Assam -
Overview
Assam,
one of the seven north-eastern states (together called as ‘seven
sisters’), is the gateway to the north-eastern part of India. Situated
just below the eastern Himalayan foothills, Assam is bodered by the Kingdom
of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to its north-east. The states of Nagaland,
Manipur and Mizoram lie in the south, while Meghalaya lies to the
south-west. West Bengal and Bangladesh are to its west. The state of Assam
spreads over an area of 78,438 sq.kms and has a population of 26,638,407.
Blessed with several natural gifts, Assam is dominated by the massive
Brahmaputra river which has its origins in Tibet. The state is bestowed with
vast alluvial plains and dense forests, tracts of paddy and tea and oil from
the deep depths of the earth. In Assam, you can see a variety of flora and
fauna including the world famous one Horned Rhinoceros and other rare
species. In fact, after Africa, Assam is perhaps the only part of the world
where a wide variety of wildlife exists. Besides, Assam’s colourful
fairs and festivals, rich art and culture and cuisine will surely leave you
spellbound.
Assam - History
Assam has an old history dating back to the ancient times. You can find the
base of Assam’s history in various literatures like Tantaric
literature, Buddhist literature, Vedic literature and Assamese folklore.
Reference of Assam is also found in the epics and the religious legends.
According to legends, the earliest ruler of Assam was Mahiranga Danava, who
was followed by other rulers namely - Harakasur, Sambarsur, Ratnasur and
Ghataksur. Naraksur removed the earlier rulers and established his own
dynasty. The Naraka king was slain by Lord Krishna of Dwarka and Bhagadatta
became his successor.
As per history, from 350 AD to 12th century, Assam was mainly ruled by the
Varman Dynasty and several other dynasties such as the Kacharis, the Chitias
etc. During the rule of the famous Varman king, Bhaskarvarman (600 AD-650
AD), the Chinese traveller Xuan Zang visited the Assam region and recorded
his trips. The Ahoms ventured into Assam in around 1228 AD and ruled till
1826 AD. Other noted kingdom during that period was the Koch, which arrived
in the region in 1510 AD.
In the latter part of the 18th century, Ahom Kingdom weakened
due to internal conflicts. Later in 1821, the Burmese invaded Assam and
installed a puppet king. Due to the Burmese intervention, the first
Anglo-Burmese War broke out. The war ended with the Treaty of Yandaboo in
1826 and the East India Company occupied the region. Between 1905-12, Assam
was separated with some parts of Bengal and separate provinces of Eastern
Bengal and Assam were established. At the time of India’s independence
in 1947, Assam consisted of the original Ahom kingdom and the present-day
Arunachal Pradesh. Further, Assam was divided into four more states to
become one of the seven sister states in the 1960s and 1970s.
Assam - Tourist
Destinations
Assam, a land of pleasant contrast and excitement attracts large number of
tourists every year. From the big towns and cities to the remote areas,
Assam offers a wide array of attractions. A journey through this picturesque
land is bound to cheer up your mind and body and stimulate you to explore
more as well as learn more. Important tourist destinations of the state are
Guwahati,
Dispur
and
Tezpur.
Assam - Wildlife
Blessed
with nature’s scenic grandeur, Assam has a wealth of rarest and
near-extinct wildlife species. Some of the wild species which you can spot
in the wildlife sanctuaries and parks are Tigers, Clouded Leopard, Hoolock
Gibbon, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare, Swamp Deer, Gangetic
Dolphins, White-Winged Wood-duck etc. Apart from these, a number of resident
and migratory birds make Assam their habitats in winter and other seasons.
Most popular wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Assam include
Kaziranga National Park,
Manas National Park, Nameri
National Park, Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park and Pabitora Sanctuary.
Assam - Arts & Culture
A perfect fusion of heritage of several old races has made Assam the home
of a rich art & culture. Art and culture of Assam reflect the true
spirit, tradition and lifestyle of the people of the state. Music, Dance and
several other art forms make important part of the people of Assam. Also,
since time immemorial, the people of Assam have traditionally been master
craftsmen. Though the state is known mainly for its fine silk fabric and the
bamboo and cane products, but you will find several other excellent pieces
of crafts here. Some of the popular arts and crafts include Cane and Bamboo,
Metal Crafts, Woodcraft, Handlooms, Toys, Pottery, Masks, Jewellery,
Terracotta and Traditional Paintings.
Assam - Cuisine
People of Assam love traditional as well as Indian and continental cuisine.
A fusion of indigenous as well external influences, Assamese cuisine will
definitely pamper your taste-buds. Assamese cuisine is characterized by the
use of simple ingredients which are very delicious. Rice is principle
component of Assamese cuisine, besides, fermented food is also used widely
which has a distinct flavour. Fish and Meat are the favourite food of the
Assamese. Vegetable dishes are also liked by large number of people. Amongst
the vegetable dishes ‘Aloo Pitika’ is very popular.
Assam - Fairs and Festivals
A land of varied culture and traditions, Assam witnesses a number of fairs
and festivals all through the year. Most of the festivals in Assam have
their roots linked to the diverse faith and belief of its inhabitants.
Important fairs and festivals are Bihu, Baishagu, Rongker, Ali-ai-liang,
Rongali Utsav, Jonbeel Mela, Majuli Festival, Elephant Festival,
Brahamaputra Beach Festival, Dehing Patkai Festival, Baikho, Rajini Gabra &
Harni Gabra, Ambhbashi Mela, Bohaggiyo Bishu and Tea Festival.
Assam - Shopping
Rich in traditional handicrafts and locally made items, Assam provides you
a wonderful shopping experience. While you visit Assam, you can shop a wide
range of handicrafts available everywhere from Government Emporia to private
shops. In addition to handicrafts, Assam is renowned for its traditional
handloom products. Amongst the variety of handlooms, Assam silk is one of
the exclusive souvenirs to take back home. Must buy items in Assam include
Tea, Silk fabric like - Muga and Paat, Hand made toys, Eri Handloom
products, Cane and Bamboo work, Decorative items, Furniture, Bell metal
products.
Climate
Assam’s climate is characterized by a high humidity. The climate of
Assam is somehow different from rest of the country, the most distinguishing
feature is the copious rainfall between the month of March and May when most
parts of Indian territory remain dry. Climatically, the year in Assam can be
divided into two main seasons namely winter season and the rainy season. The
south-west monsoon starts in the state from mid-June and continues till
September. The winter season begins from October and ends by February. In
between monsoon and winter seasons, the summer comes for a short duration.
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit Assam is between October to April.
Assam - Transportation
Airlines : Guwahati airport is the only international
airport in the state of Assam. Deccan Air operate an international weekly
flight between Guwahati and Bangkok. Apart from Guwahati airport, the state
has other airports in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur and
Silchar. Several airlines like Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways,
Deccan Air and Sahara Airlines operate regular flights from Guwahati to
major cities of India.
Railways : An excellent rail network of Indian Railways
connect Assam with rest of the country. Assam is well-connected by railways
with rest of the country. Rajdhani Express and several Super-fast and
Express trains run between Delhi and Guwahati. A number of trains also run
to Guwahati from cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and rest of the
country.
Roadways : National Highways and many other roads link
Assam with other cities and towns of the country. All the tourist
destinations in Assam are well-connected by road network and served by buses
and other modes of road transport.
