It has been described as a land upon which Mother Nature has showered her blessings to the fullest! From lush meadows to picturesque hills, exotic flora and fauna to brooks, streams and other water bodies…ready to tour what has been termed as the ‘Green Paradise’ of India?
The gateway to India’s breathtaking northeast; Assam shares its borders with Mizoram, West Bengal, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. The abode of one horned rhino, not only is it an interesting visit for its scenic natural beauty, but also for its rich culture, interesting temples, old tribal communities, and many wildlife sanctuaries.
With Assam being home to over two dozen wildlife sanctuaries / reserves, wildlife here is definitely one of the main attractions, with parks such as the Kaziranga National Park also being accorded the elite status of an UNESCO World Heritage Site. In these virgin forests, herds of elephants roam freely… fromSloth Bears to Tigers, Leopard cats to Jungle cats, Jackals and more, one can find them all here. However Kaziranga’s main claim to fame is being the natural habitat of the nearly endangered species of the one horned Indian rhinoceros, making it a must visit.
Also achieving the elite status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Manas National Park, Assam’s only Tiger Reserve Project. A visit here would take you to the jungle-clad Himalayan foothill, which is home to various exotic species such as Pigmy Hog, Golden Langur, Clouded Leopard, Hispid Harem, Himalayan Bear & more, the glittering Manas River adding to its beauty.
Other wildlife sanctuaries include the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, Sonai Rupai wildlife sanctuary, Bura-chapori wildlife sanctuary, Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary, Pobha or Milroy sanctuary, Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary, Bornadi wildlife sanctuary, Gorampani wildlife sanctuary, Gibbon wildlife sanctuary, Nambor wildlife sanctuary, East karbi anglong wildlife sanctuary, Karbi anglong wildlife sanctuary, Panidihing bird sanctuary, Deeporbeel bird sanctuary, Bordoibam bilmukh bird sanctuary and more.
A mention must also be made of the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, that is not only home to over 44 varieties of orchids from India’s northeast region, but also 350 odd reptiles, and as many as 277 different species of birds apart from animals!
Being a state known for its myths and legends, Assam is home to numerous temples associated with mythology, one such temple being the Kamakhya Temple. It’s said that after Lord Vishnu severed the corpse of Parvati, her reproductive organ fell here making it one of the most sacred of Shaktipitas.
Other temples of interest include the Nabagraha Temple associated with ancient studies in India, the renowned Mahabhairab Temple at Tezpur which is said to have been built between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, the Sukreswar Temple at Guwahati which is believed to have the largest Shiva lingam or phallic emblem in India.
Another interesting place of religious significance is Poa – Mecca, so named as it is supposed to be one fourth in sanctity to Mecca.. Poa literally translating to a quarter! Jaysagar Tank and Temples, Gaurisagar Tank and Temples, Ugra Tara Temple and Lankeshwar Temple are other significant religious sites worth visiting here. While Hajo is of mythological importance, what makes it unique is also how Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists have been living together in harmony for years.
Of the must visit monuments across the states, located very close to the Sibasagar town is Kareng Ghar & Talatlal Ghar once served as the military station of the Ahom kings and of historical importance. Charaideo the 1st capital of the Ahom kings is also of importance as it is believed to be the home of their ancestral gods. Located quite close to the Sibasagar town it also houses the tombs of the Ahom kings and queens. The architectural splendor of these tombs often has historians comparing them with the pyramids of Egypt.
Another unique monument here is the Namdang Stone Bridge constructed during the Ahom Dynasty. What makes this bridge stand out is the fact that it is cut out of a single piece of rock! Agnigarh is a fort here with an interesting legend to it. It is a said that when King Banasura’s daughter fell in love with Krishna’s son Aniruddha, the king being unhappy about it, built this fort surrounded by an ever-burning fire from keep Usha away from Aniruddha. However Krishna rescued her and reunited the couple! Agnigarh literally translates to ‘a residence amidst fire’.
Being once a land ruled by Kings,can a visit here be complete without a visit to a palace? While the original Gargaon Palace built in 1540 by the fifteenth Ahom king was destroyed, the palace that stands today is famous for its architecture. Built mainly of wood, baked brick and stone, the structure is held together using a paste made of rice and eggs, as the Ahoms were not aware of the use of cement!
Quite close to the Gargaon Palace is the Rang Ghar, a two storey structure; it was the entertainment house used by the Ahom Kings to watch various sports held here. Another interesting visit is the Guwahati Planetarium said to be one of India’s most advanced planetariums.
The Assam State Museum is one of the major attractions of the state, housing some of the state’s finest paintings, sculptures, and arts and crafts. Also found here are tribal arts and ancient coins.
Important cities here include the beautiful Dispur for numerous temples, tribal population, tea plantations and tea auctions market. .
Guwahati is not just important for being Assam’s commercial capital but also for its tourist attractions. This city also finds its mention in the Mahabharata as the capital of the demon king Narakasura of Pragijyotispura, and houses some of Assam’s most interesting attractions such as the Kamakhya Temple,Umananda temple, State Museum, Anthropological Museum, and Guwahati planetarium.
Other interesting places to visit in Assam include Majuli the largest fresh water island in the world for its rare breeds of flora and fauna. Once the capital of the Kachari rulers, Maibong today is known for its remnants of the old fortified city. Haflong a breathtaking hill-station where one can see the rainbow down below and Jatinga, famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds ‘committing mass suicide!’
A shopper’s delight too, there are a number of handicrafts one can pick up whilst touring the state! From ethnic handicrafts to decorative items made from bell metal to Tribal arts and masks, furniture made of bamboo and cane, handloom products like Laichampi (quilt-like material), handmade toys or Muga ( the golden silk exclusive to Assam) and of course the world famous Assam tea!
A wealth of tourist attractions lie hidden in Assam, here’s hoping we just helped you uncover some of them!
