Assam is the main and oldest state in the North-East Region of India and as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. The land of red river and blue hills, Assam comprises three main geographical areas: the Brahmaputra Valley which stretching along the length of the Brahmaputra river, the Barak Valley extending like a tail, and the intervening Karbi Plateau and North Cachar Hills. Assam shares its border with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and West Bengal; and there are National Highways leading to their capital cities. It also shares international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh and is very close to Myanmar. In ancient times Assam was known as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura , and Kamarupa .
Kaziranga National Park
This protected area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as one of the last remaining habitat of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. Also check out Manas National Park and Orang National Park.
A rhino in Kaziranga National Park. The park is home to two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses.Guwahati
One of the key urban centres of Assam and the biggest city in North-East India, this serves as the major gateway to the whole region. The major tourist spots of Guwahati are Kamakhya Temple, River Cruise on the river Brahmaputra, Shankardev Kalakshetra, Umananda Temple, Assam State Zoo, Shilpagram etc. Chandubi Lake, Sonapur, Madan Kamdev, Chandrapur and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary are other famous spots outskirts the city. While visiting Madan Kamdev, tourists also visit the ancient temple Gopeswar Mandir situated in the village Deuduar.
Majuli
The largest freshwater island in South Asia on the Brahmaputra River. Majuli is famous for its Vaishnavite Satras such as Kamalabari Satra, Dakhinpat Satra, Garamurh Satra, Auniati Satra, Bengenaati Satra and Samaguri Satra.
Dima Hasao
Dima Hasao is a hill district of Assam with full of natural beauties. The headquarters of Dima Hasao Haflong is a beautiful hilly town and the only hill station of Assam. The village of Jatinga is famous for mysterious suicides of birds. Some of the notable tourism places are Umrangso, Panimur Falls, Maibang, Tumjang Trek at Selkal Peak etc.
Facts to know Digboi, the Oil city of Assam
Digboi is known as the ‘Oil City of Assam’ where the first oil well in Asia was drilled. The first refinery was started here as early as 1901.
Digboi has the oldest oil well in operation and with a significant number of British professionals working for Assam Oil Company until the decade following independence of India, Digboi had a well-developed infrastructure and a number of bungalows unique to the town.
It is said that Digboi got its name from the English phrase ‘Dig Boy Dig!’ which was a phrase used by the British to tell local labourers to dig for crude oil.
Here are five known facts about ‘Oil City of Assam’
1. DIGBOI CENTENARY MUSEUM: The Assam Oil Company (part of Indian Oil) established a museum of the history of the Assam oil industry, behind the refinery at Digboi. The museum was inaugurated on 4th January, 2002. Old engines used in the refinery, antique cars and meter gauge Ruston and Hornsby 4WD train are displayed in the museum.
2. GOLF COURSE: Amidst the vast dense forests and exquisite tea estates, lies the 18-hole golf course of Digboi, known as the best golf course in the whole of Upper Assam. The whole course stands over a huge 6309 yards of land and is considered to be one of the biggest in the northeast India. Every year, various tournaments both national and international level are played here. The Digboi Golf Club Links was founded in the year 1888.
3. CENTENARY PARK: It is situated beside the refinery. There are also hillocks that house old British bungalows. This park covers an area of 40,000 sq metres where you can find beautiful natural ponds and a lake.
4. DIBRU SAIKHOWA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: Dibru Saikhowa National Park is one of the 19 (nineteen) biodiversity hotspots in the world. Located 60km from Digboi, the 650 sq km sanctuary is Assam’s largest wildlife park. The area was declared as Dibru Reserved Forest in 1890 and in the year 1999, the sanctuary gained the status of National Park.
The sanctuary attracts migratory birds in great numbers. Some rare and endangered animals of this sanctuary are Hoolock gibbon, capped langur, slow loris, water buffalo, tiger, elephant, gangetic river dolphin etc.
5. DIGBOI WAR CEMETERY: Situated outside the oil town, Digboi Oil Town, some 1.5 kilometres from the main India Oil (Assam) Works on the road to Pengaree Tea Estate. During the Second World War, Assam was an operational area of Burma campaign, as Digboi was situated near the Burmese border. An army hospital was established there and the Digboi War Cemetery was started for burials.
Maintenance of graveyards in Panitola and other areas was becoming a major problem, so the graves were transferred to Digboi.The cemetery now contains 200 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Sonitpur
Protected areas to see in the district are Nameri National Park, Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and a part of Orang National Park. Bhalukpong is also an important tourist place. Tezpur is a small town steeped in history and culture. Some of these are Agnigarh, Mahabhairav Temple, Chitralekha Udyan, Bamuni Hills, Usha Pahar etc. Biswanath Chariali town is 75 km away from Tezpur, is famous for the Biswanath Ghat, also called popularly as “Gupta Kashi”.
Jorhat
A fastly growing urban centre, the last capital of Ahom kingdom and the cultural capital of Assam, Jorhat known for many historical monuments of Ahom era and heritage places built in and around the city during British Raj like Raja Maidam, Lachit Borphukon Maidam, Jorhat Gymkhana Club, Bura Sahib’s Bungalow of Kaziranga Golf Resort, Thengal Bhawan etc. Pilgrimage sites like Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar, which was built by saint Madhavdeva and Borbheti are also the places to visit. Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (home of Hoolock gibbon), man-made Molai forest, Sui-ka-pha Samanway Kshetra, Jorhat Science Centre and Planetarium, Tocklai Tea Research Institute are the other attractions here.
Sivasagar
As Sivasagar was the seat of the Ahom Kingdom, it is surrounded by many ancient monuments of Ahom era. Those are Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Sivadol, Gola Ghar, Kareng Ghar of Garhgaon, Joy Dol, Sivasagar Tank (Borpukhuri), Joysagar Lake, Joymati Maydam, Vishnu Dol, Devi Dol, Gourisagar Dol and Tank, Charaideo, Namdang Stone Bridge etc. Tai Museum and Uttaran Museum which exhibits the history of Ahom. Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, the abode of more than 250 species of birds.
Hajo
Hajo is an ancient pilgrimage centre for three religions Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism.
Tinsukia
Many prominent shopping malls are there in Tinsukia. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, one of the biggest national parks in India are situated in Tinsukia. This national park is considered to be a biological hotspot. The Tilinga Mandir (Bell Temple) is a well-known temple situated in the outskirts of Tinsukia city. Digboi Refinery, Asia‘s oldest refinery is situated here. A railway park is recent addition to the city. Dehing Patkai Festival are annual festival held at Lekhapani in Tinsukia district. India’s only coal museum is situated at Margherita town in Tinsukia district. Tribal communities in Tinsukia district have taken initiatives to promote ecotourism in the region. The Singpho Eco Tourist lodge in Margherita-Pengari road and the Faneng Village at Lekhapani are two such initiatives by the local tribal communities.
Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh is called the tea capital of the world. The town is situated on the edge of the Brahmaputra River. Set amidst extensive tea estates, Dibrugarh offers tourists the opportunity to experience a life in a tea estate. Recently, tea tourism has started becoming popular, with travel companies such as Greener Pastures and Purvi Discovery offering tea tours. Tipam is a famous tourist spot of Dibrugarh. Tipam is an ethnic village which is famous for its historical places. Besides Tipam, Dehing Patkai National Park is the other attraction. Presently the city has the biggest railway station in Assam with 18 Lines opened in 2009. Rajdhani Express Train Originate from Dibrugarh and Dibrugarh Town.
Udalguri
Other than the multitude of culture and tradition of the various ethnic communities, the district has several tourist places. Some of the important ones are Bathou Temple and Research centre, Namghars, Hanuman Temple, Bhairabkunda Picnic Spot, Gethsemane Man-made Forest (Bhairabkunda) and Bogamati.
Jungal Balahu
Tourist destination of middle Assam in Morigaon district near Raha, Assam 4.5 km away near NH-37/AH National Highway 37 is Jungal Balahu named after the legendary Tiwa King .It is 6.5 km away from Chaparmukh Junction railway station ,130 km away from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport . Near Nagaon town 27 km away.
