GUWAHATI : Awesome Assam !!!

Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati 

Partha Pratim Majumder

Assam : Entry point through Guwahati :

Out of the seven beautiful sisters of “North East”  of India, Assam stands aloft with the another state having “A” as the first alphabet of the name (like Arunachal Pradesh).  Assam , and Guwahati in particular, has been a celebrity ever since for becoming the “Gateway” to an exotic and least explored region …..

Situated on the southern bank of an expansive river Brahmaputra, Guwahati, being capital of Assam  is one of India’s fastest  growing metropolises based on the localized market-city to Northeast  India’s trade hub, inhabited by over 12 lakh people.

One point of wonder is that despite of its being a commercial hub, it still now maintains a laid back character and charm , that is its very own.

Nature in Abundance :

Guwahati does not possess “Kamrup Kamakhya” only, the pilgrims’ preferred  destination but certainly more. The chaotic concrete growth, however, can not take away the fact that it has one of India’s best urban settings.

There is  the massive and turbulent Brahmaputra flowing by ; the concrete jungle is pockmarked with at least 5 hill ranges, the Deepor Beel , large wetland , being prime habitat for migratory birds and 13 reserve forests  (including Kaziranga)  that sustain 200 mammals including leopard and elephant. In some localities, you may see a big cat staring at you , when you open the window.

One horn Rhino @ Kaziranga

Culture Route & amp; Rhythm :

Amongst so many festivals and ceremonies in Assam, Bihu Utsav with folk dance renditions is a special feast and attraction for eyes and minds of the millions of tourists. The sky, river and fields with endless richness mix up with the folk tune of the people, which any tourist can hardly afford to miss.

Sightseeing :

B A S I C S

(i)                Kamakhya Temple :  

one of the Indian subcontinent’s 51 Shakti centers, this temple atop Nilachal Hills is an ancient seat of tantric and Shakto cults of Hinduism. It is also a converging point for ascetics claiming yogic powers and offers a great panoramic view of the city.

(ii)              Umananda Temple :

A Shiva temple on an island off the Kachari ghat in the heart of the city.

(iii)              Assam State Museum :

All about Assam – in a well laid out complex displaying Assam’s culture, history and crafts. Under one roof, you can know and learn about Assam and its culture.

(iv)              Guwahati Planetarium :

The only one of its kind in Northeast India, it provides a serious glimpse into the mysterious aspects of the universe. It is open on all days from 11 am- 8pm , except the first of every month.
 

SPL. OUTINGS

1. Assam State Zoo : Friday closed. Open from 7am—4.30pm
2. Deepor Beel : A large natural wetland – Assam’s first bird sanctuary attracting 1200 species of local & migratory birds. Watch tower for enthusiasts.  For details, call NGO Aranyak at 2266087
3. Regional Science Centre : 10 km from the city. It houses many exhibits & models of tech. advancement. A great learning place for both students and professionals alike. Closed on Sundays &  public holidays.
4. Accoland : It is the answer to the likes , “Esselworld” in Mumbai, Apu Ghar in Delhi & Nicco Park in Kolkata. A complete fun package.

Bihu Dance 

GETAWAYS FROM THE CITY

1. HALFLONG :  Assam’s only hill station. Having a spectacular achievement in the form of “Steam Locomotive Safari” covering 37 tunnels and 586 bridges. There is a Tourist Lodge (03671-272694) at Halflong.
2. JATINGA :  Ten km. from Halflong, a place famous for a spooky phenomenon “Birds suicide” between September –November. Though unexplained, scientists and researchers from all over the world folk around to witness such event. No accommodation here.
3.  TEZPUR :  A strategic stopover for trips to Nameri National Park , Orang Wildlife Sanctuary ( home to rhinos, elephants, deer & waterbirds  or to scintillating Bomdila , Dirang Valley or Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
4. MANAS  NATIONAL PARK :  360 Sq. km wildlife preserve is India’s only park with 5 different conservation status including Project Tiger and World Heritage Site. With spectacular sights and wild life going hand in hand , it is a “must see” spot. Best season – November to April.
5. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK :  430 Sq. km / century old World Heritage Site famous for one horned rhinos apart from Royal Bengal Tigers, elephants, water buffalos and deer.

How to reach ?

·         From Guwahati or Jorhat, which is well connected by air and train.

·         All buses to eastern Assam pass through Kaziranga. Tour Operators arrange organized tours to Kaziranga.

           Where to stay ?

·         Bonani Lodge (govt. run – 0376-2662423)

·         Kunjabala Lodge

·         Bonoshree Lodge

·         Aranya Lodge

·         Wild Grass Resort (0361-2546827 email : mwan_barua@satyam.net.in)

·         The Park at Kohora

Don Bosco Institute : Missionary Zeal in Education  : (0361-2631-668)

After the end of your journey and tryst with nature, animals and human culture, you are back to Guwahati for getting ready for airport or railway station with 1 day under disposal.

A stopover at DBI at Joypur, Kharguli, Guwahati- 781004  is solicited. Set on the misty green hills that overlook the majestic Brahmaputra , the institute creates the right ambience for adventure of learning, for  quiet relaxation  and creative self-discovery.

The complex is a citadel of learning including an exemplary private initiative like ITI in skill vertical, which is quite successful.  

 

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GUANZHOU in China : What A City !!!

Partha Pratim Majumder

“ India has always had a weak state and a strong society. Because political authority was either toodistant or irrelevant to its daily life, we never allowed state power to be so concentrated , as in China, that it could reach deeply and change its basic social institutions……………….. hence India is of relatively political disunity while Chinais of one strong empire ………….. . whosesuccess has been scripted …………… by an amazing state that has built incredible infrastructure .” - Gurcharan Das, Former CEO, Procter & Gamble -  eminent author and columnist, The Times of India

AS TOURIST, WHAT I SAW IN 2011:

• As tourist, my stay in China only confirms the above statement and beyond. China, unlike India has come a long way from a past of third world country stigma to a “Progressive State” having spic and span cities for servicing all the continents with the incredible infrastructure built so far. This is complimented by the passionate makeover of its people to enable the materialistic development meant for their growth , which as Asians, we should be proud of
• I moved around in the city called Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province to attend a global conference and fair in “Green Technology”. The fair was participated by 1146 LED manufacturers showcasing 1780 types of products for the overseas buyers of all continents in the fair complex at Pazhou (floor space of 6Lac sq. ft.) in Guangzhou. 
• This fair complex is the largest in China and 3^rd largest in the world
• Interestingly, we are all aware that Guangzhou is a state capital like Kolkata, Patna, Chennai, Bangalore whereas Beijing is like Delhi , capital of the China. In terms of available infrastructure, we can easily distinguish between the country capital & other cities in Indian context accordingly. In fact , there we fall trapped in the wrong.
• Actually, all the cities in China have been allowed to grow to similar height more or less giving adequate importance to decentralization of main activities belonging to China’s national life through endorsement of separate identity / function to other cities . So, while diplomats & govt. functionaries of the world step in Beijing, business tourists folk around in other cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong that showcase trade & commerce at global level. This equality speaks about the rationale that looms large to do away with the issues of inequality and inner conflicts based on progress and growth roadmap. In Guangzhou, Asian Games tournament was held in October, 2010

There lies the master stroke of China policy makers and administrative bodies that has been causing a change for last one tto two decades ---- radical in nature

· During my stay in China, all TVchannels and newspapers was vocal about the amazing fact that Japan was superseded by China to become No.2 inthe world after USA in terms of economic & industrial growth in 2011

WHAT CHINA WAS IN THE LAST DECADE ?

I could not resist placing the excerpt of a report “Changes in China over the past decade “of Ms. Katie Ross on 2^nd July 2009 in www.chinainsight.info

Thisreport is so tangibly clear and focused with insight on the transition that Ihave seen the outer face during my tour …….. manifested naturally as resultant output :-

Bicycles, pollution and rice paddies : A decade old drawing :

Those three elements defined my memory of China priorto this trip. My parents and I went to Hong Kong in 1997 and Mainland China in2000. I remembered streets where bikesfar outnumbered cars and where entire families piled onto a small, one-gearbike. I remembered the grey haze that seemed ever present in the cities. And Iremembered lush, green rice paddies of the Guilin countryside farmed by asingle farmer manoeuvring a steel plough behind a water buffalo. That is how Iremembered China , a decade back.

But now after 10 years, another trip…………. and immense changes in China.

New &  emerging China :

I have a new impression of China. I’m not the only onewho has noticed changes; China’s progress over the past decade has caught theattention of many including NPR’s Rob Gifford, who wrote about the developmentsin his book, China Road. According to Gifford and many other analysts, Chinahas undergone immense changes in its economic, political, and social systems inrecent years that have changed the face of the country and its role in globalpolitics.

The economic changes that have occurred in China areastonishing. Even though China is not a democracy, but it is very much a capitalistic society, andover the past 10 years, that characteristic has become much more pronounced.Small farms are being combined to form larger ones and the job once done by aman, his plough and his water buffalo isnow done by high-tech equipment.

According to a report in Architectural Record, the Chinese consume 54.7 percent of the concrete and 36.1 percent of the steelproduced in the world. I witnessed the immense usage of these products as I sawcountless cranes and buildings in the process of being built in every city wevisited. China’s economy is no longer dominated by agriculture; it’s become abooming industrial superpower.
   

GLORIOUS TURNAROUND :

Politically, China has transitioned from a reclusiveCommunist country to a nation that is now seeking the limelight on the globalstage. This week marked the twenty year anniversary of the student protests at Tiananmen Square. In 1989, student protestors voiced their disapproval of the  government’s authoritarianism and calls for economic change. The Chinesegovernment violently put down the protest killing over 7,000 people. Little hasever been published about the massacre that is available to Chinese citizens. However, China is beginning to move away from thisisolated approach and rather is thrusting itself into the global spectrum. The2008 Beijing Olympics were a perfect example of China’s desire to break fromits long-term hermitlike existence. China spent billions on its own “coming outparty” with the 2008 Olympics where it invited the world to see it as a clean,beautiful, stable country ready to compete with the rest of the world’ssuperpowers. China is now a powerful global force to be reckoned with.


Since Mao’s days :

China has come a long way. Where once cycles and bikesmay have taken up space on the street, now there are BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes.Ten years ago, expensive European cars were commonplace in Hong Kong, but notin Mainland China. Since then, many hutting communities have been levelled togive space for becoming super power.

Nuvo-Riche : New economic wave

A new status-aware upper middle class with stronglikes over high standard of living has emerged and huge emphasis is being puton prestige and appearance. People long for exclusivity: expensive cars, niceapartments, designer clothes, and membership at private golf clubs. China seemsto be more Western than I remembered it before.

Often on the trip, I felt like I could have been in alarge United States city with the designer shops, nice cars, and hugeskyscrapers. The Chinese social sphere is moving away from the farmer-basedmajority of Mao’s time to a competitive, materialistic one where exclusivityand prestige are top priorities.

Everyoneknows that behind this economic up rise,China repositioned as super business hub also servicing whole world with their merchandise &    products.

China: synonym of change

China has undergone immense changes over the pastdecade, but then, I’ve changed a bit, too. I’ve gone from a wide-eyed,white-blond haired girl who happily smiled in countless photos with Chinesestrangers to a young adult more fully able to appreciate the Chinese language,culture, history, food, and people.

I look forward to returning to China again someday towitness its further evolution.

WhileMs. Katie Ross says it all , the following are my interesting observations seriatim :

1. Chaa : In India, tea is called either “Chaa” or “Chaai” – in Chinese household, it is called “Chhaa.”
2. Girl power : During “Security Check”, women are entrusted for conducting physical checking of male passengers as well as female passengers.
3. Sign language : In small stalls selling household items, few sets of English words only may be heard from the sales girls like “Sorry, no discount” / “Thank you”/ “Very beautiful”. Beyond that, pls. do not try. Sign language is the only language to communicate.
4. Mechanical guide of vehicle : While moving around , you will be caught in the riot of uninhabited flyovers moving to different directions and you ‘ll need to know the way to your destination but no man around at all. What to do? – Open your GPRS attached with the car / write the address / destination in Chinese language , then enter/ the screen will guide you without fault to your place seamlessly …… you shall need to watch and follow
5. Billboards & hoarding : The entire city is spotlessly clean – not only the roads but also the walls of buildings as you ‘ll come to know a serious paradoxical truth that when China is the largest manufacturer & exporter of big Led screens to the entire world, there is no single such screen or hoarding from the advertisers before the public eyes in the whole city. Oh Lord ! What about the visibility issue related to image building ? In Indian cities, have we ever come across such clean city skyline ? I wonder.
6. Roads without two & three wheelers : Can we ever imagine in India ? At first sight, I was amazed to see that only four wheelers flowing like fish on the buttery smooth roads , mostly one ways. I asked myself about the existence of prolific road partners like cycles, two & three wheelers. I was more amazed to know from a local guide that in Guangzhou only, four years back, govt. administration came up with a strong directive that owing to enormous traffic + law & order problems caused by more than 1.00 Lac two wheelers driven by local youth and endless immigrants Taiwan, Taipei, Korea and Hong Kong, all such vehicles were prohibited to ply. A deadline of 3 months was put for compliance. That ‘s why, I found three major vehicular forms were on (a) four wheelers (b) Volvo type large well looking buses (c) Volvo type large tram type wired buses. About cycles ? The no. has gone down to a few only , for which an earmarked small lane is kept on all roads.
7. Metro Railway : efficient and elegant : As user and commuter of Kolkata & Delhi Metro in India, this is by far the best of all. It does not only have centrally air conditioned, high scale facilities and inter connecting multi tracks but also entire glass wall covering stations and automated signage on the floor directing passengers for smooth interchange. I found a strong aroma of professional and administrative acumen at the underground to make this modern transport system very effective.
8. Love for black colour apparel : Ladies and gentlemen are fond of black dresses, mostly with western cut, suits and leather jackets.

• Boulevards, corner gardens but no hawkers : Most of the roads conveniently meet boulevards and corner gardens or hanging bridges with overflowing green leaves, whereas the subways are cleanly maintained with few drawings by children. I did not find a hawker throughout but certainly one beggar only, sitting in the carriageway of a pedestrian bridge
• Indian food joints : In Guangzhou, few such joints like one Sharma ji’s dhaba or Taste of India are available for Indian veg & non-veg items.
• Chinese Industry : It’s manufacturing industries are so big and diversified that 30% of its land has been exhausted. Now, they are planning for vertical sets of eco friendly buildings suitable for IT & ITES. In Green Technology, there are 1200 + manufacturers supplying all the countries , of which India is no exception.
• Director’s wife as a car driver : During our visit to a manufacturing organization at 8 am, we were taken by a car to the said factory by a lady driver. She used GPRS to know and follow the route unlike a regular driver. Later on, we came to know that due to paucity of the driver in the early part of the day, the wife of the Director volunteered in the interest of her company. Is n’t that something new to us ?

My knowledge base tells me that what the fundamentals are : China islarger in size & population, character is no different than India’s and maladiescould be no different as well.

Even then, China is today recognized to be no.2 in the world and next to USA, no. 1 .

Success can be the best revenge , is n’t it ?

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SANTINIKETAN : A Place of Peace & Tranquility

Partha Pratim Majumder

Santiniketan has the distinct identity of culture and heritage, which gives the place a unique soft touch of divinity and serenity .

Place : 

The place is at  Bolpur in the district of Birbhum , West Bengal, India. A true picture of rural Bengal blessed with endless sky and spectacular green with fresh air moving around. The ambience smells of crop , simplicity and music with folk tunes and tribal dance. The addiction to good life here is addiction to musical charm of rural Bengal. If you are once here, you may feel that it is not enough.

Bhuvandanga :

Santiniketan was previously called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit). Tagore family owned this place. Rabindranath Tagore's father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, being attracted by the beauty of this place, established Santiniketan in 1863. In 1901, at one stage he realized that plain Hinduism is not enough for the society, as he was highly educated in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and many Western languages, he felt that Vedic teaching was supreme. He started worshiping of "Nirakar Brahama" or the God without any face, as the people of Vedic era did.

History :

This was some three hundred years ago, Maharshi Devendra Nath founded The Bhrahmo Samaj or the followers of God without any face. This sect will have no Religion, no worshiping of Idol, preach non-violence, no sacrifice of animals, birds in the temple premises, no caste system, every body will follow the life style as said in the Vedas. Joined him the highly educated “bangalies”.

Maharshi first built a place and used to prayer under Chhatim tree known as Chhatimtala. His able son Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore also joined him soon. He set up Santiniketan in the year 1901. In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore set up a Bramhacharya school here, which later came to be known as the Patha Bhavan, the school of his ideals, whose central premise was that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful.After he received the Nobel Prize (1913), the school was expanded into a university. Many world famous teachers have become associated with it. Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, and Amartya Sen are among its more illustrious students.

Kala Bhavan :

Kala Bhavan, the art college of Santiniketan, is considered one of the best art colleges in the world. Other institutions here include Vidya Bhavana; the Institute of Humanities, Shiksha Bhavana; the Institute of Science, Sangit Bhavana; Institute of Dance, Drama and Music, Vinaya Bhavana, Institute of Education, Rabindra Bhavana, Institute of Tagore Studies and Research, Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and Palli Shiksha Bhavana; Institute of Agricultural Sciences. 

There are also other centres, affiliated to major institutions such as Nippon Bhavana, the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Palli-Charcha Kendra,Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, Computer Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration.

As well as Patha-Bhavana, there are two schools for kindergarten level education, Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala, Santosh Pathsala, a school for primary and secondary education known as Shiksha Satra, and a school of higher secondary education known as Uttar-Shiksha Sadana.

Another worth visiting place around Santiniketan is remnants of "Khoai"- a name coined by the Poet himself for a special kind of undulating laterite land formation. The stream of rainwater meandering through it offers a magnificent view during monsoon.

                                                  Biswakabi Rabindra Nath Tagore 



Houses around Santiniketan :

Around santineketan house there were also many houses built for teachers and students. Many of them were destroyed. They were "Gairik", "Sanskar bhawan", "Dwarik-bithika", "Prak-kuthir". "Dehali", "Santoshalaya", "Notunbari" , "Benukunjo", "Mukut" , "Kalobari" etc. named houses were still there :

Gairik :

A house was situated at the Ashram pukur side which was known as "Gairik"

Sanskarbhawan :

It was located at the southest side of Ashram pukur and the north side of Amrakunjo.Many workers and students lived here at very low expenses.The student who lived here,made a garden and it was known as Garden house.Latter it is known as “Sanskar bhawan”. The house named so because during this time there was a difference between people for their caste.But in a sanskar bhawan all students lived equally.

Dwarik :

It was situated at the left side of the gate of ‘Ananda pathsala’ .It was made for Sir Pearson.Sir Andrews was also lived here.Latter it became a office of Siksha bhawan.On the year 1956 the house ws broken due to heavy rainfall.

Dehali :

Rabindranath used to live with his wife Mrinalini Devi in this two storied building. The word "Dehali" may be taken from "Meghdut". The meaning of the word is the frame of a door. Dehali was the entrance of the Ashram house.

Notun-Bari (New House) :

Around 1902/03 “Notun –Bari” was made where Tagore’s mother-in-law lived with her grandsons and granddaughters after the death of Mrinalini Devi.

Prak-kuthir :

It was the the part of Ashram.Now it became the Somindra Library.In the beginning of the Ashram Vidyalaya Gajadananda Roy and Satishchandra Roy was lived here.

LATAGURI : Back To Jungle ???

Gorumara Forest : Big Cat Loitering 

Honeymoon Cottage : Silver Ritz Resort 

The Himalayan Range 

As the pulpy white clouds swim across the blue sky lazily in the sunny morning over the green forest against the backdrop of purple mountain range of Dooars , while underneath of your feet Murti river graciously rolling on with pebbles around , you would like to feel blessed to meet a such picture post card coming alive. That is Paanijhora, a Wilderness Camp ( under Divn. Forest Officer , Wild Life Division, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India ) , one of a number of unforgettable tourist spots at Lataguri, which can be the center of your moving around for unearthly pleasures.

Heavenly Spread Around :

At Pannijhora, there are four cottages ( run under solar energy) for nightstay in a package tour of Rs. 1600/- per head including morning trip to Chapramari Reserve Forest , tribal dance in the evening, dinner and breakfast. During dark night, you may hear the sound of crackers used by the local guards with burning torches in hand to drive away hoards of wild elephants who are on their night long march from jungle to adjacent villages for food and grains across the tea gardens that lay bare before your well guarded wilderness camp compound.

Green Hub And Habitat:

Lataguri is the hub around which reserved forests and their wild inhabitants are in the galore. Being at Lataguri at the first instance is always advantageous because of the fact that all the necessary official permissions can be collected from the counter of Forest Deptt. at Lataguri only. You can halt at Chalsa or Mal bazar or Kumlai also for jungle trips but for entry permits , you have to report to the counters of Forest Deptt., Lataguri every time , which is not at all time and cost effective.

Garden Walk 

Four Points Of Green Entry :

The road to Lataguri stands to be a large stretch of National Highway across the evergreen forest with defined gateways like Gorumara, Khunia, Chukchuki and Chapramari. Each one deserves your visit with one binocular and one camera to arrest its inhabitants in the frame first and filtered in your memory forever. As a matter of fact, each forest has its own character , topography and variety of habitat apart from relatively distinctly different flora and fauna.

Gorumara ( area 79.45km. ), most popular of them all , may well define the dwelling place of one horned rhinos, wild elephants, spiral horned bisons, deers and beautiful peacocks. It’s entry point is 7km away from Lataguri on the way to Chalsa. The watchtowers like “Rhino point” and “Jatraprasad” are awaiting your arrival for gifting you with mindblowing sights and a rendezvous with wild animals, taking their daily dose of salt and water. Forest inroads are to be strictly travelled by vehicles only under hired Guides at cost , under special permission of 25 tourists per shift for 4 shifts per day.

Khunia, is situated at the northern part of Gorumara. Here , the forest is too dense and in the core area. Therefore , regular meet with either elephants or bisons in the afternoon is not ruled out from the watch tower called “ Nazar minar”. Deeper inside the forest after buffer zone at Nagrakata area, one horned rhinos are more visible with their style and grandeur. In Khunia, few attractions are above beasts and trees. An amazing forest bunglow accompanied by two unique cottages ( Diana & Rethi) by the waterside of Murti river , surrounded by a flower garden and a Chidren’s Park can be your special bet.

Rest & Peace

Chukchuki is placed at the southern part near Moinaguri. This is all time favourite of birds of the world. All the feathered friends of mankind unite from October onwards around the water front in front of the three storied watch tower, built in the modern design. Such annual summits participated by international and national delegates happen to be a spectacular events for the human visitors, who can not afford to miss. From Flycatcher to Lapwing of foreign origin and Dhanesh to Bhimraj of Indian origin may be arrested in your binoculars and cameras. These apart , flora and fauna of Chukchuki are special attractions . You have to take Guide’s help to know about them.

Flower Power

A Statue 

Chapramari ( 10 Km) , smaller in size than Gorumara, is basically a forest of Saal trees and other trees. “Chapramari never returns tourists empty handed” - this proverb is prevalent amongst the local residents of Lataguri. Here, wild life enthusiasts must see at least any of the inhabitants ranging from Leopard to deer for their being conspicuous , particularly during dawn or dusk at the water front.

Going :

After you land at Dumdum Airport, Kolkata, West Bengal, pls. take Kanchankanya Express from Sealdah Stn. To Maalbazaar Stn. Therefrom, take a car to Lataguri.

Staying :

A number of resorts and hotels are available in every range - from luxury to shoe string budget for variety of travellers. Food is fresh with serene calmness as nature will make your day.

Blogger at the entrance of "Gorumara Reserve Forest"