It’s been quite long I haven’t posted anything. There was a lot going on, and I was really busy keeping up with my daily duties. Nevertheless, I am all set and I would like to share all that has happened and also share some beautiful places I have travelled too at the very start of this year. The picnic season is almost about to end here in Assam. Well, when I say “picnic” it doesn’t mean mere cooking and eating with friends and family on the terrace or at the nearby park but it has something more at least here in Assam. Yes, we do have this concept of a picnic but in Assam picnic during the winter season has a different thing to do with everyone. In Assamese, it is called as “Bon-Bhoj” (Bon means forest and Bhoj means feasting that is feasting outdoors). Let me just brief a little about this. In the winter generally on Sundays or holidays we hire a bus or a cab and pack with us all the essential items required for cooking and eating outdoors and it is our way of enjoying the winter.

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First View on reaching the spot!

We take firewood as cooking outdoors with the traditional method on fire has a nostalgic feeling and also it’s tastes really good. Music systems, sitting mats, etc are also packed. We start planning about the picnic a week ahead as a hell lot of preparations have to be made.



 

 

 

The list of people going, menu, budget, list of utensils to be taken, shopping all the cooking related stuff and what not. But before all this comes to a selection of the picnic spot. Assam is bestowed with some of the beautiful locations in the most natural surrounding- hills, rivers, lakes, forests, etc. There are popular picnic spots all over Assam and we select the ones where either we have never visited or the ones that a nearby and takes a less travelling time.

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As the boatman waited for us to board

During the peak season, the picnic spots are so overcrowded that some massive traffic jams are created that causes havoc among picnic goers. For these reasons, committees have been made to look after the management of the picnic spots that includes cleanliness and proper maintenance of the areas allocated for picnic parties.

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Yet another breathtaking view from the spot we selected to settle down.

Here is a small list of popular picnic spots around Guwahati, Assam

  • Hatisila
  • Rani
  • Kulsi
  • Bogamati
  • Bhairabkundo
  • Ukiam
  • Borapani
  • Hohuwa
  • Najirakhat
  • Sanaka
  • Pobitora
  • Chandubi (Click to read in details about the place)

These are just to name a few. Readers from Guwahati let me know if I have left out any important or popular location. If you want I can do a detailed post on all these locations but yes, it would require a lot of research as I have not visited all the places. But the main thing is that we have a lot of places nearby. The best part is that most of the places are at a distance of around 60-100 km (approx)  from Guwahati.

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My colleagues enjoying the crusing while I clicked the picture from another boat

During the peak seasons, you will find these places over-crowded and noisy but that is the fun part. You can dance like no one is watching, eat your heart out, take selfies like a thousand ones, no one really cares no one judges. All the picnic spots are picturesque and either has a waterfall, a river, a lake or beautiful breathtaking mountains. Not only for the picnic you can also go for a long drive to these places, pack some food on way and enjoy with your friends in these beautiful locations.

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We went for a forest trek to spot a waterfall but it was too far away so we could only see from a distance

This time all my colleagues planned a picnic trip too from our school. We had to do a lot of planning while doing the classes, most of the free periods were spent planning the picnic. Finally the day arrived, it was 23rd January, Wednesday and we all were asked to meet at a giving location. We hired a traveller (semi-bus type vehicle). One of our staff member Uma da( as we fondly call him) loaded all the stuff from the school premises and reached the point where we all were waiting. It was quite exciting to see how Uma da decorated the traveller with balloons. We were total 14 members along with a cook, his helper and the driver. We selected Ukiam as our picnic spot.

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After Trekking for about half an hour we spotted the waterfall from a distance.

Ukiam is located in the Assam- Meghalaya border that comes under Kamrup Rural. It is located nearby Chaygaon. It is one of the most popular destinations and remains crowded during the peak season. But by the time we visited the picnic season has almost ended with the heated rays of the sun. These were less crowd and as such less music or noise. But since it was also a government holiday we were expecting a little crowd which is also needed else the real picnic feel wouldn’t be achieved.

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Clicked on way to Ukiam

It took two hours to reach Ukaim from Jhalukbari. What a spectacular lay in front of us that we became speechless. Greenish-blue waters of the river Kulsi, the colourful boats, the mountains, everything was so beautiful. The area falls under the Garo Autonomous Council and the place is surrounded by the Garo hills. In Ukiam there is no network connectivity and this is what we wanted. No work and whole day enjoyment. We selected a clean spot to have our food, we unloaded the traveller, the cook was prompt and he immediately started making arrangements for cooking. We made preparations for breakfast which included- Brown bread, butter/jam, banana, orange, boiled egg and coffee because tea is just too mainstream!

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Breakfast was followed by boat cruise and then a little forest trek to witness a waterfall as the boatman said we must not miss watching it. As the boat started tearing apart the crystal clear waters of the Kolohi river, I started getting fully absorbed in the wonderful nature. We clicked a lot of photographs, really a lot! After cruising and forest trekking we returned to our location. A little rest and a little chat and we were all back exploring each and every corner of the place. We were lucky indeed to enjoy the place as the crowd was almost negligible.

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The complete group with my colleagues

It was time for lunch and we had the most simple menu which was – Steamed rice, salad, daal(pulses), Brinjal fritters, mixed vegetables, fish curry and mutton. It was very tasty as I have already mentioned that anything cooked on firewood tastes really good. We finished our lunch, cleaned up the place and started packing for our departure. We wanted to leave the spot before it’s dark as some stretches of the road were broken and also we were quite far away from Guwahati city. We wanted to stick to everything as planned. My colleagues danced, sang and enjoyed so much that till today we are reliving those memories. These are the little things that I love about my work, my place and people. We work hard so that we can enjoy harder.

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About Author

Ishani Nath, is a full time teacher and a passionate Blogger. She loves to write. With a classic taste in Fashion, a foodie and a bookworm she is happy in her own way. She loves travelling, gain knowledge and spread it to the world. A die hard handloom lover she also loves to adorn anything and everything handmade or handwoven.

20 Comments

  1. avatar

    Wow!! This looks simply amazing and the way you wrote about it makes me want to go ASAP even though I live no where near here haha.

  2. avatar

    This looks like a chill and laid back place to visit. Thanks for recommending

  3. avatar

    Gorgeous captures! It makes me feel a little better being stuck in winter wonderland here in Canada. You got me reminiscing about summer picnics

  4. avatar

    Wow Ukiam, Assam looks beautiful. I went to India (Vijayawada) for my friends’ wedding a few years ago. So colorful and amazing food and I can’t wait to go back and explore more regions. Thanks for the tips

  5. avatar

    These photos are GORGEOUS! I definitely would love to visit Ukiam and have a picnic there! I had to look up Brinjal fritters and they look delicious!

  6. avatar

    The idea of this type of picnic seems so inviting. I have yet to experience anything more than what I consider to be a regular picnic.

  7. avatar
    Monidipa Dutta says:

    I have been there. It is indeed a lovely place to explore so I agree with all your points

  8. avatar

    Very informative post! It felt like I was there experiencing this cultural delight. I love how family oriented this is!

  9. avatar
    Luna S says:

    Wow! I agree it is beautiful, your photos are quite lovely.

  10. avatar

    This is a wonderful trek to commune with nature. I love the simplicity of the place, very relaxing.

  11. avatar

    This is indeed a picturesque place and I would definitely add this place to my travel bucket list. Gorgeous pictures

  12. avatar

    These photos are gorgeous, and as we all know, Assam is awesome.

  13. avatar
    Jolie Starrett says:

    That area looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing the photos.

  14. avatar

    Oh I love picnic and at such a lovely place it will be awesome.. wish I could go here but I’m no where near 🙈

  15. avatar

    Awesome place in India. Heard this place from my friends. Now I am planning to visit.

  16. avatar

    Looks like a pretty little place with a good mix of boating, trekking and fun!

  17. avatar
    Aakanksha says:

    Never heard of uikam but looks beautiful. Might visit it.

  18. avatar

    Absolutely stuffing. I felt like I was there taking this magnificent tour.

  19. avatar
    Sheena Moncatar says:

    India is indeed picturesque, there is no doubt about that. If I can only explore the whole country, I would.

  20. avatar
    Samantha Flores says:

    How relaxing and calming this looks and sounds based on your experience! Thanks for sharing such a treasure with your readers.

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