Assam Travel Guide

Speak of a land of wooded hills and vales with a wide river meandering through, of sprawling tea gardens, of enticing songs and dances, of fine silks, and you are already able to hazard a good enough guess.

Add to that, the one-horned rhinoceros, the oldest refinery in India, a people made all the more colourful by a sizeable population of tribals and one of the most venerated Sakti temples in the Country , and you know it is Assam --- the land of the Red River, the Brahmaputra, and the Blue Hills flanking it.

For Assam is identified no better than by its Bihu songs and dances, the Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary where the rare one-horned rhinoceros roams at will, silks such as paat and muga which rank amongst the finest in the world, the State’s tea which finds its way to millions of homes all over the globe, and the Shrine of Kamakhya which draws thousands of devotees every year.

In ancient times Assam constituted a part of the land known successively as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura, and Kamarupa. Asom (Axom) or its anglisized version Assam is a comparatively modern name. Opinions on the root of the name vary with one view ascribing its origin to the Bodo word Ha-Cham which means "low or level country" and a second view ascribing it to the word Asama, meaning "unequalled" or "peerless", and used to denote the Ahoms, a Shan tribe which ruled the land for six centuries from the 13th Century.

Assam at a Glance

Area

Total Geographical Area (1991Census) - 78,438 sq km

Rural - 77,609.59 sq km

Urban - 828.41 sq km

Population

Total number of persons - 2,24,14,322

Male - 1,16,57,989

Female - 1,07,56,333

Rural - 1,99,26,527

Urban - 24,87,795

Scheduled Caste - 16,59,412

Scheduled Tribes - 28,74,441

Administrative Units

Tourist Attractions

The State harbours a virtual bonanza of attractions for tourists of every kind. There are the historical monuments and structures which speak of a glorious past of high architectural achievement. The shrine of Kamakhya is there for the religious. So are a hoard of other places of religious significance including the Vaisnavite Sattras which provide the visitor a glimpse of the unique form of Hinduism propagated by Sankardeva and his deciples. It is however none other than Mother Nature which transforms the State into a haven of tourism. The flora and fauna of famous wildlife sanctuaries such as Kaziranga, places of unsurpassed natural beauty such as Haflong and Chandubi ensure that the visitor goes way with a lasting impression. Then there is the added attraction of a colourful people with exotic customs and exquisite art and handicrafts to match.

Festivals of Assam

Nestling beneath the Sub-Himalayan range of hills in the North and North East, and encircled by the blue hills of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam, the enchanting sangrila in the North East of India, is a melting pot where culture, heritage, lifestyle, tradition faith and belief of her Aryan, Non-Aryan, Moghul, numerous tribes and sub-tribes, drawn from diverse hives at different points of time have gone into form the Assamese culture- a delightful and exoitic fare of wonderful flavor. The culture of Assam is a rich tapestry woven with multicoloured yarns of distinct heritage of all the races that inhabit her.

This perfect fusion of heritage of her numerous races have made Assam the home to the most colourful festivals at once passionate, compelling and mesmerishing. Most of the festivals celebrated in Assam have their root in the diverse faith and belief of her inhabitants, but a spirit of accommodation and togetherness characterises the celebration of all festivals.

However, the most important festivals of Assam are the Bihus, celebrated with joy and abundance by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief.

Here are few more festivals of Assam

• Ambubasi Mela
• Jonbeel Mela
• Baishagu
• Bohaggiyo Bishu
• Rajini Gabra & Harini Gabra
• Rongker And Chomangkan
• Ali-Ai-Ligang
• BaikhoDosa Thoi! Long Nai

Monuments & Structures

Ahom Structures in Shivasagar

The District of Sibsagar, 369 km from Guwahati, stands testimony to the glorious past of Assam. Sibsagar (Shivasagar) --- the Ocean of Shiva --- was the capital of the mighty Ahoms. A variety of structures built by the erstwhile rulers of Assam, the Ahoms, makes Sibsagar a place of high tourist interest:

Kareng Ghar and Talatal Ghar

Kareng Ghar is a palace with three underground floors known as the Talatal Ghar. The upper storeys are known as the Kareng Ghar. This palace was built by Rudra Singha (1696-1714), and is only 16 km from the present town of Sibsagar. There were two underground tunnels connecting Talatal Ghar and the Gargaon palace with the Dikhow river. These tunnels which served as emergency exits were however later blocked by the East India Company.

The Gargaon Palace

A 16th Century seven-storeyed palace in Gargaon, the principal town of the Ahoms built by their Xvth King Suklenmung in 1540, and lies 13 km east of present Sibsagar town. The old palace was however destroyed and the present structure was rebuilt around 1762 by King Rajeswar Singha.

Rang Ghar

The first amphitheatre in Asia. A two-storeyed oval-shaped pavilion from which members of the Ahom royal family watched elephant fights and other sporting events. It was built by King Pramatta Singha (1744-1754) and stands close to the Kareng Ghar.

Joysagar Tank

With the Joydol, Shivadol and Devidol temples on its banks, the Joysagar Tank was built by Ahom King Rudra Singha in memory of his mother Joymoti at Rangpur in 1697. Joymoti, who sacrificed her life to save her husband Gadapani is considered a patriotic martyr and is a legend in Assam history. The tank covers an area of 318 acres.

Other Structures in Sibsagar

Other Ahom structures in the Sibsagar area include the 18th Century Gaurisagar Tank and Temple built by Queen Phuleswari and dedicated to Goddess Durga. It covers an area of 150 acres.Charaideo is the rigional capital of the Ahoms built in the 13th Century by Sukapha, the founder of the Ahom dynasty. It is famous for its maidams or burial vaults of kings and other royal family members.The 18th Century Rudrasagar Tank and Temple was built by King Lakshmi Singha in memory of his father Rudra Singha. It has a Shiva temple on its bank.

Besides, there are more than 500 tanks, vaults, earthen forts and Rajbaris (castles) belonging to the Ahom, Manipuri, Jaintia and Shan Princess and Kachari Kings in Shivasagar. There are also a great number of Vaishnava sattras, Muslim dargahs, and Buddhist and Sakta shrines.

Tezpur structures

Tezpur, 181 km from Guwahati, houses some of the most important monuments in Assam.

Da-Parbatia is the oldest and finest specimen of iconoclastic art in Assam in the form of the ruins of the door-frame of the Da-parbatia temple. Its carvings displays characteristics of the style of the early Gupta School of sculpture. The two legs of the frame have the carvings of the two Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna standing with garlands in their hands, at the bottom, and are decorated with beautiful ornamental foliage.
Da -parbatia ruins

The Sculptural ruins of the Bamuni Hills date back to the 9th and 10th centuries.The Hazara Pukhuri is a 19th Century tank covering 70 acres, built in the name of Hazara Varman.

The Cole Park within the town of Tezpur has two massive ornamental stone pillars. Some of the sculptural remains of Bamuni Hills have also been shifted to the park. The park was established by a British Deputy Commissioner, Mr Cole and has been thus named after him.

At Bhomoraguri stands a mamoth stone inscription of the 18th Century made by the Ahom General Kalia Bhomora Phukan who planned to construct a bridge over the Brahmaputra. Almost two centuries later a bridge has been constructed over the Brahmaputra at the very same place where the General wanted to do so.
The bridge has been named after him. The Kalia Bhomora bridge spans 3.05 km connecting the district of Nagaon with Tezpur.

The Mystery of Madan Kamdev

Madan Kamdev refers to the stone sculptures 35 km from Guwahati. It is more of a mystery in the sense that very little is known about the origin of this magnificient archaeological ruins which in the words of the poet Omar Khayyam: is a veil past which I could not see. Written history is almost silent on it, leaving the ground clear for conjectures and hypothesis. Kamarupa, the ancient name of Assam, is believed to have been derived from a legend connected with Madan Kamdev.

Kaziranga: Call of the Wild

Kaziranga National Park

The Kaziranga National Park is the only National Park in the State situated in central Assam with an area of 430sq. km. It is the home of the great Indian one horned Rhinoceros (Unicornis). The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, mellow marshes and shallow pools.

Kaziranga has a history of its own. Lady Curzon first heard about the Rhinos of Kaziranga from her British tea planter friends and came to Assam in 1904-05. Although she could not see the animal, she spotted hoof prints with three toes and believed that such an animal did exist. On her return, she persuaded lord Curzon to do something to save this animal from total annihilation. Lord Curzon set the wheels of the British bureaucracy rolling, and on June 1, 1905, a preliminary notification announcing the intention of the Government to declare 57,273.60 acres of Kaziranga as a reserved forest was issued. Finally, Kaziranga was declared as reserved forest on January 3, 1908, and was officially closed for shooting.

On January 28, 1913 the area of reserved forest was expanded with the inclusion of another 13,506 acres. Kaziranga was declared a Game Sanctuary on November10, 1916. In 1938, the then conservator of forest, A.J.W. Milroy stopped all poaching and opened Kaziranga to visitors. Because the word 'game' connotated animals for hunting, in 1950, the then senior conservator of forest Mr P D Stracey, changed the term to 'wildlife sanctuary'.

Gradually the sanctuary, begun as a nucleus encompassing a small area, expanded to its present size. Finally on February 11, 1974, the name was changed to Kaziranga National Park.

How To Get There

Kaziranga is 239 km from the Guwahati airport and 97 km from the Jorhat airport. Regular bus services run by the State Transport Corporation, Travel Agencies, Tourist taxis are available. The Bus stoppage for Kaziranga is known as Kohora. The nearest railhead is Furkating at a distance of 75 km.

The Wild Population

One-horned rhinoceros, elephant, Indian bison, swamp deer, samghar, hot deer, sloth bear, tiger, leopard, leopard cat, jungle cat, hog badger, capped langur, hoolock gibbon, pig, jackal, porcupine, python, buffalo and birds like pelican, duck, geese, hornbill, ibis, cormorant, egret, heron, black necked stork, lesser adjutants, ring-tailed fishing eagles, etc are found in large numbers.

Park Trips

You can enter the National Park either on elephant back and/ or in a jeep or by car.

There are trips covering Mihimukh, Baguri, Hole path, Arimarah, Kohora Cental Path-Baguri and Kohora Central Path-Bimoli all areas teeming with wildlife-all authentically wild.

Other attractions

You can stroll through the lush coffee and rubber plantations or nearby Karbi Anglong. Or you can visit the Karbi villages, meet the Karbi people, observe their life style. Or romp through the enchanting tea gardens and watch how you get your daily cup of tea. Film shows on wildlife can be arranged at the tourist lodge, on request.

Some Basic Information

The average temperature around Kaziranga National Park in summer is 32.2° C and in winter 10° C. The average rainfall is 160 cm. Tourists are advised to wear cotton in summer and woolens in winter. The best season for visiting Kaziranga is November to April. The off season is from May to October.