Explore Assam
Assam, a state of India, is situated in between longitude 90° E & 96° E and latitude 24° N & 28° N. A land of plains and river valleys, Assam is located south of the eastern Himalayas. It covers a total area of 78,438 square kms. Assam has 3 principal regions- the Brahmaputra Valley in the north, the Barak Valley in the south and the Barail Range of hills in the south-west.
Assam is famous from the mythological era. It finds mention in epics like the Mahabharata and ancient literary works like the Puranas. In the Mahabharata age, it was known as Pragjyotish Rajya and Pragjyotishpur (present Guwahati) was its capital. It was a centre of culture of astrology. Hence the name Pragjyotish (Prag- East, Jyotish- Astrology). Pragjyotish Rajya came to be known as Kamaroopa because Kamadeva, the God of Love, who was reduced to ashes being cursed by Lord Shiva regained his bodily image (Kama- Kamadeva, Roopa- Bodily image) in this country. Bhagadatta, son of King Narakasura who ruled Pragjyotish Rajya, fought against the Pandavas and was killed in action at the hands of Arjuna (3rd Pandava). Kamaroopa gradually came to be known as Assam (Asama) from the mid of the 13th century. It is said that the name came from the Ahom conquerers who made their advent to the Brahmaputra valley in 1228 AD.
Assam is inhabited by people of different race and culture. It is flourished by Aryan and non-Aryan culture. Prominent tribes include the Ahoms, Bodos, Chutiyas, Dimasas, Kacharis, Manipuris, Misings, Rabhas and many more.
Assamese, an Indo-Aryan language, is the official & principal language of the state. People of the Barak Valley mostly speak Bengali, which is also an Indo-Aryan language. The different tribes also have their own dialects which are mostly Tibeto-Burman in origin. Staple food of Assamese people is rice, served with different types of curries made of pulses, vegetables, fish and meat.
According to the 2001 census, about two-thirds of the Assamese population are Hindus, roughly one-fourth are Muslims and the rest practise Christianity, Sikhism, Budhism, Jainism and some traditional local religions.
The numerous festivals celebrated in Assam include Bihu, Holi, Durga Puja, Diwali, Swaraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Idd, Muharram, Me-Dam-Me-Phi, Baishagu, Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baikho, Rongker, Rajini Gabra Harni Gabra, Ambubashi Mela, Jonbill Melaand so on.
Sivasagar
Sivasagar literally translates to the ocean of Lord Shiva. It is a historical town as it was the capital of the Ahom kingdom for about 100 years. The presence of historical monuments belonging to the Ahom period is considered the pride of the town. Today Sivasagar has grown from being merely a historical town with oil and tea gardens surrounding it; there is a lot to explore in this upper Assam tourist destination. The Ahoms ruled the Assam region for over 600 years until they were completely wiped out by the Burmese in the year 1817. The kingdom was later annexed to the British.
Distance from Guwahati: 360 kms
Transportation: Connectivity to Sivasagar is good with the roadways in very good condition. The nearest railway station is located 16 kilometres from the town at Simaluguri. Though there are no airports in the town, the closest airport is at Jorhat located just 55 kilometres from Sivasagar. The route is lined with lush emerald green forests.
Kaziranga
When it comes to the Kaziranga, the Kaziranga National Park is the place that features prominently. It was way back in 1940 that the place was conferred the status of a wildlife sanctuary. Situated in Assam and covering an area of around 430 sq.km, Kaziranga National Park is known for its one-horned rhinoceroses. This reserve is blessed with a healthy and diverse range of geographical features, and the reserve makes it an excellent place to spot rare species including the great one-horned rhinoceroses and tigers.
Distance from Guwahati: 200 kms
Transportation: Jorhat is the nearest domestic airport from Kaziranga. The airport is separated by a distance of about 217 kms from the National Park. There are regular flights that connect this place with Guwahati and Kolkata. Furkating is the nearest railhead which is linked to Guwahati and other railway stations by a well-laid network of rails. There is a well-developed network of roads that link Kaziranga to the other important cities in Assam.
Sualkuchi
Located on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra, Sualkuchi is the renowned silk-weaving centre. Often known as the Manchester of the East, it is one of world's largest weaving villages. Sualkuchi is famed for its 'muga' silk, i.e the natural golden silk (not dyed) of Assam which is not produced anywhere else in the world. Other varieties like 'Endi' or 'tassar' and ‘Pat’silks are also woven here.
Distance from Guwahati: 35 kms
Transportation: this place can be easily reached by taking a bus or by hiring a cab. Guwahati airport is closest to Sualkuchi. Guwahati railway station is closest and cabs or buses are taken to go to Sualkuchi.
Hajo
Sacred to Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist, Hajo invites people from all walks of life to seek spiritual enlightenment. Legend has it, Hajo was the place where Lord Buddha attained Parinirvana. Its spiritual significance doesn't end here, Hajo is home to Powa Mecca too. With the sanctity of Mecca, this mosque is believed to have been built by the same soil used in making the mosque in Mecca.
Distance from Guwahati: 24 kms
Transportation: Hajo, the meeting place of the three religions, the Hindus, the Muslims and the Buddhists is just about 24 kms away from the city of Guwahati in Assam. Bus service between the two places is available from the bus stand close by the Guwahati Railway Station; hiring a taxi is also a convenient option. Guwahati Airport is the closest airport from Hajo, and flights from major cities of India land in the airport. The Guwahati Railway station is the closest station from Hajo, and trains from all over eastern and other parts of India are connected to Guwahati. There are also a number of buses available from various parts of Assam like Tezpur, Dibrugarh to Guwahati. Hajo is also connected with Guwahati by bus routes.