| Weekend Getaways | Services |
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| Sualkuchi in Assam | ||||
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 Sualkuchi
is barely 30 km by road and 12 km by river ferry from Guwahati on the
north bank of the Brahmaputra. The picturesque Sualkuchi forest range on
the opposite side, well-tended agricultural fields and the village
fishing pond complete the rustic picture…fauna and all. Sualkuchi
combines the ethnic setting of weaving skills in white and golden Assam
silk, indigenously called Pat and Muga, together with agriculture and
fishing in the neighbouring villages. The established regional tourist
circuit includes the Kamakhya Temple and North Guwahati, noted for its
archaeological heritage, temples and the sacerd Hajo. Local residents
welcome visitors and can facilitate extension of their stay by arranging
bullock cart rides, village walks, and Gurukul learning programmes in
traditional weaving, fishing, agriculture, brewing, treks, cruises and
cultural performances.Natural
Heritage: Project hamlet has a unique geographical characteristic
with mosaic of some small hills, hillocks and wetlands. A small river
island covered in the project through a river cruise offers an ecstatic
feeling of Asom's true riverine ambience. The settlement of the Project
Site is scattered in the foothills of Gandhmou hills. It is located in
the North bank of the River Brahmaputra. It is part of the macro
watershed area of river Puthimari in the west and river Barnadi in the
east. Puthimari and Barnadi are Northern tributaries of river
Brahmaputra originating in Bhutan hills and confluencing with river
Brahmaputra near Hazo and Kuruwa respectively. One can see diverse types
of ecosystems in the project area including terrestrial (Forest),
riverine, wet-land or marshy and agro-ecosystem. Monuments &
Archaeological Attractions: Sculptures of Ganesha and Vishnu in the
village and the famous Ganesh Mandir on way, Traditional religious
institutions called Namghar, and a cave at the Rakshasini Pahar (island
in Brahmaputra).Bamboo is a local natural resource that has today
achieved the status of Green Gold in the Global market. The
constructions of the buildings in the project site are bamboo based. The
construction pattern at the site is an example of this. Visitors can
compare the architectural details of the Local Culture Cuisine: Like all other Assamese
village, Sualkuchi is also rich in various Assamese dishes and snack
items. Breakfast items are light and easy to prepare type whereas main
meal is rich and involves planned preparation. Most of the items include
rice as ingredient. Different varieties of rice and rice powders are
used for different types of preparations. Some of the delicacies in
snack items are- Laddu (Coconut, Suji, Til, Akhoi, Muri, Chira), Pitha (Tekeli,
Chunga, Malpowa, Pani, Ghila, Topola, Tel, Khola chapori, Bora, Kal
patot diya), Sandah guri, Chira-doi, Akhoi, Muri, etc. Main meal is
traditional Assamese thali. Majority of people in the area are non
vegetarian but vegetarian meal is equally delicious. The vegetarian meal
contains rice, dali, mahor dali, khar, pitika, chatni, mixed tarkari,
bengena bhaji/ bengena pora, kharisa, kahudi/ kharoli, kothalor tarkari/
kal dil/ pachala, green leafy vegetable (dhekiya/ kachu/ lai / marisa/
loaf/ doron/ puroi/ laur aag), bor bhaji etc. The non vegetarian meal
contains chose and pick from the above list and one fish item and one
meat item. Some times, egg items are also served. Fish items include-
machor tenga, machor khar, mach patot diya, machor pitika, narikol mach,
murighanta, pachal-machor petu. Traditinally preferred meat are duck,
mutton and pigeon. But now a days with the growing conservation
movement, pigeon consumption has reduced to almost nil. Meat items
include- komora-hanhor mangso, mah-hanhor mangso, pathar mangso etc. Egg
items include konir dhekia bhaji, koni-alur dam etc. Depending on the
season and availability of raw materials, the propositions vary.
Dress: The traditional dress of Sualkuchi includes Mekhela Chador
for women and Churiya and Thenga for men. Mekhala chador is a two piece
dress for women. The lower piece, mekhala, is like an open ended drum
and the upper piece, chador, is almost 2.5 meter long cloth that is
wrapped around the body. Thenga is like a long pant.
Bohag Bihu: The spring festival also
call Rongali Bihu. Saraswati Puja: Worshipping the Goddess
of Knowledge during winter. Art & Craft Weaving is the core activity of the people of this hamlet. It is found that 79% families have traditional looms at their home, 17% of them have modern looms for commercial silk weaving. Pat and Muga are the two main silk varieties that they use to produce Sarees, Mekhela-Chadar, Salwar-Kameej, Kurta, Scurf, Gamosa and Chunni etc. Besides weaving people are engaged in handicrafts like basket making, hand fan making from bamboo, etc. The folk and traditional Dance forms are Bihu (The Sate Dance of Assam), and Bagurumba (Bodo folk dance), while the folk music traditions have Naam (Devotional song of the Baishnavs), Borgeet (Devotional song of the Baishnavs), Jikir & Jari (Devotional song of Assamese Muslims), Kamrupi Lokageet (Folk song of Kamrup District) etc. How to Reach By road: Interstate Bus
Terminus, Guwahati, is about 30 km from the village. The Machkhowa bus
stand is 33 km from the site, while the Paltan Bazar bus stand is 38 km
away. Bus and Trekker services are available from Guwahati to Sualkuchi.
By train: The nearest railway station is at Kamakhya (29 km from
site). By air: Nearest airport is the Gopinath Bordoloi
International Airport, Borjhar, Guwahati. There are regular flights
connecting all major desinations in India to Guwahati. By waterways:
Private transport operators offer connectivity to the Fancy Bazar
Jahaj Ghat, which is about 20 km from the site. |
building in the site with the buildings in the nearby villages. The
buildings in the nearby villages and in the site have common raw
materials. The traditional buildings in the village are supported by
bamboo framework and the walls are coated with mud. This gives a cover
of insulation, which prevents the heat to enter the house in the summer
thereby giving a cool feeling inside. The same hut in winter is
comparatively warmer inside because the insulation provided by the mud
walls prevent the heat loss by convection. Bamboo, with its natural
colour enhanced by chemical treatment gives wonderful look to a building
and a skilled mind can really fashion a proper match of ethnic look and
durable construction. The site is rich in ecological diversity. Both
migratory and local birds are seen at the site, in addition to important
mammals such as Porcupines, Rhesus Monkey, Hog Deer, Barking Deer,
Rabbits, Gangetic Dolphins etc. Over 30 species of Butterflies, Moths,
Beetles, Bugs, Caterpillars, Ants and Bees etc. add to the insect life
here.