Sualkuchi
Sualkuchi, situated about 35 km northwest of Guwahati, is known as the silk village, where life revolves around the never-ending music emanating from at least five looms per house at over 4,000 households. The weavers have been churning out exotic indigenous silks for centuries- the silvery-creamy paat and the warm-as-wool eri or endi apart from muga and the rare mejankori (from Litsea citrate).
The epic Mahabharata mentions the swarnakidai vastra or golden attire of Bhagadatta, a king of ancient Assam. Another literature mentions Assam king Bhaskaravarman gifting it to Chinese chronicler Hieun Tsa during his visit to India.
Once exclusive to only royalty, Muga and paat are now available to everybody. With time, these silks have gone beyond the traditional three-piece riha-mekhela-sador (women's wear) and kurta to become designer wear, utility items, as well as kimonos popular in Japan.
Sualkuchi is a popular tourist destination. The best time to visit is October to Tarch.
Sualkuchi is less than an hour's drive from Guwahati, but for a tourist, a more exciting way of reaching the place is by boat or cruise.
Photo credit: Deepraj and Jugal Bharali