Home »  East India » Assam

Assam

The largest of the states in the northeast of India is Assam whose capital, Guwahati, has an inspired location on the banks of the River Brahmaputra. Amidst Assam’s verdant lushness are two important game sanctuaries, Manas and Kaziranga, both best known for their population of one horned Indian rhinoceros, a species that faced extinction. Much of the rest of the state is devoted to tea plantation which yield the strong Assam leaf popular all over the world.

Guwahati

The ancient city of Pragjyotishpur or the light of east is the site of modern Guwahati, the Gateway to North Eastern India.

How to get there

	Air: Indian Airlines connect Guwahati with Calcutta, Delhi, Bagdogra, Imphal Agartala, Dibrugarh and Dimapur.
	Rail: Guwahati is connected by rail with New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Cochin, Silchar, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh.
	Road: Guwahati is connected by good motorable roads with Shillong 103 kms, Kaziranga National Park 217 kms, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 176 kms, Dimapur 280 kms, Itanagar 420 kms, Imphal 487 kms, Agartala 599 kms, Aizawal 538 kms, Gangtok 624 kms, Darjeeling 587 kms, Calcutta 1182 kms and Kohima 342 kms.
	Bus Services: Guwahati is connected by regular bus services with Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, Siliguri, Sibsagar, Dimapur, Kohima, Imphal, Aizawal, Itanagar, Barpetta Road and Cooch Bihar.

Places of interest

• Janardhan Temple

• Navagrah Temple

• Umananda Temple

• Bhubaneshwari Devi Temple

Museums

• Assam Zoo and Botanical Gardens : 0700 to 1600 hrs (Sep to March)

• Anthropological Museum: 1000 to 1600 hrs. Closed on University Holidays

• Assam Forest Museum: 1000 to 1600 hrs (Mon to Fri), 1000 to 1300 hrs (Sat)

• Cottage Industries Museum.

• Museum of Animal Husbandry and Vaterinary Science

• Assam State Museum : 1000 to 1630 hrs (Tue to Sat), 0800 to 1200 hrs (Sun)

• Dept. of Historical & Antiquarium Research : 1000 to 1600 hrs. Sun Closed.

Excursions

• Haplong (Hill Station) 355 kms

• Jatinga (Famous for bird mystry near Haplong) 364 kms

• Hajo 32 kms

• Kamakhya Temple 10 kms

• Basistha Ashram 12 kms

• Sualkuch 32 km

• Chandubi Lake 64 km

• Orang 150 km

• Darrang 100 km

• Bhairakunda 137 km

• Batadrawa 134 kms

• Barpeta 137 kms

• Tezpur 181 kms

• Bhalukpung 250 kms

• Dibrugarh

• Digboi

• Jorhat

• Majuli

Kaziranga National Park

Situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river, Kaziranga National Park is famous for the stronghold of the armoured one-horned Indian Rhinocerous. The Sanctuary provides unique setting for a sight of its best known wild life including birds.

How to get there

	Air: Nearest airport Jorhat (96 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Calcutta which in turn is connected with other cities in India.
	Rail: Nearest railway station Furkating (75 kms from Kaziranga) on the metre guage line is directly connected to Guwahati which in turn is connected with the other major cities in India.
	Road: Kaziranga (Kohora) to Guwahati 217 km, Jorhat 96 km, Furkating 75 kms.
	Bus Services: The Assam Road Transport Corporation runs regular buses from Guwahati, Jorhat, Furkating which stop at Kohora 5 kms outside the Park and where the accommodation is located. Long distance night coaches run by private operators from Guwahati and Jorhat also stop here on request. The Tourist Department, Kaziranga Forest Lodge, has a reservation quota of 10 seats on the Kaziranga Express from Golaghat to Guwahati.
	Local Transport: Taxis available.

Sightseeing in the Park

• VERY IMPORTANT
  It is essential for visitors to take a Forest Department guide with them if they are going by car or jeep, so that he can both direct the vehicle and also sight wildlife for the visitors.

• HOURS TO VISIT THE PARK
  On Elephant Back: 0500 to 0600 hrs, 0630 to 0730 hrs and 1530 to 1630 hrs. By Road : 0800 to 1100 hrs and 1400 to 1630 hrs.

• ROAD ROUTES FOR VISITING THE PARK
  Kaziranga Range: Kohora, Daflang, Foliamare.
  Western Range : Baguri, Monabeel, Bimoli, Kanchanjuri.
  Eastern Range : Agoratoli, Sohola, Rangamatia.

• OBSERVATION TOWERS
  These are located at Sohola, Mihimukh, Kathpara, Foliamare and Harmoti.

Sibsagar

Sibsagar was the capital of the Ahom Kings who ruled Assam before the advent of the British. The town is build round the Sibsagar tank, dug over 200 years ago. The tank is above town level although situated in the heart of the town. On its banks are located some of the famous temples of Sibsagar. The Shiva temple, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be the highest Hindu temple in India.

How to get there

	Air: The nearest airport is at Rewriah, Jorhat (55 kms away) connected by Indian Airlines with Calcutta, Guwahati and Tezpur.
	Rail: The nearest railhead is Simaluguri (16 kms away) on main N.F. Railways.
	Road: Sibsagar is connected by road to most of the important places in Assam.

Some distances are :

• Guwahati - 369 kms

• Kaziranga - 152 kms

• Jorhat - 55 kms

• Nowgong - 249 kms

• Dibrugarh - 76 kms

• Tinsukia - 114 kms

What To See

• Sibsagar Tank and Temples :The tank comprising 120 acres of water, dug ever 200 years age, is above town level although situated down town. fed by natural springs, the tank is surrounded by deep ditches and earthen moats. Three temples are built on itsbanks - Siva temple, Vishnu temple and Devidol temple.

• Talatal Ghar : Built in 1699 by king Rudra Singha about 6 kms from Sibsagar it is an underground garrison having three stories the lowest connected with Dikhow river by tunnel.

• Kereng Ghar :9 kms from Sibsagar, this is a seven storied castle-four above and three below the ground containing two underground pathways to Dikhow river and Garden palace.

• Rang Ghar :The Ahom Kings watched elephant fights and other sporting events from this two- storied oval-shaped pavilion built by king Pramutta singha.

• Joysagar Tank and Temple : Historical records reveal that the tank was constructed in 45 days at Rangpur in 1697. The tank stands on the area of 318 acres half of which is under water and on its banks stand the Jeydol (Vishnu) temple, Shiva temple and Devi Ghar and Ghanashyam (Nati Gosain) temple.

• Gaurisagar Group : 16 kms south of Sibsagar on the Assam Trunk Road, Gaurisagar is one of the historical tanks constructed by Queen Phuleswari in the year 1723. This springfed tanks is 150 acres under water and on its banks stand three temples dedicated to Devi, Shiva and Vishnu.

• Gargaon Palace : The principal town of the Ahom Kings, constructed by the 15th Ahom King Suklemnung in 1540 lies in 13 kms east of Sibsagar. The present seven storied palace was built by King Rajesshar Singha in about 1762. All the underground stories and passages were blocked by the East India Company. The magazine made of bricks is within the palace compound and further eastward are two old stone bridges constructed by King Gadadhar Singha.

• Charaideo : 28 kms east of Sibsagar, was the original capital of the Ahom Kings built by Sukhapa the founder of the dynasty in about 1229. Charaideo is famous for its numerous maidams (vaults) of the kings and members of the royal family resembling the pyramids of egypt. Most of them were build of stones and bricks and are in ruins now.

• Other Places : A great number of old Sastras of the Vaishava cult Muslim Dargahs, Budhist and Sakta shrines are to be found around Sibsagar, Besides, there are more than 500 tanks, vaults, earthen forts and castles belonging to the Ahom, Manipuri, Jaintia Shan and Kachari kings in this sub-Division.

Excursions

• Jorhat (55 kms.)
  Itinerary is famous for its sprawling tea gardens. It is the nerve centre of tea industry. It has the world reknowned Teklai Experimental Centre.Research is carried out to find new varieties of tea and also therapeutic effected of green tea. Regional Research Laboratory which is situated here conducts investigation on plants, herbs and seil. There are also other organisations such as Assam Agricultural University, Technical School etc. From Jorhat, one may visit majuli, the largest island on the Brahmaputna. In Majuli, there are numerous satras or monasteries. 60 kms aways from Jorhat, lies Nambar Foprest reserve which is famous for being a rejuvenating hot spring. Further 90 kms down, one comes across Dimapur (in Nagaland), once the seat of Cachar Kingdom.

• Dibrugarh (76 kms)
  It is an upcoming major trading centre and a lovely river side town in Upper Assam. This is the place where the mighty river Brahmaputra is at its majestic best.

Haflong

At 680 metres above sea level, in the lush hilly terrain lies this lovely lakeside resort which is Assam's only hill station. It is the headquarters of North Cachar Hills District and is situated at a distance of 355 kms from Guwahati. Haflong is the name of variety of orchids, one of them being the rare Blue Vanda.

How to get there

	Air: Nearest airport is Dimapur (266 kms), Jorhat (364 kms) Gguwahati (355 kms). All there connected by Indian Airlines with Calcutta.
	Rail: Haflong is connected by North Erontier Railway from Guwahati via Lumding.
	Road: Itinerary is connected by road to important places. The distance to some important places are : Guwahati - 355 kms. Diphu - 170 kms Dimapur - 266 kms Jorhat - 364 kms Newgong - 309 kms Golaghat - 335 kms Assam State Transport Corporation Buses connect most of these places with Haflong.

What To See

• Haflong Lake: Situated in the heart of the hill station it is a picturesque area.

• Jatinga: 9 kms away, this village has attracted orinthologists from all over the world to unreveal the mystery of the flocks of little migratory birds crashing to death on still dark nights. The phenomenon is attributed by scientists to the sensitivity of these birds to infra red emissions of the torches borne by the villages during the nights. An elevated watch tower provides an opportunity to see this bird mystery.

• Maibong : 47 kms away from Haflong, on the banks of river Mahur lies the ruins of the once flourishing capital of the Dimasa Kachari Kingdom. A stone house and temple of Kachari kings can be seen at Maibong.

• Umrangsu : 115 kms away from Haflong by road, the biggest hydel plant under North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has come up with dams across the river Kopili, a tributery of the Brahmaputra. Near Umrangsu, there is a hot water spring (Garampani) which is believed to possess medicinal properties.