Assam
is poised to become one of the greatest tourism hotspots in the days to come,
as it has vast expanses of green natural surroundings and an abundant wildlife
and bird-life. The famed tea gardens of Hathkhuli and Behora are among the
prominent attractions that are visited by plenty of travelers every year. Many
of them are all praise for the traditional "Bihu" folk dance which is
performed during festive seasons or cultural events at some of the hotels and
resorts. People who wish to shop for souvenirs and gift items can explore the
stores that sell local handicrafts. Items such as local lady sarong and local
shawl (gamcha) are among the most preferred articles that tourists of Assam
purchase from such stores. In recent times, eco-tourism is gaining popularity
among the travelers who come from different parts of the world to explore the
flora and fauna of rainforests.
Of the various wildlife reserves in India, Kaziranga National Park has achieved tremendous success in conservation of endangered species. It is famous for one-horned rhinoceros, and has a significant population of this species in addition to different kinds of wild animals. Kaziranga is also a tiger reserve and bird sanctuary, having numerous species of resident and migratory birds. The famous Teak trees are found in the forests of this region, and add beauty to the marvelous surroundings that have been instrumental in attracting the attention of tourists worldwide. River cruises and a green eco-friendly environment are enjoyed by most of them, other than the wildlife safaris.
Great potential of Assam tourism is concealed in its rich culture, biodiversity, variety of animal and bird life, ancient temples and last but not the least many wildlife sanctuaries and reserves. Assamese culture is a mix pot of various cultural groups and ethnicities. The state with composite cultural pattern is reflected in its many colorful festivals, some of which are popular as tribal festivals. These tribal festivals make the celebrators forget their routine life varies and immerse in joy of festive celebrations. These tribal festivals are a mark of explicit tribal folk music and folk dances, which mesmerize the tourists with their simplicity and rich cultural background. Bihu, tribal dance, usually performed between January and November is the special entertainment for the tourists.
History
The history of Assam is the history of a confluence of people from the east, west and the north; the confluence of the Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan), Indo-Aryan and Austroasiatic cultures. Although invaded over the centuries, it was never a vassal or a colony to an external power until the third Burmese invasion in 1821, and, subsequently, the British ingress into Assam in 1824 during the First Anglo-Burmese War.
The Assamese history has been derived from multiple sources. The Ahom kingdom of medieval Assam maintained chronicles, called Buranjis, written in the Ahom and the Assamese languages. History of ancient Assam comes from a corpus of Kamarupa inscriptions on rock, copper plates, clay; royal grants, etc. that the Kamarupa kings issued during their reign. Protohistory has been reconstructed from folklore: epics like Mahabharata, and two medieval texts compiled in the Assam region—the Kalika Purana and the Yogini Tantra.
The history of Assam can be divided into four eras. The ancient era began in the 4th century with the mention of Kamarupa in Samudragupta's inscriptions on the Allahabad pillar and the establishment of the Kamarupa kingdom. The medieval era began with the attacks from the Bengal Sultanate, the first of which took place in 1206 by Bakhtiyar Khilji as mentioned in the Kanai-boroxiboa rock inscription, after the breakup of the ancient kingdom and the sprouting of medieval kingdoms and chieftain-ships in its place. The colonial era began with the establishment of British control after the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, and the post-colonial era began in 1947 after the Independence of India.
Fairs & Festivals
Assam is a land of fairs and festivals. Most of the festivals celebrated in Assam have their roots in the diverse faith and belief of her inhabitants, but a spirit of accommodation and togetherness characterizes the celebration of all festivals. The perfect fusion of heritage of her numerous races has made Assam the home of the most colorful festivals which are passionate, compelling and mesmerizing reflecting the true spirit, tradition and lifestlye of the people of Assam.
the people of Assam also celebrate all the national festivals of India. From the lights of Diwali to the patriotic colors of the Independence Day, you can see them all in Assam, India. So the next time you travel to Assam, time your visit in a way that you are able to be a part of some of its most colorful festivals.
Best Time to Visit
October to April are the best months to visit Assam. While Assam sweats in the scorching heat during Summers, the state experiences high rainfall and humidity during Monsoon. October to April, when the weather is pleasant with sunny days and cool nights, rainfall is moderate, and the paddy fields look resplendent, is the best time to visit Assam.
Things To See in
Assam –
Guwahati – Guwahati is a
sprawling city beside the Brahmaputra River in the northeast Indian state of
Assam. It’s known for holy sites like the hilltop Kamakhya Temple, featuring
shrines to the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu. To the east, 18th-century
Navagraha Temple is an astronomical center with planetary shrines. Umananda
Temple, dedicated to Shiva and covered with engravings, stands on Peacock
Island in the river
Majuli – MÄjuli or Majoli is
a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and in 2016 it became the first
island to be made a district in India. It had an area of 880 square kilometres
at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion
it covers 352 square kilometres as at 2014.
Kaziranga National Park – Kaziranga National Park
is a protected area in the northeast Indian state of Assam. Spread across the
floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, its forests, wetlands and grasslands are
home to tigers, elephants and the world’s largest population of Indian
one-horned rhinoceroses. Ganges River dolphins swim in the park’s waters. It’s
visited by many rare migratory birds, and gray pelicans roost near Kaziranga
village.
Jatinga – Jatinga, a village
on a ridge, is located in Dima Hasao district, Assam State in India. It is 330
kilometres south of Guwahati. It is most famous for the phenomenon of birds
"committing suicide".
Tezpur – Tezpur is a city
and urban agglomeration in Sonitpur district, Assam state, India. Tezpur is on
the banks of the river Brahmaputra, 175 kilometres northeast of Guwahati.
Jorhat – Jorhat is and has been a vibrant place and is a perfect mixture of tradition and modernity. It was the hub of anti-British struggle of Assam. Before that it was the last capital of the Ahoms, the dynasty which ruled over Assam for six centuries. Apart from being a part of the Ahom Kingdom’s end, the city is also known for tea plantation.
Sivasagar – Sivasagar,
previously spelled Sibsagar, is a city in the Sivasagar District of Assam,
about 360 kilometres northeast of Guwahati. It is the headquarters of the
Sivasagar district. This city is surrounded by the Dehing rainforest, where the
Dihing and Lohit rivers meet.
Hajo –
Hajois an ancient pilgrimage centre for three religions: Hindus, Buddhists, and
Muslims. Hajo word is derived from Bodo word 'Hajw' which means Hill. It lies
on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, 24 km from the city of Guwahati in the
Kamrup district of Assam, India.
Haflong – Haflong is a town
and headquarters of Dima Hasao in India in the state of Assam. It is the only
hill station in Assam. Haflong is a Dimasa word meaning ant hill.
Tea Gardens – A tea garden is a
garden associated with the drinking of tea. Types include: A roji, surrounding
a Japanese tea house and associated with the Japanese tea ceremony A pleasure
garden designed for the drinking of tea and for strolling A garden at a tea
house.
Kamakhya Temple – The Kamakhya Temple
also known as Kamrup-Kamakhya temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mother
goddess Kamakhya. It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas.
Manas National Park – Manas NationalPark or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a national park, UNESCO Natural World
Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere
reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous
with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
