Assam is situated in the North-East of India
and is the largest north eastern state. Assam is bounded by Bhutan and
Arunachal in the north; Nagaland and Manipur in the east; Bangladesh ,
Meghalaya , Tripura and Mizoram in the south and India in the west. Assam
has a geographical area of 78,529 square kilometers and total population
of around 25 millions. It is famous for its, tea gardens, natural beauty,
wild life reserves (specially one horned Asiatic Rhino), temples,
monuments and mighty Brahmaputra River. Assam is a land of natural beauty,
cultural richness. It offers a peculiar composite culture, of myriad hues.
Dispur is the state capital and Guwahati is the largest city in the state.
How to reach Assam
Air: Guwahati is well connected by Air
and railway to Delhi and Kolkata.
Flight time between Guwahati Delhi is approximately 2.5 hrs. For details
and reservation check
Indian railways and
Indian Airlines website.
Rail: Journey by train from Delhi may
take anywhere from 24 36 hrs covering a distance of nearly 2000 Km.
Rajdhani Express is the best train between Delhi Guwahati.
Tourist destinations -
Hajo
Located 32 kms. from Guwahati on the north
bank of the Brahmaputra, it is a place where three religions meet -
Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. It has a large number of temples, the chief
among them being Hayagriva-Madhab Temple. Poa Mecca is a famous Muslim
pilgrimage place here.
Majuli
Assam is famous for Majuli, the world's
largest river island. Majuli situated in the midst of river Brahmaputra,
is the centre of Vishnava culture. Majuli is inhabited by tribes like the
Mising and the Deoris and is the center of a living heritage of colorful
costumes and festivals. A large number of migratory birds come to Majuli.
Reaching Majuli
From Jorhat through Nematighat, Luit-Khabalu ghat from North Lakhimpur and
Dhakuakhana from Dhemaji. Air connectivity to Jorhat from Delhi via
Kolkota. By road Jorhat and Lakhimpur from you will get next road
communication to Majuli through daily ferry services available on the bank
of Brahmaputra and Khabalu river respectively.
Sibsagar
Sibsagar is 369 km towards the east of
Guwahati. Sibsagar was the capital of the Ahoms who ruled Assam at a
stretch for six hundreds years before British captured Assam. Large
artificial lake and a huge Shiva temple are special attractions.
Haflong
This is Assam's only hill station. Haflong
abounds in natural beauty and large lake is also there. Jatinga 9 kms.
from Haflong, is famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds
'committing mass suicide'.
Tezpur
Tezpur is another major tourist destination. Situated on the north bank of
the majestic river Brahmaputra, Tezpur is a beautiful town, renowned for
exquisite archaeological ruins and temples.
Wild life parks in Assam
Kaziranga National Park
The first and the oldest National Park in Assam situated in Golaghat
District, is a World Heritage site. Spread over an area of 430 sq. kms.,
Kaziranga National Park is the natural home of the one-horned Indian
rhinoceros and a number of other exotic animals like Asian Elephant,
Indian bison, Swamp Deer, Samber, Hog Deer, Sloth Bear, Tiger, Leopard
cat, Jungle cat, Hog badger, Capped Langur, Hollock gibbons and numerous
bird species.
Getting to Kaziranga - Kaziranga is 217 kms
from Guwahati and 96 kms from Jorhat by road.The nearest airport is
Rowriah(Jorhat). Tourists can either fly to Jorhat or can go by surface to
Kaziranga from Guwahati. Best season to visit is from November to April.
Manas National Park
Manas is a magnificent National Parks well known for Tigers. It is
situated on the bank of the river Manas at the foothills of the Himalayas.
It is also a World heritage site. Besides Tiger you can also see Rhino,
Elephants, Wild buffalo, Langoor, deer and hundreds of other species of
animals and birds in this park.
Getting to Manas- Manas is 176 kms from Guwahati by road. The nearest
airport is Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Guwahati.
The nearest railhead is Barpeta Road Station that is 40 kms away from
Manas. Season to visit is from November to April.
Other national parks in Assam
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park In Dibrugarh and Tinsukhia district.
Nameri National Park About 35 Km from Tezpur well known for rare
birds and Insects. Tigers, elephants and Leopards and many other wild
animals also live here.
Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park
It is comparatively smaller National park, situated in the Darrang
District of Assam but has lots of variety of wildlife.
Besides these wildlife National parks there are several wildlife
sanctuaries:
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, GOLAGHAT
GIBBON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
NAMBOR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
EAST KARBI ANGLONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
KARBI ANGLONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
PANIDIHING BIRD SANCTUARY, SIBSAGAR
Temples and monuments -
Kamakhya Temple
The Shakti Temple of Goddess Kamakhya situated on the top of Nilachal
Hills (8 Km. from the railway station of Guwahati). This is the most
famous temple of Assam renowned all over India.
Nabagraha Temple
The temple of nine planets situated on Chitra Chal Hill in Guwahati
(Distance 3 km from railway station)
Umananda Temple
A Shiva temple situated on the Peacock Island in the middle of the
Brahmaputra in Guwahati.
Madan Kamdev
Just 40 Km from Guwahati are these magnificent archeological ruins.
For further details
contact - Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
Dr. B. Barooah Road
Guwahati 781007
Assam, India
Phone: +91-361- 454421
Fax: +91-361- 454570
Email: astdcorpn@sancharnet.in
