IIT Guwahati: Where nature and learning come together

Won’t it be fabulous to do your bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in the middle of pristine nature and greenery? IIT Guwahati is one such place and I figured that out for myself when I visited their campus last month to give my TEDx talk.



Photo Courtesy: Adarsh Shrivastava, a student of IIT Guwahati

I am mad about nature, outdoors and wildlife and I love learning environments. Hence, it was no surprise that I fell in love with the IIT Guwahati campus at first sight. This 750 acre campus flanked by the mighty Brahmputra river on one side is a gorgeous educational institution in the middle of a forest like environment and umpteen number of lakes.



Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia.org and used under the Creative Commons License

IIT Guwahati has like 4 lakes on campus. 2 of them are natural, while the others are man-made. All these lakes are fairly large. During my three days on campus, I regularly spotted pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants and pintails on the lake waters. I woke up to the sound of whistling thrushes and to the chatter of babblers. Sometimes, I would wonder if I was actually on a wildlife trip to some of the national parks in Assam. Such is the richness of birdlife on campus.



Photo Courtesy: Adarsh Shrivastava, a student of IIT Guwahati

It is not just the birds that are seen often here. Students and the people on campus told me that they often hear the call of the jackal, they have spotted deer from time to time and they spot pythons and other snakes every monsoon season. In fact, the vegetation around the university campus is so dense that I would not be surprised if the wild animals often watch the students at close quarters.



Photo Courtesy: Adarsh Shrivastava, a student of IIT Guwahati

The idea is not to scare you, but to let you know that if you are a nature, wildlife or birdlife lover, then this place is apt for you. For not only can you go about your studies under the umbrella of an elite education brand, but you can also indulge in your passion of exploring the rich nature that lives on campus.



Photo Courtesy: Adarsh Shrivastava, a student of IIT Guwahati

In fact, I loved the campus so much that there were times when I dreamt about becoming a student here. Like most IIT campuses, this one has all the latest facilities and some of the brightest minds in the country. I think if I decide on studying further in India, this place has to be one of my top choices. Do you think you want to go study amidst such pristine nature and brilliant minds?

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Wildlife Photography: Indian Rhinoceros crossing the jeep track

I shot this photo last winter during a weeklong jungle safari in the forests of Kaziranga National Park in North East India. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its Rhinos and I was able to see them in plenty during my visit.

 
This is one such moment when we waited for this Rhino to cross the jeep track. I still remember the stare this Rhino gave us and the snort I heard before it disappeared into the bushes. This one was a Kaziranga special moment for me, even though it lasted just about half a minute.

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What to shop for in Assam?

Shopping is always a very sensitive subject as everyone has an unique taste and style of their own and the opportunities to test this while traveling are a plenty. However, in line with the subject of this post, I would like to mention the items that I did buy from Assam or was very impressed with while travelling through the various parts of Assam.

The Assam Silk Sarees are the most popular shopping commodity…hands down. The Muga (exclusive to Assam), Eri and the Paat sarees, which are the three famous varieties of Assam Silk are available in zillion designs and are spread across a wide cost range of Rs 2,500 to Rs. 30,000. Again, within them, they have further sub categories, which are colourful thread work or Zari (fine gold thread) work. The thread work tends to be cheaper, but look equally stunning. These sarees are also available in the form of half sarees that can be worn by young girls. Assamese women wear the muga saree (white colour with golden zari) on their wedding day. Silkalay on Fancy Bazaar in Guwahati is the most sought after place for these sarees (locals prefer this shop over the others).

Next in line is the fiercely strong Assam tea. The best way to buy Assam tea is directly from retail outlets situated close to the tea estates. That way, you get fresh produce at unbelievably cheap prices. The varieties that are worth trying are Green Tea, CTC and CTC Premium. Depending on your choice, the cost could vary between 130 to 250 rupees per kilogram. You can also buy tea from other government recognized outlets.

Bamboo is quite the craze in Assam. In fact, it is said that no one designs better Bamboo furniture than a Assamese carpenter. A variety of designs are available catering to various budgets. But, the flip side is that such items tend to be bulky and hence are difficult to carry on as excess baggage. However, if you are really keen on taking something back, then do look at Jhapi (the traditional Assamese Bamboo hat worn by farmers to protect them from the Sun). This handcrafted hat comes in beautiful decorations and designs.

Hand made toys are also quite special here. They are made from clay, cork, wood, bamboo and a mixture of cloth and mud. The decorative items made in bell metal and brass are also great gift items.

A Rhinoceros is synonymous with Assam and hence I think it is apt for you to take a Rhino memento back home. It can be wooden statue of a Rhino (comes in various sizes), Rhino hanging made out of Bamboo or a Rhino T Shirt.

Clothing, clothing accessories and Shoes are also quite the craze here. This is because a lot of original gear get stolen into India from Burma/China and Dimapur in Nagaland state is the hub for such stolen goods. From Dimapur, such goods enter the markets of Assam. If you are at Jorhat, then do try to drop by Mariani, which is known as Chota (small) Dimapur and is situated about 20 kilometres from Jorhat in Assam state. But, while shopping for stolen goods, do exercise caution as close to 50% of these goods are excellent copies.

Assam and Guwahati in particular is also the hub for goods that come from the other North Eastern states and hence offer great shopping options for the tourist, especially for those who are unable to travel to those states. The tribal crafts from Nagaland, the table mats, beer mugs, jugs, all made out of bamboo from Tripura and the carpets of Arunachal Pradesh are some of my personal favourites.

Shopping in Assam can be done at any of the Government Emporia and handicraft shops. But, if one is looking at a true Assam experience, then the local markets of that town are the best bet. If you are at Guwahati, the shopping district falls within Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar and Paan Bazaar, though Fancy Bazaar will offer you the most colour, life and variety.

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Wild Grass Resort – The Place to stay at Kaziranga National Park for a memorable Wildlife Experience!!

When I travel to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, I go there to see the denizens of the forest and hence do not bother much about the accommodation. In fact, I hate to stay at flashy/luxury hotels when on a wildlife expedition. I feel they spoil the entire fun of being close to nature’s last remaining wonders.

However, having said that, I truly appreciate the enterprising company that some wildlife resorts bring together and it is such company that allow you soak in your day’s experience and make the evenings and dinner table conversations memorable.

One such wildlife resort that I have been very impressed with recently is the ‘Wild Grass Resort’ that ensures that you get the best Kaziranga experience. Wild Grass Resort is located about 5 kilometres away from the Central Range (Kohora village) of Kaziranga National Park in Assam. It is situated very close to the Kaziranga National Park’s buffer zone and is a good distance away from the noisy highway.

I stayed here for a good week earlier this month along with my friends during our Kaziranga travel loop. One thing that stands out about this wildlife resort is their hospitality and the pleasant demeanour of their staff. They are one of the earliest wildlife resorts to cater to the Kaziranga tourists and are still one of the most popular. In spite of being immensely popular, they have not given in to the luxury splurges that the stereotype tourists seek and have kept their style very niche.

The Wild Grass Resort, located in a huge green area with all flora well marked out has accommodation options right from Rs 650 through Rs 5000, though the rates vary with tourist seasons. The accommodation options are really comfortable, tastefully designed and offer various choices from a thatched hut lodge to independent cottages to luxury cottages. The dining hall is situated in the main building and offers excellent food options. Personally, I really liked their Assamese cuisine.

In addition to accommodation and food, the wildlife resort also has a very well organized jeep safari group to cater to the tourist’s wildlife needs. Each group is also provided the services of a very knowledgeable forest guide. In our case, we were provided with the services of Gokul and we were immensely happy with him. Not only was he super knowledgeable about his subject, but he was also very accommodating. The hotel also offer cab services to take the hotel members to other tourist and wildlife areas nearby. In fact, the wildlife resort does everything to ensure that your wish is granted.

I am so happy with Wild Grass Resort that I have decided to always stay here whenever I go to Kaziranga National Park. To anyone from the outside world interested in exploring Kaziranga, I would recommend this wildlife resort with multiple thumbs up.

If you are interested in contacting them for your accommodation and/or wildlife needs, you can email them at wildgrasskaziranga@gmail.com or call them at any of the following telephone numbers: 03776 – 262085 (Hotel Fixed Line), 91 – 9954416945 (Mobile Phone of Manju Barua or Dilip Gogoi) or 91 – 9435048403 (Mobile Phone of Deepak). For those interested in a package deal, I have heard from inmates I met at this resort that they offer some great package deals.

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