Guwahati is sprawling — distances are larger than they look — and traffic is genuinely bad in the centre. App-based taxis (Ola, Uber) work well and are cheaper than meter taxis. Auto-rickshaws are everywhere but quote prices that need to be negotiated; insist on the meter when possible. City buses run frequent routes between Paltan Bazaar, Maligaon, and the outer suburbs but are not always obvious to navigate without local help.
For Kamakhya, take an auto or taxi to the base of Nilachal Hill and either walk up or share an auto to the summit. The Guwahati Ropeway crosses the Brahmaputra from Kachari Ghat to North Guwahati — a short, cheap and scenic ride.