

Day 2

I was exhausted, so I wanted to take it easy on day two and explore at my own pace, so I woke up after sleeping for a good ten hours. The weather was pleasant, and I felt the urge to drink hot chocolate. After my morning chores, I went to a café five minutes away called Patty Oh, not my first choice, but I was famished. It was empty, which worked well for me. I researched carefully where to go next, and found Kharghuli Hills - a short 1.3 km, twenty-minute walk. I crossed the Kharguli Sanatan Dharam Mandir. The mandir was closed because it was afternoon, so I prayed from outside for a smooth journey ahead. Khargulli Hills is pristine, with the Brahmaputra River looking right at you. 

Brahmaputra River from Kharguli Hills

Sanatan Temple Kharguli Hills

Patty Oh Cafe! Guwahati

Hot Chocolate

Day 3

A day of endurance, mysticism, magic and 28, 013 steps. My plan to visit Maa Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal Hills in Guwahati turned out to be adventurous, friendly and humble. From my Airbnb to the temple, it was a 7 km walking distance. I explored central Guwahati on foot, with chaos and the city’s authenticity. The pathway to divinity is never easy, but aren’t the easy things doable? I understood that there is much I still have to do.  

Day 4 – 6

After a profound realization, I took rest, recuperated, ate a lot of desserts, and walked in the rain for the next two days. I thank the people I met in Guwahati for conversations, simplicity and guidance.