Assam Travel Guide

Location : On the North-East part of India.
State Capital : Dispur.
Official Language : Assamese.
Places of Attraction : Guwahati (capital) and Kaziranga National Park.
Best Time To Visit : Spring and Autumn.
Temperature (°C) : Summer- Max. 35, Min. 22; Winter- Max. 26, Min. 10.

¤ Assam, The Land of the Red River

Assam, one of the largest state in India, is the gateway to North-East India which abundantly is the hub of serene nature and cultural heritage. The highlight of the state is the gigantic River Brahmaputra, the Kaziranga National Park which is a sanctuary to the one-horned Rhinoceros and the sprawling tea gardens, famous throughout the world.


¤ Places of Interest

Though there are many tourist attractions, Tezpur with its unperturbed natural beauty and the Majuli, the largest island on the Brahmaputra are one of the picturesque places. Kamakhya temple, State Zoo and State Museum near the city of Guwahati have a lot to offer for the people visiting the state. Sibsagar (town) has all the historical monument that were part of the Ahoms rule (the kingdom ruled for six centuries).


Wild Life

Assam has five national parks and many wildlife sanctuaries. The main aim behind the Kaziranga National Park has been to protect the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are famous wildlife reserves. Some of other wildlife sanctuaries are Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonai Ropai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bura -Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary and Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.


¤ Tea Gardens

The tea gardens sprawled over Assam usually cover many acres of land and these gardens lie far away from the cities so it made the planters and management to be self-sufficient. These tea gardens have lavish bungalows, large retinue of retainers, many horses or multi-utility vehicles for transport, a golf course, a swimming pool and other entertainments thrown in. Tea gardens had become a spacious and peaceful resorts where the tourists can indulge just to see the greenery and the deft tea pluckers. Most of these are converted into boutique properties with the exotic lifestyle and environment that one can explore.
Assam contributes 15.6% of the world's tea production and 55% of the country's output. Upper Assam's tea gardens are there for over 150 years, one of the most cherished destinations of British Empire. Today western tourists visit these tea gardens to soak in the ambience where their forefathers nurtured one of the most durable industries in Assam.


¤ Festivals of Assam

Every Assamese celebrate the festival of Bihu irrespective of his class and caste. There are other three main festivals which are part of Bihu namely Rangali Bihu, Bhogali Bihu and Kangali Bihu.

Bihu Dance
Bihu is a folk dance, which is popular in all parts of Assam. For the vigorous energy it exudes during the performance, it is rightly compared with Bhangra dance of the North India. Usually performed by young boys and girls, one can see brisk steps, flinging and swaying of hips. The songs sung are on love and sometimes have erotic overtones.

¤ Arts and Craft

The particular field in arts and craft of Assam that is known internationally is the intricate workmanship in the textiles. The various multitude of true workmanship is also found in the work of cane and bamboo, metals crafts, handlooms, toys, pottery, woodcraft, jewellery and traditional painting.


¤ Accessibility to Assam

By Air
Indian airlines/Alliance Air, Jet Airways and Air Sahara connect Guwahati with Kolkata, Delhi, Agartala and Imphal. Taxi services including prepaid services are available at the airport for transfer to the city. For travelling to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya Helicopter Service and Arunachal Pradesh Helicopter Service at Guwahati Airport is available.

By Rail
Express trains link all parts of the country with Guwahati. Rajdhani Express from Delhi(28 hrs), Saraighat Express from Kolkata(18 hrs), Dadar Express from Mumbai(54 hrs) and Bangalore Express(60 hrs) are some of the important trains to Guwahati. Taxis and auto-rickshaws with negotiable rates are available at the station for transfer to different parts of the city.

By Road
Many private travel companies and the Assam State Transport Corporation operate a large network of buses from anywhere around. There are routes connecting Guwahati with Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tinsukhia, Silchar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Aizawl and Itanagar.

• Guwahati >> Jorhat >> Sibasagar >> Toklai >> Kaziranga National Park >> Guwahati
  
• Delhi/Kolkata >> Guwahati >> Nameri National Park >> Jorhat >> Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary >> Kaziranga National Park >> Manas National Park >> Delhi/Kolkata
  
• Jorhat >> Sibasagar >> Krem Mawmluh Cave >> Shillong >> Majuli >> Kohima >> Dimapur >> Touphema >> Kohima >> Imphal >> Loktak Lake >> Kaziranga National Park >> Barpeta >> Baishnavite Monastery >> Guwahati