ASSAM

Assam, with an abundance of natural beauty, is one of the most fascinating travel destinations in India. Each place of the state has something celestial and amazing to offer. It offers natural beauty that includes a variety of flora and fauna, blue hills and green tea. Much of the state is covered with dense tropical forests of bamboo and, at higher elevations, evergreens. Common animals of Assam include the Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Rhinoceros, wild Boar and Bear apart from a host of smaller species. Assam has the world-famous Kaziranga National Park and twelve wildlife sanctuaries. The Brahmaputra River valley is the dominant physical feature of Assam. The river enters Assam near Sadiya in the extreme northeast and runs westward across the length of Assam for nearly 450 miles before turning south to enter the plains of Bangladesh. The river valley, rarely more than 50 miles wide, is studded with numerous low, isolated hills and ridges that abruptly rise from the plain. The valley, surrounded on all sides, except the west, by mountains and is intersected by many streams and rivulets that flow from the neighboring hills to empty into the Brahmaputra.

Assam is a land of myths and mystery. Its population is a confluence of streams of different races and tribes like the Austrics, the Aryans, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Tibetans, and Mongoloid. They have enriched each other and have evolved to give a distinctive identity to the Assamese people. Assam has rich handicraft tradition and offers some of the masterpieces in ivory, wood, bamboo and cane. People have always been drawn here because it is a wonderful place to live in and to celebrate the colourful festivals of this magical land.


GUWAHATI

Guwahati is the ancient Pragjyotishpura, “The Light of The East”. Pragjyotishpura was the capital of Assam’s early Hindu rulers, who established ‘shakti’ (spiritual power) worship and mystic-erotic Tantric cults, many of which are still followed today. Guwahati derives its name from two words, guwa (meaning betel nut) and hati (meaning little market). The biggest town in Assam, Guwahati sprawls along the banks of Brahmaputra River and is the main gateway to this enchanting region of unspoilt natural beauty. It has several museums, repositories of this state's ancient culture and tradition. The Assam State Museum is the largest amongst them and has sections on epigraphy, sculpture, natural history, traditional crafts, ethnography, weapons and arms.


Kamakhya temple: It is Guwahati’s best known temple situated on Nilachal Hill, west of the city. It is an important centre for Tantric Hinduism. Here, sacrifices of buffaloes and goats take place every day. The temple attracts pilgrims from all over India during Ambubasi Mela (June-July).

Navagraha temple: West of Chitrachal Hill is the unique temple of Navagraha dedicated to the nine planets. Once a renowned seat of astronomy and astrology, it is possibly the reason for Guwahati's earlier name of Pragjyotishpura.

Hajo: 32 km west of Guwahati, Hajo is a sacred place for Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists alike. Hindus worship at Hayagriva Madhav Temple which is accessible via a long stone stairway. Muslims attend the revered Poa Mecca mosque. Hajo is also renowned for its bell-metal work.

Kaziranga National Park: Situated at a distance of 217 km from Guwahati, Kaziranga is one of the most picturesque wildlife parks in India. The natural habitat of the one-horned Rhino with number more than 1500, Kaziranga lies on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River, northeast of Guwahati. Viewing wildlife at Kaziranga Park because of its vast open spaces, the presence of the mighty Brahmaputra, and adjoining Mikir hills makes a trip to Kaziranga a complete 'jungle' adventure.

Manas National Park: Situated amidst the gentle slopes of the Himalayas, Manas is the only tiger reserve of its kind in the entire region. It is 176 km away from Guwahati. The park covers a large part of Barpeta district in Assam and extend to the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. Apart from the growing population of Tigers, Manas is also home to the hispid Hare, the pigmy Hog, the one-horned Rhinoceros, and at least twenty other species of animals and birds that are listed as highly endangered. Manas derives its name from the Goddess Manasa.

Dispur: Dispur is a satellite town near Guwahati where the government of Assam is based.