Assam
Assam is a state in the northeastern part of India and is situated in the southeastern part of the Mighty Himalayas along the river Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys.
The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to the East; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the South; and West Bengal to the West via the Siliguri Corridor.
Assam receives more rainfall when compared with the other parts of India which feed the Brahmaputra river and the tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the region with the hydro-geomorphic environment. Forests around the state look green all year round due to the abundant rainfall.
History of Assam:
Up to the 12th century the region east to the Karatoya river (present-day Assam), was called Kamarupa and alternatively Pragjyotisha.
The western portion of Assam was continued to be called Kamrup, The Ahom kingdom emerged in the east and then dominated the whole Brahmaputra valley.
Assam and adjoining regions also have evidence of human settlement from the beginning of the stone-age. The hills were popular habitats due to the availability of exposed dolerite basalt which was used for making tools.
The Ambari site in Guwahati revealed Shunga-Kushana era artefacts which may date from 1st century BC and maybe 2000 years old. Another significant find at the Ambari is Roman Roulette poetry from the 2nd century BC.
Popular Languages of Assam:
There are many languages spoken in Assam. Assamese is the official language. Additional languages include Bengali, Bodo and Hindi. Sadri, Mishing, Nepali, Karbi, Odia, Santali, Manipuri and Garo are some other languages that are also spoken in Assam.
Capital of Assam:
The capital of Assam is Dispur.
Chief Minister of Assam:
The chief minister of Assam is Sarbananda Sonowal.
Governor of Assam:
Professor Jagdish Mukhi is the governor of Assam.
High Court of Assam:
The Assam High Court is located in Guwahati.
Assam On Map:
Assam Tourism:
One of the most peaceful places on the earth is Assam. It experiences heavy rainfall almost throughout the year and is always lush green and attracts tourists- both domestic and international.
The state was the first site for oil drilling in Asia.
The Assamese economy is aided by wildlife tourism to Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park which are both World Heritage sites.
The Sal Tree forests present in the state give out an enchanting vibe that captures the minds of the tourists. A large amount of Flora and Fauna also fills the hearts of the people with excitement.
There are also special arrangements being done by the state government in order to make tourists stay for longer.
Best Time To Visit Assam:
The best time to visit Assam would be from October to June.
27 Best Places to Visit in Assam:
1.Majuli
Just 20 km away from the city of Jorhat, you will find a really beautiful water island that is in the river Brahmaputra.
It is surrounded by lush green plants and is one of the best places to be in Assam if you want to have a really peaceful time.
2.Guwahati
Guwahati is also an epicentre for enjoyable holidays. From famous Assamese street food to shopping, temples to monasteries, Guwahati is the place to be in Assam.
3.Hajo
This is an ancient pilgrim centre for most of the spiritual followers. The peaceful aura that surrounds this place would truly capture of mind. This is truly a unique place for being an attraction for three religions- Hindu, Muslim and Buddhists.
4.Sivasagar
Ranging from numerous temples to underground architecture, this historic town portrays the Ahom dynasty that ruled here. It is a hotspot for tourists who really want to experience the true culture of the people who used to live on these lands in Assam.
5.Silchar
Known for its scenic beauty and natural splendour, Silchar is situated on the Surma (Barak) river and is surrounded by Manipur on the East, Bangladesh on the west, Mizoram on the South and Barail HIlls on the North.
This is the best place to be if you want to have some alone time and truly experience Assam.
6.Jorhat
This place in Assam is famous for its mosques, tombs, gardens and most importantly this place is famous for its tea gardens and is considered to be the tea capital of India.
7.Goalpara
Located along the banks of the river Brahmaputra, this scenic town in Assam is the best place to relax and unwind as you will be surrounded by green trees and plantations that would put your mind at ease.
8.Dibrugarh
This is one of the major cities in Assam as well as the North-East being an industrial and communication hub of the North-East. It is in line with major cities like Guwahati and Bhubaneswar.
9.Tinsukia
This small town in Assam is the gateway to many wildlife sanctuaries and beautiful villages and is also quite popular amongst tourists.
10.Dispur
Being the capital city of Assam, Dispur is engulfed by rich tribal culture, unique traditions and great panoramic views.
11.Sualkuchi
This is a small sleepy village in Assam that portrays its own way of culture and traditions in the best form.
12.Lilabari
Located in the Northern side of Lakhimpur in Assam, this town is famous for its waterfront view as it is located to the left bank of the Brahmaputra river. Dirang Valley and Sela Pass are also two breathtaking places to be in this town.
13.Karimganj
Amidst the lush green surroundings and the meandering river lies a small sleepy town of Assam that is famous for its unwinding and relaxing nature.
14.Diphu
This picturesque town in Assam is a popular picnic spot for many tourists and is often flooded by people from nearby cities and towns.
15.Bongaigaon
This city is located in the central part of Assam and displays a vibrant Assamese township and culture. Although the city is being developed, the natural locations are untouched and the scenic beauty of Bongaigaon is preserved.
16.Barpeta
Being the land of Satra, the name Barpeta derived from “Bar” meaning big and “Peta” meaning pond hence this is the land of big ponds and in the old days, Barpeta was full of ponds.
17.Hailakandi
Nestled in the beautiful Barak valley of Assam, this culturally rich place is enjoyed by many tourists due to its tranquil and peaceful nature.
18.Nalbari
This place is located at the base of the Eastern Himalayas and is a place to experience the true wilderness of Assam.
19. Darang
This is the place where one can experience everything from spellbinding nature to rustic culture and villages.
20.Dhemaji
Surrounded by serene locations, paddy fields and temples, this beautiful town in Assam has its own special charm.
21.Morigaon
Filled with enriching history, fascinating legends and unique culture and traditions, this town is full of surprises that are yet to be fully explored by everyone.
22.Umananda Island
Situated right in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra river, this island is the smallest river island in the world and is a place where man and wilderness co-exist in peace.
It was known as the Peacock Island by the British colonists due to its shape and is home to a very rare and endangered species of monkeys- _ãÄGolden Langurs_ã_ who are considered to be sacred amongst the people of Himalayas.
23.Nagaon
This district holds the position of being the most populated and one of the largest district in Assam. It is also known as the “Rice Bowl of Assam” as it is rich in paddy.
This district is also surrounded by the world-famous Kaziranga National Park which makes this district flocked with tourists all year round.
24.Mayong Assam
Known as the “Land of Black Magic” this place is located in the Morigaon district of Assam and lies on the banks of the river Brahmaputra. This village is famous for its spooky and enticing black magic stories.
The ones who live there say that this place has an eerie silence which is completely opposite to the chaotic history surrounding this place.
25.Sadiya
Being located in the Himalayan foothills, Sadiya is one of the sub-divisional headquarters of Tinsukia, Assam.
It sits at the junction of three rivers- Dihing (Tsangpo in Tibet), Dibang and Lohit that form the mighty Brahmaputra.
With an elevation of 400 feet and standing on a grassy plain, this town is home to extraordinary beauty and culture.
26.Digboi
Known as the Famous Oil city district of Assam, this town houses the oldest refineries of India.
It is also the primary source of raising the economic status of the Tinsukia district. Apart from oil reserves, you can find golf courses and Italian style architecture that were left out by British colonists.
27. Bogamati
Lying at the mouth of the river “Barnadi” on the foothills of the Indo-Bhutan border, this newly discovered town is the place for picnic spots in the Baksa district of Assam.
This town was inaugurated by Emanuel Muchahary, MLA of Tumulpur, about six years ago, the unexplored mountain ranges and locations create a getaway for tourists and families.
Famous National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam:
1.Kaziranga National Park
This national park has been declared as a world heritage site and is home to one of the endangered species- One-Horned Rhinoceros.
It houses a two-thirds population of these majestic animals.
2.Manas National Park
This national park is not only a UNESCO world heritage site but it also comes under the project tiger reserve, elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve.
It houses species of animals like the Asian elephant and the royal Bengal tiger.
3.Dibru Saikhowa National Park
Situated on a river island and one of the 19 biodiversity hotspots in the world, this National Park is situated 12 km north of Tinsukia in Assam.
The park has a total seven parts out of which one is a wetland and others are mainly covered by grasslands and forests.
4.Nameri National Park
This national park in Assam is famous for its elephants and other animals including tigers, leopards, gaurs, wild pigs, sambars, etc. and also for being a bird watchers paradise.
5.Orang National Park
One of the oldest game reserves of the state, The Orang National park located on the shores of river Brahmaputra and is home to various animals, birds and fishes. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Assam.
6.Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is often visited as a stopover en route to Kaziranga National Park and Home to the densest population of One-horned Rhinos in the world, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Assam, approximately 30 km away from Guwahati in the Morigaon District.
It also sees an astounding amount of bird species as well. It is also called the ‘Bharatpur of the East’.
Assam Is Famous For:
1.Kamakhya
A visit to Assam would be incomplete without visiting the Kamakhya temple, one of the oldest among the 51 shakti peeths in the country and a temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya ( another form of Goddess Kali).
Ambubachi Mela in June attracts tourists from all over the world.
2.Tea Gardens
For the people of Assam, a day without tea would be unimaginable. Tea is one of the most important beverages in Assam and is welcome almost any time of the day. The tea gardens of Assam have been shown and praised in many movies and documentaries.
3.Majuli
Being the heart of the neo-vaishnavite culture in north-east and one of the largest river islands in Asia, this town is home to the vaishnavite institutions known as Satras which propagate the teachings of the 15th-century Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
4.Bhoot Jolokia
One of the hottest chillis in the world and literally translating Ghost Chilli, Bhoot Jolokia is also known as the Red Naga Chilli and is cultivated all over Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
In 2007, Guinness Book of World Records certified it as the world’s hottest chilli, a position which has since then gone to the Carolina Reaper.
5.Assam Silk
Assam is famous for its indigenous silk known as eri and muga.
The dresses woven out of these silks known as mekhela sador are part of the traditional attire of the state.
If you visit Assam be sure to visit the markets for some amazing products and clothes.
Fairs and Festivals of Assam:
1.Majuli Festival
The Majuli festival is held in the largest river island of the world Majuli, Assam and it is one of the major festivals that draw a crowd from far and near.
Held on the bank of river Luit, this festival is a major tourist attraction and lets the tourists experience the traditions and cultures of the island. A food festival which displays local delicacies of the state and the local tribes is also held during this time.
2.Elephant Festival
This popular festival held in Assam is one of the largest elephant festivals in India for the purpose of conservation and safeguard of the Asiatic Elephants.
This festival in Kaziranga draws a huge crowd in Assam. This festival is an assembly which is aimed to raise awareness about eco-tourism amongst human beings and to reduce man-elephant conflicts.
During this festival, elephants are neatened to perfection and visitors can witness an awesome view of a row of elephants walking together.
3.Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)
This festival is celebrated by the Assamese people with great joy and excitement.
The Magh Bihu also is known as Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in the month of January and it is the time when winter sets out on its last course, making way for spring.
A night before the festival people usually enjoy dancing and making community feasts whereas many people choose to fast and pray this night.
4.Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu)
The Bihus are the most important festival of Assam. One of the three festivals held in Assam is Bohag Bihu also known as Rongali Bihu is celebrated in the spring.
It is considered as the festival of Merriment and is also celebrated as the mark of the beginning of the new year.
On the first day, bulls and cows are bathed with turmeric and are given gourds and brinjals to eat.
Then on the second day, men, women and children put on new clothes and special feasts and food is prepared everywhere.
5.Ambubachi Mela
This fair is the most important festival celebrated in Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati. The Ambubachi is a ritual observed with ‘Tantrik means’. During this festival, the doors of the Kamakhya temple remain closed for three days. This is purely a ritual of the Tantrik cult.
During this time any kind of farming activity is not taken on and daily worships and religious activities are also not performed as it is believed that the earth is unclean for three days.
After the three days, the doors of the temple are open but the shrine is only open when Devi Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are executed.
6.Assam Tea Festival
The tea festival is held in the district of Jorhat in Assam which is well known for its majestic tea gardens and is the nerve centre of the tea industry.
The Teklai Experimental Centre carries out research to find new varieties of tea and green tea. People also usually visit Majuli that is near to Jorhat which is famous for forest reserves.
7.Dehing Patkai Festival
This festival is celebrated in the eastern part of Assam and is named after the gargantuan Patkai range and the mischievous Dehing river.
This festival is a blend of tribal fairs, tea heritage tours, golfing, adventure sports and wildlife pleasure trips. It also offers a trip to the 2nd world war cemeteries which speak of the history of the past.
The Dehing Patkai festival also offers a wide variety of adventure sports in the small islands in the Brahmaputra river. It includes angling, kayaking and parasailing. Trips to the tea garden and oil field of Digboi can also be arranged for tourists.
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