A foreign tourist visiting Guwahati has drawn fresh attention to the condition of the city’s Bharalu River after reacting to the polluted stretch flowing beneath restaurants in the Zoo Road area.
The visitor, who runs the YouTube channel White Lotus, shared the experience in a recent video documenting his search for local food in Guwahati. Using Google Maps to locate eateries, he visited a restaurant situated along the Bharalu but decided against entering after seeing the state of the river below.
“I can’t walk into a restaurant built on top of this,” he said in the video, referring to the visibly polluted water flowing under the structure.
A river running through the city
The Bharalu River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River and flows through several densely populated parts of Guwahati, including Zoo Road. Over the years, the river has increasingly functioned as an urban drain, carrying untreated sewage and waste through residential and commercial zones.
While the condition of the Bharalu has long been a concern for residents and environmental groups, the vlogger’s reaction has once again spotlighted how the river’s state is perceived by visitors experiencing the city for the first time.
Tourism image under scrutiny
The video has circulated widely on social media, with many users expressing embarrassment over the state of the river, while others pointed out that the issue has persisted for decades despite repeated clean-up plans and promises.
Urban planners and environmentalists have often warned that polluted urban rivers not only pose health and ecological risks but also damage a city’s image, especially as Guwahati positions itself as a gateway to Northeast India for tourists.
A recurring civic concern
Local residents say restaurants, commercial establishments, and even residential structures built close to or over the Bharalu reflect broader planning and enforcement gaps. During monsoons, the river frequently overflows, worsening flooding and sanitation problems in nearby areas.
While authorities have announced rejuvenation and flood-mitigation projects for the Bharalu in the past, visible improvement on the ground remains limited.
Why this matters
For many viewers, the vlogger’s comment was not just about one restaurant, but a stark reminder of how civic neglect becomes immediately visible to outsiders. As Guwahati continues to grow and attract visitors, the condition of rivers like the Bharalu remains a critical test of the city’s urban governance and environmental priorities.
