Goalpara Tourism And Travel Guide

Known to be one of the cleanest towns in Assam, Goalpara owes its repute to its sustainable development process and the cleanliness techniques with over 200 buildings to have been painted in blue, bringing about a touch of tranquility and calm to the environment. With a uniform appeal, the city’s said to be close in comparison to the Pink City of Jaipur. Further to the Swach Bharat drive, the city has an increasing number of cleanliness works, a high number of garbage bins installed throughout the town and tree plantations a regular feature in the promotion of afforestation. Tourism in Goalpara has had its popularity for its rich flora and fauna, being home to several rare plant and animal species. Here’s a travel guide to help you find your way about in Goalpara.

By Air:

One of the best ways of reaching Goalpara is to take a flight to Guwahati, given that the district doesn’t have an airport of its own. The Guwahati Airport’s about 97kms from the district and well connected with regular flight connectivity to most major parts of the country. On arrival at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, you can then make the onward journey to Goalpara via train, taxi or bus.

By Train:

Goalpara Town Railway Station is the nearest train station to the town with few other neighboring stations. Just 5kms from the station, there’s regular train connectivity to the district. You can board a train from Guwahati and reach here in less than 3 hours at an estimated fare of INR 135. Train travel’s one of the easiest and by far the cheapest way of traveling to Goalpara.

By Road:

You can also drive down or take a taxi to Goalpara and reach here in about 2 hours and 15 minutes for less than INR 3,500 approx. The town, although it isn’t really easily accessible by public transportation, still has bus connectivity with two chief bus stations which include the Ambari Bus Station and the Goalpara ASTC Station. There’s a restricted frequency of buses plying on this route.

Getting Around:

Given that public transport’s somewhat erratic and limited in Goalpara, despite bus connectivity, it is best to explore other transport options like a taxi, rickshaws, 3-wheeler/autorickshaw for short or long commuting. For your sightseeing purposes, you can avail elephant rides, jeep safaris or on-foot treks as well.

Summer (March-June):

Goalpara’s locale at 41m above the sea’s level makes its climate somewhat warm. The district starts warming up from March and stays summery all through June, with a comfortable and bearable weather condition. The average temperature during the days is typically 31°C and doesn’t go down below 15°C during the night. Comparatively, summers receive more rainfall than winter months.

Monsoon (July-September):

Goalpara witnesses Monsoons typically from June, and July experiences rainfall that is frequent and heavy. It is best to avoid visiting the district during monsoons, as the erratic showers and density of rain make it quite uncomfortable to enjoy visiting tourist sites as well as indulging in any outdoor activity. The monsoons receive nearly 11-15 days of heavy rainfall every month.

Winter (October-February):

October through February is a lovely time to be in Goalpara when the winter sets in. With a pleasant climate and day time temperature that’s typically 28°C, the night time temperature drops to 15°C. The weather is comfortably bearable both from a hot/cold perspective, making it one of the best times to enjoy outdoor activities on your visit here. November through January is also the time when rainfall is at its bare minimum.

Cultural Festivals:

Besides the usual major Indian festivals, Assamese people love indulging in the local festivities that are time specific through the year. Bihu is one such significant festival that spans the events calendar in most parts of Assamese culture. From the 3 significant Bihu Festivals, the Rongali Bihu is most looked forward to in Goalpara, timed with harvesting process and enjoyed with a melee of traditional music, dance and food, followed up by the other Bihu festivals of Magh and Kati Bihu.

Outdoor Activities:

From indulging in white water rafting in the azure waters of River Manas, to exporing Jungle Safari at the Manas National Park to bird watching at Kokilabari and Alabari, there are a number of outdoor activities to keep you captivated and engaged during your visit to Goalpara. You can also visit other neighboring tourist attractions of the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary at Kokrajhar, Champawati Kunda (a popular waterfall) in Chapanala, Silghat’s scenic river port, temples and shrines and the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary for some adventurous and choicest of activities to explore.

Village Tour:

The Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society is popular for the Bodo Tribe’s rich culture in the realm of handlooms, textiles and music and have their individual Ecotourism society in the premise of the Manas National Park, where not only can you have a guided tour to witness the daily lifestyle of the Assamese Tribe but also be exposed to their local textile and handloom produce, enjoy their local cuisines and participate in theit traditional dances.

Assamese cuisine is comparatively fresh and organic, abundant with elaborate cooking techniques and a variety of species which result in an assortment of simple, subtle and yet flavorful dishes made with less oil and local herbs & seasonings. From exploring the local delicacies of Tenga, Laksa and Khar, feel free to try fish dishes and other scrumptious eats with a rich texture and Assamese culture in a handful of restaurants found in Goalpara. Two of the most noteworthy eateries include the Shri Krishna Restaurant and the Landmark Restaurant.

Goalpara has some retail stores for overall shopping experiences that include departmental stores and clothing stores. However, you can explore shopping in other neighboring towns that include Daccapatty, Marwaripatty, Stadium Market, Mission Market, Haibargaon Baazar, Natun Baazar and Bara Bazaar in Nagaon. These are some main shopping arcades and complexes.