Assam...

The stunning grandeur of its dense tracts of tropical forests, interspersed with emerald patchworks quilts of paddy and lush tea gardens, showcase the life giving largesse of the mighty River Brahmaputra that dominates the world of this land and its people. “ Son of Brahma”, the great river that wends its way from the Mansarovar Lake in the higher reaches of the Tibetan Plateau (as the Tsangpo), through Arunachal Pradesh (as the Siang) and on to the plains of Assam the second largest state in the North-east.

The ancient name of Assam was Pragjyotishpur. However, during the time of the Ahom conquest, Pragjyotishpur was known as Kamrup. In ancient Sanskrit literature both the names Pragjyotishpur and Kamrup were used as a designation of ancient Assam. In 1228A.D. the Ahoms, Shan tribe from Thailand entered and defeated the Kamrup ruler and established a kingdom which came to be known as Assam with its capital at Sivasagar. Most probably the modern name Assam comes from the Ahoms, the dynasty that ruled from the13 th century to early 19 th century. The ancient name Kamrup is confined to only a district of Assam.

Situated between 90-96. E longitude and 24- 28. N latitude, Assam is bordered in the North and East by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Along the south lie Nagaland and Manipur. To the extreme south lies Mizoram. Meghalaya lies to the Southwest, Bengal and Bangladesh lies to her west.

Fairs & Festivals :

 Marking the beginning of agricultural season is Assam’s most important festival Bihu. It is celebrated during mid-April with much pomp and gaiety.

Celebrated during mid- April, Baishagu is the most cherished festival of Bodo tribe and heralds the New Year.

Ali-ai-ligang is the colourful annual festival of Mishing tribe. It is held on the first Wednesday of the month of “Ginmur Polo” (February- March). The ceremonial sowing of paddy starts on this day.

Rongker the most important festival of the Kirbis is celebrated in April to propitiate different Gods and Goddess for the well being of the entire village.

Rajini Gabra and Harni Gabra is an annual festival of Dimasa tribe. This socio-religious festival is celebrated before starting new cultivation.

The Rabha tribe celebrates the Baikho festival during the spring season in order to propitiate the Goddess of wealth, Baikho.

Ambubashi Mela, the most important festival of the Kamakhya temple, is celebrated in mid-June every year. Thousands of devotees throng the temple on this auspicious occasion.

Tea festival is also celebrated with pomp and show during January-February.

Places of Interest in Assam...

Guwahati :

Situated on the southern bank of the mighty; river Brahmaputra in Kamrup district of Assam, Guwahati is a fast growing premier city. It is the gateway of the North-eastern states of India and a principle centre of socio-culture, political, industrial, trade and commerce of the entire region. Dispur the capital of Assam is a part of Guwahati.

A reference of Guwahati has been mentioned in the Kalikapurana and Mahabharata. A copper plate inscription of Balavarman II, a king of Kamrup, distinctly states that, “Naraka lived in the city named Pragjyotishpur within Kamrup and that the city was full of areca nut trees rappled by pan creepers”. Hence, the name Guwahati. The word “Guwa” in Assamese means arecanut and “Hat” means market.

General information :

Area : 216.79 sq. km.
Population : 584342 (1991 census)
Altitude : 54 metres
Climate : Summer : maximum-38 degrees C & minimum-20 degrees C,
Winter : maximum-30 degrees C & minimum- 10 degrees C
Languages : Assamese, Hindi, English

How to reach :

Air : The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport, Guwahati is well connected by air with New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

Rail : Guwahati is well connected by train with Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Puri, Banglore, Chennai, Trivandrum, etc. Other important towns in the state are also will connected by trains from Guwahati.

Road : A network of roads connects Guwahati with all important cities in the neighboring states and major cities in the country.

Distances : Guwahati to

What to see in and around Guwahati :

Situated atop the Nilachal Hill, 8 kms. From the city centre lies the famous Shakti Temple of Goddess Kamakhya, one of the 51 Shakti peeths in the country. Kamakhya is an ancient seat of tantric and Shakti cults of Hinduism. A little distance from Kamakhya Temple is Bhubaneshwari temple.

Close by the North Brooke Gate, built to welcome the then Viceroy of India, Lord North Brooke, Sukreshwar Temple is famous for the sixth Jyotirlinga of India.

Believed to be the world’s smallest human inhabited river island, Umananda Temple is situated on the peacock island in the middle of the Brahmaputra.

Situated atop Chitrachal Hills is the Navagraha Temple. This “Temple of Nine Planets” was a great centre for the study of astrology and astronomy.

A large natural wetland with an area of 4.14 sq. km. Deepor Bill is the state’s first Bird Sanctuary. Variety of local and migratory birds can be seen here.