Goalpara

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Goalpara Travel Essentials

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"A blend of natural and spiritual abundance"

Goalpara Tourism

Goalpara is a town located 140 kms West from Guwahati which is about a 3-hour drive away. It is the headquarters of the district of the same name. The word 'Gwaltippika', roughly translating to Guwali Village or the Village of the Milk Men is the origin of the name 'Goalpara'. The surrounding regions of Goalpara are generally vast green plains with the banks along the Brahmaputra river giving rise to fertile agricultural lands. Two water bodies, Urpad Beel and Kumri Beel, located within 15 km from the town are known for hosting a variety of migratory birds during the winter season. Certain parts of the district are hilly with evergreen trees forming continuous canopies.

The town of Goalpara and the district are well known for housing important cultural centres and archaeological sites. The Shyamrai Sattra is an important centre for the preservation and education of Vaishnavite culture started by Srimanta Sankardeva. Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, another cultural hub aligned to the Sri Krishna Chaitanya culture, hosts many event and festivals according to the Shri Krishna Chaitanya calendar. Archaeological sites such as Pir Majhar and Sri Surjya Pahar also are of great historical importance.

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Natural Habitat

Goalpara is known for its rich wildlife and dense forests. It is home to numerous rare and endemic plant and animal species. But lately, due to tremendous tourism pressure and human traffic, there has been a considerable loss of biodiversity and disbalance in the ecosystem. The forests were originally covered with Sal (Shorea Robusta) trees, however, there has been a large-scale decline in the vegetation due to exploitation and encroachment. The rapid depletion of the forest cover has not only brought about environmental changes but has also led to the extinction of various floral and faunal species.

Sustainable Development in Goalpara

Goalpara is one of the cleanest towns in the state, thanks to its sustainable development techniques and the cleanliness drives. More than 2000 buildings in the town have been painted blue to give an overall calm to the city. In addition to that, the place gets a uniform look and hence, appears to be neater. It stands next in line to the pink city Jaipur. Also as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the number of cleanliness workers have been increased significantly. Large numbers of dustbins have been installed outside shops and houses. Tree Plantation drives keep taking place on a regular basis to promote afforestation. Besides, several direction plates have been installed on the roads for the convenience of the public with overhead sodium lights. Thus, making Goalpara one of the greenest and most regulated town in the whole of Assam.

Festival of Bihu

Though the people of Assam celebrate the traditional festivals like Diwali and Durga Puja, there are some unique and enthralling festivals which are celebrated with vim and vigour. One of them is the festival of Bihu. There are three Bihu celebrations which depend on the timing of crop cycle. The Rongali Bihu is a prominent one since it marks the beginning of an Assamese new year. The other two are Magh Bihu and Kati Bihu.

This festival is associated with farming, and people enjoy by performing Bihu dance. It is a secular festival which people celebrate with unity. The most colourful of all the three Bihu festival is the Rongali Bihu which is celebrated in April. On the first day, women make sweets like larusfrom rice and coconut. Cows are washed and worshipped. Rongali Bihu ends after fourteen days after which the other two Bihu festivals start. The energy and ecstasy of Assamese during this festival reach another level which you should witness.

Restaurants and Local Food in Goalpara

The cuisine of Assam is a fresh and natural standout a country's cuisine which is full of spices and elaborate cooking styles. The food here is subtle, simple, cooked with lesser oil and local herbs, making it one of the most natural and healthy menus of the country. In Goalpara you can either venture out and try local cuisines such as Laksa, Tenga, Khar , fish delicacies and more at the local street outlets or relish the same richness of the food of Assam in the handful number of restaurants found here.
View Top Restaurants in Goalpara

Suggested Itinerary for Goalpara

Day 1: Reach Goalpara by morning and check into your hotel. After relaxing for a while, you can start your trip by visiting Surya Pahar. Then, you can head out to Tukeswari Temple. Both these places are located at a distance of around 15 km. So, exploring these places will take around five hours. Have lunch and go to Barpeta. It is just one hour drive from Goalpara.

Day 2: Start your day early in the morning to visit Kokrajhar. It is a small town and has many interesting places like temples and sanctuaries. If you manage to come back by evening, then you can head out to Nandeswar Devalaya.

Day 3: Get ready for an exciting trip to Manas National Park. Enjoy seeing the different kinds of flora and fauna. Then, you can visit the famous Dadan hills or if you want to visit some more religious places, Goalpara has many temples to offer you like Shyamrai Satra and Joybhum Kamakhya Temple.

Best Time to Visit Goalpara

How to Reach Goalpara

How to Reach Overview

There is no airport in Goalpara. The closest airport from the city lies in Guwahati. The airport is connected to many major cities in India. Regular trains commute between Goalpara railway station and nearby cities. There are various cabs which connect Goalpara to nearby places. However, public transport is infrequent.

How to reach Goalpara by flight

Goalpara does not have its own airport. However, the nearest airport is in Guwahati. The distance between the airport and Goalpara is around 126 km. The airport is well connected to many prominent cities of India. Some international flights also operate from this airport. From here, there are various cab or taxi services to take you to Goalpara.

How to reach Goalpara by road

One can easily reach Goalpara via road transport. Various taxi services operate from Goalpara to nearby cities. Alternatively, there are two main bus stops in Goalpara namely- Goalpara ASTC Station and Ambari Bus Stop. Both of them are closely located. However, public transport is not very frequent here, and therefore there are very few buses plying between Goalpara and neighbouring cities.

How to reach Goalpara by train

There are few railway stations near Goalpara, but the closest of all is the Goalpara Town Railway Station. It is located at a distance of around 5 km from the city. The station is connected to nearby cities via regular trains. From the station, you can easily hire a taxi to reach Goalpara within ten minutes.

Local transport in Goalpara

You can find cabs, buses and rickshaws in Goalpara.

Goalpara Photos

Goalpara, Assam
Manas National Park
Surya Pahar

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FAQs on Goalpara

Who should visit Goalpara?

Goalpara is perfect for those who want to know the crux of Assam culture. Great place for religious people.

What are the places near Goalpara?

The top places near to Goalpara are Bongaigaon which is 35 km from Goalpara, Gangtok which is located 238 km from Goalpara, Darjeeling which is located 253 km from Goalpara, Shillong which is located 143 km from Goalpara, Barpeta which is located 41 km from Goalpara

What are the things to do in Goalpara?

The top things to do in Goalpara are Surya Pahar, Manas National Park, Tukeswari, Kokrajhar, Nagaon, Nandeswar Devalaya. You can see all the places to visit in Goalpara here

What is the best way to reach Goalpara?

There is no airport in Goalpara. The closest airport from the city lies in Guwahati. The airport is connected to many major cities in India. Regular trains commute between Goalpara railway station and nearby cities. There are various cabs which connect Goalpara to nearby places. However, public transport is infrequent.
Read More

What is the local food in Goalpara?

The cuisine of Assam is a fresh and natural standout a country's cuisine which is full of spices and elaborate cooking styles. The food here is subtle, simple, cooked with lesser oil and local herbs, making it one of the most natural and healthy menus of the country. In Goalpara you can either venture out and try local cuisines such as Laksa, Tenga, Khar , fish delicacies and more at the local street outlets or relish the same richness of the food of Assam in the handful number of restaurants found here.
Read More

What is the best time to visit Goalpara?

Goalpara offers welcoming season almost throughout the year except in the monsoons. Frequent showers make it uncomfortable for tourists to explore the city. In summers, the temperature is not too high, and heat is bearable. Nevertheless, the best time to visit Goalpara is in winter season from October to February since the weather is pleasant and cool.
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What is not so good about Goalpara?

You might face language problems. Infrequent public transport.

What is famous about Goalpara?

Mild summers. Pleasant weather almost throughout the year. A variety of tourists places. Generous people.

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