Project report

On
Assam tourism

Compiled by
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

SAMPLE SIZE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

LIMITATIONS

CHAPTER1

CLIMATE IN ASSAM

CHAPTER2

POPULATION , ECONOMY IN ASSAM

CHAPTER 3

TOURIST PLACES IN ASSAM

CONCLUSION

QUESTIONNAIRE

FINDINGS & SUGGESTIONS

BIBLOGRAPHY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. The World Travel &
Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹14.02 lakh crore (US$220 billion) or
9.6% of the nation's GDP in 2016 and supported 40.343 million jobs, 9.3% of its total
employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% to ₹28.49 lakh
crore(US$440 billion) by 2027 (10% of GDP). In October 2015, India's medical tourism
sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion. It is projected to grow to $7–8 billion by
2020. In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients traveled to India to seek medical treatment. About
88.90 lakh (8.89 million) foreign tourists arrived in India in 2016 compared to 80.27 lakh
(8.027 million) in 2015, recording a growth of 10.7%. Domestic tourist visits to all states
and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011.
In 2014, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were the most popular states for tourists
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Agra and Jaipur have been the five most visited cities of India by
foreign tourists during the year 2015. Worldwide, Delhi is ranked at 28 by the number of
foreign tourist arrivals, while Mumbai is ranked at 30, Chennai at 43, Agra at 45, Jaipur at 52
and Kolkata at 90. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks India 40th out
of 136 countries overall. The report ranks the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector
10th out of 136 countries. It mentions that India has quite good air transport (ranked 32nd),
particularly given the country’s stage of development, and reasonable ground transport
infrastructure (ranked 29th). The country also scores high on natural and cultural resources
(ranked 9th). Some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat
underdeveloped however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international
comparison and low ATM penetration. The World Tourism Organization reported that India's
receipts from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th among Asian and Pacific
countries. The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and
promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other
stakeholders in the sector including various Central Ministries/agencies, state governments,
Union Territories and the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being
made to promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism. The
Ministry also maintains the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting tourism.
India requires citizens of most countries to have a valid passport and apply for a visa at their local
Indian embassy or consulate, before they travel. They can apply directly by mail or in person, or
through their local travel services company. India has recently implemented an online method for
citizens of 40 countries to apply and receive an e-Tourist Visa. Nationals
of Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal do not require a visa. Citizens of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh,
DPR Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and Uruguay are not
required to pay a fee when obtaining Indian visa.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Assam and adjoining regions have evidences of human settlements from all the periods of
the Stone ages. The hills at the height of 1,500–2,000 feet (460 to 615 m) were popular
habitats probably due to availability of exposed dolerite basalt, useful for tool-making The
precise etymology of modern anglicised word "Assam" is ambiguous. In the classical period
and up to the 12th century the region east of the Karatoya river, largely congruent to present-
day Assam, was called Kamarupa, and alternatively, Pragjyotisha. In medieval times the
Mughals used Asham (eastern Assam) and Kamrup (western Assam), and during British
colonialism, the English used Assam. Though many authors have associated the name with
the 13th century Shan invaders the precise origin of the name is not clear. It was suggested by
some that the Sanskrit word Asama ("unequalled", "peerless", etc.) was the root, which has
been rejected by Kakati,]and more recent authors have concurred that it is a latter-day
Sanskritization of a native name.Among possible origins are Tai (A-Cham)and Bodo (Ha-
Sam) According to a late text, Kalika Purana (c. 9th–10th century AD), the earliest ruler of
Assam was Mahiranga Danav of the Danava dynasty, which was removed by Naraka who
established the Naraka dynasty. The last of these rulers, also Naraka, was slain by Krishna.
Naraka's son Bhagadatta became the king, who (it is mentioned in the Mahabharata) fought
for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra with an army of kiratas, chinas and dwellers of
the eastern coast. At the same time towards east in central Assam, Asura Kingdom was ruled
by indigenous line of kings of Mariachi dynasty. The Ahoms, a Tai group, ruled Upper
Assam[19] The Shans built their kingdom and consolidated their power in Eastern Assam with
the modern town of Sibsagar as their capital and brought the whole tract down to the border
of the modern district of Goalpara permanently under their sway. Ahoms ruled for nearly 600
years (1228–1826 AD) with major expansions in the early 16th century at the cost
of Chutia and Dimasa Kachari kingdoms. Since c. the 13th century AD, the nerve centre of
Ahom polity was upper Assam; the kingdom was gradually extended to the Karatoya River in
the 17th or 18th century. It was at its zenith during the reign of Sukhrungphaa or Sworgodeu
Rudra Sinha (c. 1696–1714 AD).The Chutiya rulers (1187–1673 AD) held the regions on
both the banks of Brahmaputra with its domain in the area eastwards from Vishwanath (north
bank) and Buridihing (south bank), in Upper Assam and in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It
was partially annexed in the early 1500s by the Ahoms, finally getting absorbed in 1673 AD.
The rivalry between the Chutiyas and Ahoms for the supremacy of eastern Assam led to a
series of battles between them from the early 16th century until the start of the 17th century,
which saw great loss of men and money.The Koch, a Tibeto-Burmese dynasty, established
sovereignty in c. 1510 AD. The Koch kingdom in Western Assam and present North
Bengal was at its zenith in the early reign of Nara Narayan (c. 1540–1587 AD). It split into
two in c. 1581 AD, the western part as a Moghul vassal and the eastern as an Ahom satellite
state. Later, in 1682, Koch Hajo was entirely annexed by the Ahoms.
INTRODUCTION
Assam  is a state in Northeast India, situated south of the eastern Himalayas along
the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of
78,438 km2 (30,285 sq mi). The state is bordered by Bhutan and the state of Arunachal
Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur to the
east; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh to the south; and West Bengal to the
west via the Siliguri Corridor, a 22 kilometres (14 mi) strip of land that connects the state to
the rest of India. Assam is known for Assam tea and Assam silk. The first oil well in Asia
was drilled in Assam. The state has conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near
extinction, along with the wild water buffalo, pygmy hog, tiger and various species of Asiatic
birds, and provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant. The Assamese
economy is aided by wildlife tourism to Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park,
which are World Heritage Sites. Sal tree forests are found in the state which, as a result of
abundant rainfall, look green all year round. Assam receives more rainfall than most parts of
India; this rain feeds the Brahmaputra River, whose tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the
region with a hydro-geomorphic environment. The precise etymology of modern anglicised
word "Assam" is ambiguous. In the classical period and up to the 12th century the region east
of the Karatoya river, largely congruent to present-day Assam, was called Kamarupa, and
alternatively, Pragjyotisha. In medieval times the Mughals used Asham (eastern Assam) and
Kamrup (western Assam), and during British colonialism, the English used Assam. Though
many authors have associated the name with the 13th century Shan invaders  the precise
origin of the name is not clear. It was suggested by some that the Sanskrit
word Asama ("unequalled", "peerless", etc.) was the root, which has been rejected by Kakati,
and more recent authors have concurred that it is a latter-day Sanskritization of a native
name. Among possible origins are Tai (A-Cham)  and Bodo (Ha-Sam) Assam and adjoining
regions have evidences of human settlements from all the periods of the Stone ages. The hills
at the height of 1,500–2,000 feet (460 to 615 m) were popular habitats probably due to
availability of exposed dolerite basalt, useful for tool-making. According to a late text, Kalika
Purana (c. 9th–10th century AD), the earliest ruler of Assam was Mahiranga Danav of
the Danava dynasty, which was removed by Naraka who established the Naraka dynasty. The
last of these rulers, also Naraka, was slain by Krishna. Naraka's son Bhagadatta became the
king, who (it is mentioned in the Mahabharata) fought for the Kauravas in the battle of
Kurukshetra with an army of kiratas, chinas and dwellers of the eastern coast. At the same
time towards east in central Assam, Asura Kingdom was ruled by indigenous line of kings of
Mariachi dynasty Samudragupta's 4th century Allahabad pillar
inscription mentions Kamarupa (Western Assam) and Davaka (Central Assam) as frontier
kingdoms of the Gupta Empire.Davaka was later absorbed by Kamarupa, which grew into a
large kingdom that spanned from Karatoya river to near present Sadiya and covered the entire
Brahmaputra valley, North Bengal, parts of Bangladesh and, at times Purnea and parts
of West Bengal. The kingdom was ruled by three dynasties; the Varmanas (c. 350–650 CE),
the Mlechchha dynasty (c.655–900 CE) and the Kamarupa-Palas (c. 900–1100 CE), from
their capitals in present-day Assam (Pragjyotishpura), Tezpur (Haruppeswara) and North
Gauhati (Durjaya) respectively. All three dynasties claimed descent from Narakasura.In the
reign of the Varman king, Bhaskaravarman (c. 600–650 AD), the Chinese
traveller Xuanzang visited the region and recorded his travels. Later, after weakening and
disintegration (after the Kamarupa-Palas), the Kamarupa tradition was extended to c. 1255
AD by the Lunar I (c. 1120–1185 AD) and Lunar II (c. 1155–1255 AD) dynasties
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
 To study about assam tourism and various things which is different from
other state tourism and how it will beneficial for assam state tourism as
well as Indian tourism and its challenges
 To Study the tourist destination places in Assam .
 To find the Impacts of tourism inASSAM
 To criticize the measures taken by Government to preserve the forest
conservation and Historical Monuments.
 To Recommend some valuable suggestion to improve the inflow of
tourist and some valuable measures to preserve the old Historical
Monuments and wildlife.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 To trigger higher growth of economy, also balancing for sustained socio-cultural and
physical environment.
 To introduce new tourism products i.e. adventure tourism, heri tage tourism, sports
tourism, education tourism ,health tourism etc
 To Identify infrastructure and other developmental needs for tourism
 Projection i.e. identification of projects, their financing & management strategies
 To formulate integration of various department to promote tourism

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Places of tourist attraction in the state can be broadly classified as;

o Places of Religious Importance and Archeological/Historical Sites

o Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks,

o Adventure tourism,

o Arts and Craft, Fairs & Festivals & Dances.

LIMITATION
One of the limitations of the focus group interview is that in some of its segments the output
may be relatively skewed. And some issues, which are qualitative or subjective to individual
perception, cannot be adequately addressed in a questionnaire survey. In order to rationalize
the research process and at the same time ensure the perceptions of the respondents were
recorded adequately, a combination of open-ended questionnaires and focus group interviews
were used. The questionnaires were initially administered to a large sample and based on the
willingness of the respondents to participate in a discussion; smaller focus group interviews
were conducted. Considering the time duration of the study and other present social
problems, the method of sampling was convenience and random sampling. Though all efforts
have been made to minimize bias, some amount of bias may still creep in, because the survey
took place just after the peak tourist season was over.
RESEARCH METHODOLGY
The Study:

The present study is exploratory in nature. The paper aims at developing a competitive
tourism policy and marketing strategy for the ASSAM State Tourism Development
Corporation (TOURISM).

Sample size

The study covers the period of ten years . Editing, classification and tabulation of the data
which has been collected from the secondary sources have been done as per the requirement
of the study.

Tools for Data Collection

The study is based on secondary data. For this purpose alongside books, study of research
papers from reputed journals has been done. Brochures and documents on marketing
strategy , data and Ministry of Tourism – Government of India have been gathered. Help
from various websites has been taken to collect relevant information.

Tools for Data Analysis

Collected data has been edited, classified, tabulated, and finally analyzed by using graphs
and pi-chart and trend analysis has been done.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of the study is to analyze the marketing strategy of TOURISM and its
suitability to establish the state as a unique destination.

HYPOTHESIS

H0: Marketing strategy of TOURISM has no significant impact on the tourism growth in the
state. H1: Marketing strategy of TOURISM has significant impact on the tourism growth in
the state.
HISTORY
Assam and adjoining regions have evidences of human settlements from all the periods of
the Stone ages. The hills at the height of 1,500–2,000 feet (460 to 615 m) were popular
habitats probably due to availability of exposed dolerite basalt, useful for tool-making.
According to a late text, Kalika Purana (c. 9th–10th century AD), the earliest ruler of Assam
was Mahiranga Danav of the Danava dynasty, which was removed by Naraka who
established the Naraka dynasty. The last of these rulers, also Naraka, was slain by Krishna.
Naraka's son Bhagadatta became the king, who (it is mentioned in the Mahabharata) fought
for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra with an army of kiratas, chinas and dwellers of
the eastern coast. At the same time towards east in central Assam, Asura Kingdom was ruled
by indigenous line of kings of Mariachi dynasty.Samudragupta's 4th century Allahabad pillar
inscription mentions Kamarupa (Western Assam and Davaka (Central Assam)[17] as frontier
kingdoms of the Gupta Empire.Davaka was later absorbed by Kamarupa, which grew into a
large kingdom that spanned from Karatoya river to near present Sadiya and covered the entire
Brahmaputra valley, North Bengal, parts of Bangladesh and, at times Purnea and parts
of West Bengal. The kingdom was ruled by three dynasties; the Varmanas (c. 350–650 CE),
the Mlechchha dynasty (c.655–900 CE) and the Kamarupa-Palas (c. 900–1100 CE), from
their capitals in present-day Assam (Pragjyotishpura), Tezpur (Haruppeswara) and North
Gauhati (Durjaya) respectively. All three dynasties claimed descent from Narakasura.In the
reign of the Varman king, Bhaskaravarman (c. 600–650 AD), the Chinese
traveller Xuanzang visited the region and recorded his travels. Later, after weakening and
disintegration (after the Kamarupa-Palas), the Kamarupa tradition was extended to c. 1255
AD by the Lunar I (c. 1120–1185 AD) and Lunar II (c. 1155–1255 AD) dynasties. The
Chutiya rulers (1187–1673 AD) held the regions on both the banks of Brahmaputra with its
domain in the area eastwards from Vishwanath (north bank) and Buridihing (south bank),
in Upper Assam and in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It was partially annexed in the early
1500s by the Ahoms, finally getting absorbed in 1673 AD. The rivalry between the Chutiyas
and Ahoms for the supremacy of eastern Assam led to a series of battles between them from
the early 16th century until the start of the 17th century, which saw great loss of men and
money.
The Koch, a Tibeto-Burmese dynasty, established sovereignty in c. 1510 AD. The Koch
kingdom in Western Assam and present North Bengal was at its zenith in the early reign
of Nara Narayan (c. 1540–1587 AD). It split into two in c. 1581 AD, the western part as
a Moghul vassal and the eastern as an Ahom satellite state. Later, in 1682, Koch Hajo was
entirely annexed by the Ahoms.
Among other dynasties, the Kacharis (13th century-1854 AD) ruled from Dikhow River to
central and southern Assam and had their capital at Dimapur. With expansion of Ahom
kingdom, by the early 17th century, the Chutiya areas were annexed and since c. 1536 AD
the Kacharis remained only in Cachar and North Cachar, and more as an Ahom ally than a
competing force.
Despite numerous invasions, mostly by the Muslim rulers, no western power ruled Assam
until the arrival of the British. Though the Mughals made seventeen attempts to invade, they
were never successful. The most successful invader Mir Jumla, a governor of Aurangzeb,
briefly occupied Garhgaon (c. 1662–63 AD), the then capital, but found it difficult to
prevent guerrillaattacks on his forces, forcing them to leave. The decisive victory of the
Assamese led by general Lachit Borphukan on the Mughals, then under command of Raja
Ram Singha, at Saraighat in 1671 almost ended Mughal ambitions in this region. The
Mughals were finally expelled from Lower Assam during the reign of Gadadhar Singha in
1682 AD. The discovery of Camellia sinensis in 1834 in Assam was followed by testing in
1836–37 in London. The British allowed companies to rent land from 1839 onwards.
Thereafter tea plantations mushroomed in Eastern Assam, where the soil and the climate were
most suitable. Problems with the imported labourers from China and hostility from native
Assamese resulted in the migration of forced labourers from central and eastern parts of
India. After initial trial and error with planting the Chinese and the Assamese-Chinese hybrid
varieties, the planters later accepted the local Camellia assamica as the most suitable variety
for Assam. By the 1850s, the industry started seeing some profits. The industry saw initial
growth, when in 1861, investors were allowed to own land in Assam and it saw substantial
progress with invention of new technologies and machinery for preparing processed tea
during the 1870s.
CHAPTER 1
CLIMATE IN ASSAM
Assam's 'urban form' radiates from a central core with growth corridors radiating and
extending towards the south, east and west. In the past few decades, southern Assam areas
such as Ganeshguri, Beltola, Hatigaon, Six Mile and Panjabari began forming a southern sub-
center surrounding the capital complex at Dispur. The core area[24] consists of the old city
with Pan Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, Fancy Bazaar and Uzan Bazaar, with each area facilitating
unique urban activities Among the city corridors, the most important is the corridor formed
along the Assam-Shillong (GS) Road towards the south (almost 15 km [9.3 mi] from the city-
center). The GS Road corridor is an important commercial area with retail, wholesale and
commercial offices developed along the main road; it is also a densely built residential area in
the inner parts. The capital complex of Assam at Dispur is situated in this corridor. This
corridor has facilitated the growth of a southern city sub-center at Ganeshguri, along with
other residential areas to the south developed during the past few decades. The corridor
extending towards the west (around 30 km [19 mi] from the city-center) contains a rail-road
linking not only Assam but also other parts of the northeastern region east of Assam to
western Assam and the rest of India. The corridor links residential and historically important
areas such as Nilachal Hill (Kamakhya), Pandu, and Maligaon (headquarters of Northeast
Frontier Railways) before it separates into two – one towards North Assam via
the Saraighat Bridge and the other continuing west towards LGB International Airport
via Gauhati University (Jalukbari). There are also many river ports/jetties along this corridor.
The third major corridor extends towards the east (around 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city-
center) linking Noonmati (Assam Refinery) and Narengi, and has facilitated residential
growth along it. Highway NH-37, which encircles the city's southern parts and links the
southern corridor in Noumile to the western corridor in Jalukbari is currently supporting rapid
development. Similarly, the VIP Road linking Zoo Road with the eastern corridor and
recently completed Hengerabari-Narengi Road are also supporting massive residential
development to the east. Assam is one among 98 Indian cities which will be upgraded
to Smart Cities under a projectembarked on by Ministry of Urban Development, Government
of India. With the grade of a Smart city, Assam will have highly up-to-date and radical
provisions like regular and continuous electric supply, first-rate traffic and transport system,
superior health care and many other prime utilities. Under this scheme, the city will use
digital technology that will act as the integral mechanism of the aforesaid facilities and
thereby further elevate the lifestyle of the citizens of Assam.
GEOGRAPHY
To the south-west of the city lies Dipor Bil, a permanent freshwater lake with no prominent
inflows apart from monsoon run-off from the hills that lie to the south of the lake. The lake
drains into the Brahmaputra, 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north, and acts as a natural stormwater
reservoir for the city.
Climate
Assam has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa), falling just
short of a tropical savanna climate(Köppen climate classification Aw). The average annual
temperature is 22.2 °C, with extremes ranging from 40.6 °C recorded on 24 April 2014 to
2.0 °C recorded in January 1964.

Climate data for Assam (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport) 1971–199

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

28.6 33.7 37.6 38.9 40.3 38.5 37.5 38.0 36.8

Record high °C (°F)
(83.5) (92.7) (99.7) (102) (104.5) (101.3) (99.5) (100.4) (98.2)

21.6 25.1 28.1 29.7 30.0 31.9 31.7 32.1 31.4

Average high °C (°F)
(70.9) (77.2) (82.6) (85.5) (86) (89.4) (89.1) (89.8) (88.5)

14.1 18.0 21.9 25.3 26.7 28.4 28.5 28.8 27.9

Daily mean °C (°F)
(57.4) (64.4) (71.4) (77.5) (80.1) (83.1) (83.3) (83.8) (82.2)

8.5 10.9 15.7 19.9 22.4 24.8 25.3 25.4 24.4

Average low °C (°F)
(47.3) (51.6) (60.3) (67.8) (72.3) (76.6) (77.5) (77.7) (75.9)

2.0 3.5 8.5 10.3 14.4 18.6 18.9 20.3 19.9

Record low °C (°F)
(35.6) (38.3) (47.3) (50.5) (57.9) (65.5) (66) (68.5) (67.8)

12 21 62 181 270 360 325 298 234

Average precipitation mm (inches)
(0.47) (0.83) (2.44) (7.13) (10.63) (14.17) (12.8) (11.73) (9.21)

Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 1.4 2.8 5.2 12.5 15.1 16.6 20.0 15.4 13.3

Average relative humidity (%) 79 65 57 68 75 81 83 82 83

Mean monthly sunshine hours 225.5 213.8 220.1 200.6 191.1 133.1 123.7 161.6 139.0

Administration & Governance

Dispur, the capital of Assam, lies in Assam. The passing of North Eastern (Reorganization
Areas) Act in 1971 by the Indian Parliament accorded Meghalayathe status of a full-fledged
state. After the creation of Meghalaya as a separate state, Shillong continued to be the joint
capital of both Assam and Meghalaya. However, in 1972, the Government of Assam decided
to shift the capital to Dispur. Accordingly, the first sitting of the Budget Session of the Assam
Legislative Assembly was held at Dispur on 16 March 1973. Dispur houses the Secretariat of
Assam Government, the Assam Assembly House, the National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD) Regional Office, the North Eastern Development Finance
Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) House and the Assam Tea Auction Centre (GTAC). Assam
Municipal Corporation (GMC) is the local body responsible for governing, developing and
managing the city. GMC is further divided into 31 municipal wards. Assam Metropolitan
Development Authority (GMDA) is an agency responsible for planning and development of
the greater Assam Metropolitan Area and for revising the Assam Master Plan and Building
Bylaws to cover an area of 3,214 square kilometres (1,241 sq mi) by 2025. Assam consists of
four assembly constituencies: Jalukbari, Dispur, Gauhati East and Gauhati West  all of which
are part of Gauhati (Lok Sabha constituency)
CHAPTER 2
POPULATION , TRANSPORT IN ASSAM
REGION
Assam is the headquarters of Assam Police. The city is under the Police Commissionerate of
Assam headed by the Commissioner of Police, Assam. It is divided into three districts: East
Police District, Central Police District and West Police District, each headed by a Deputy
Commissioner of Police. Each police district consists of officers, not below the rank of
Assistant Commissioner of Police, functioning as executive magistrates within a said
metropolitan area
Assam is the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court. It acts as the High Court of Assam and
also of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh with their outlying benches
of Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar respectively. Gauhati High Court came in effect from 5
April 1948. It initially had its sittings at Shillong but was shifted to Gauhati from 14 August
1948.
Assam also houses the Court of the District & Sessions Judge, Kamrup established in 1920. It
is a lower court of the district judiciary having territorial jurisdiction over the greater Assam
area only The city has a comparatively high quality of life. A 2006 survey ranked Assam 17th
among all the large and medium-sized Indian cities.  The city provides competitive residential
and working environments with beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate, modern shopping
areas, modern apartments and bungalows, and considerably developed social infrastructure.
A centrally funded four-lane, ambitious East-West Corridor will pass through Assam and
connect all the state capitals of Northeast India. Completion of the project will boost the vital
upliftment of the whole region The city still needs attention to improve its infrastructure.
Funding from the Asian Development Bank is providing assistance to improve Assam's
transportation infrastructure along with a substantial amount from Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM) for its development
Population
Assam is one of the fastest growing cities in India. It is estimated that Assam metro will
house 2.8 million residents by 2025.
Religions in Assam

Percent of
Religion
population

Hinduism   84.74%

Islam   12.45%

Jainism   0.96%

Christianit
  0.93%
y

Others†   0.94%

Distribution of religions

†Includes Sikhism (0.36%)
and Buddhism (<0.2%).

ECONOMY
The percentage of child population of Assam is 9.40%. The average literacy rate is stated to
be 91.47% with male literacy at 94.24% and female literacy at 88.50%. The sex ratio has
been recorded to be 933 females per 1000 males and child sex ratio to be 940 girls per 1000
boys. Pandu, located on the banks of the Brahmaputra at the western part of the city, is an
ancient urban area that acted as the chief military base for the Ahoms against external
invasions. Due to extensive fortification ('Gorh') surrounding Pandu, it acts as a natural river
harbour and is formally called Gar-Pandu. Pandu port falls under Dhubri-Sadiya National
Waterway-2 and is an important terminal cum transit point for goods and cargo as well as
passenger and tourist vessels. Construction of both low-level and high-level jetty of fixed
terminal, capable of handling container vessels, has been completed and has further enhanced
revenue generation for the city. Manufacturing sector in Assam contributes a substantial
share to the economy of the city. Petroleum manufacturing is an important economic activity
of the city. The Assam Refinery is the most important manufacturing industry in the city.
Located at Noonmati, the refinery was set up by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited as the
first public sector refinery of India as well as the refinery of Indian Oil since 1962. It was
built with an initial crude processing capacity of 0.75 million metric tons per annum
(MMTPA) at the time of its commission which was gradually increased to 1.0 MMTPA. It
produces various products and supplies them to the other northeast states and also beyond to
Siliguri through the Assam-Siliguri pipeline. The various products produced by the refinery
include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Kerosene Oil, Turbine Fuel (aviation use), Motor
Spirit, High Speed Motor Diesel, Light Diesel Oil and Raw Petroleum Coke. There is also an
LPG bottling plant in the city. Tea manufacturing and processing is another important
activity of Assam. Assam is one of the highest tea-producing areas in the world, contributing
80% of India's export and 55% of the country's total tea production. So high is the production
of tea in Assam that it is the biggest industry of the state. The headquarters of the Assam
Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) is located at Assam. The Assam Tea Auction
Centre (GTAC), located adjacent to the capital complex at Dispur, is the world's largest CTC
tea auction centre and the second largest in terms of total tea auctioned. The inaugural sale
took place on 25 September 1970 and the first lot of tea was auctioned at the price of Rs.
42.50 which, during those days, was a big achievement. Many centralised, private and
international banks have set up their branches in the city with the Reserve Bank Of
India having one of its own at Pan Bazaar.

Transport
Air
Assam is served by the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, in Borjhar, about
20 kilometres (12 mi) west from the heart of the city. With all major domestic and
international airlines flying into Assam, it is the thirteenth busiest airport in India in total
passenger traffic. Daily and weekly flights are available to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai,
Bengaluru, Bangkok, Paro and other important destinations.
Railway
The city of Assam and the northeastern region falls under the Northeast Frontier
Railway (NFR) Zone of the Indian Railways. The Assam railway station, located in Paltan
Bazaar area of Assam, is the major railway station of the city. It lies along the Barauni-Assam
Line and Assam–Lumding section, categorised as an A-1 railway station under Lumding
railway division. There are three more railway stations in the city – the Kamakhya
Junction for passenger and goods services, the New Assam Junction (near Noonmati) for only
freight services and Azara Railway Station, also primarily used for freight services. There are
regular trains connecting Assam to and from other major cities of the country. Rajdhani
Express, Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express, Brahmaputra Mail, Kamrup Express, Northeast
Express, Saraighat Express and Garib Rath are some significant trains running to and from
Assam. The train with the longest route in India, Vivek Express, which runs
from Dibrugarh in Upper Assam to Kanyakumari in southern tip of India passes through
Assam Junction.
Road
The length of surfaced roads within the city is 218 km (135 mi). National Highway
31 connects Assam with the states Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. National Highway
37 from Goalpara in Assam to Dimapur in Nagaland traverses the entire length of Assam and
connects Assam with almost all the major cities of Assam including the cities
of Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon.
The public transportation is well developed in the city. Buses are the major means of public
transport in Assam. The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) and private operators
provide the city bus services within the city. ASTC operates the Volvo air-conditioned bus
services within the city as well as to the LGBI airport. In addition to this, there are a number
of bus operators which regularly run day and night buses from Assam to neighbouring towns
and cities. Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), located at Betkuchi area on
NH-37, is the most significant terminal cum transit point for buses plying between Assam
and other destinations in Assam and Northeast India. The areas of Adabari and Paltan Bazaar
also act as nodal points in providing bus services to towns and cities in Assam and adjoining
states. A metro rail project has also been planned to relieve the hectic traffic conditions on the
streets.
Water
The Inland Water Transport Department is headquartered at Pandu port in Assam. The
waterways transportation services in Assam are used for transporting bulk goods and cargo,
and for movement of passenger and tourist vessels. Ferry services are available for
transportation of people from different ports along the Brahmaputra to Pandu port.

Education
Assam is the major educational hub of Northeast India. Among the esteemed institutions is
the Indian Institute of Technology Assam (IIT), an autonomous institute dedicated in the field
of technical studies in India.The Indian Institute of Information Technology Assam.
The Cotton College is yet another century-old autonomous institution in the fields of Science
and Arts.

Assam has numerous educational institutes such as Gauhati University, Cotton

University, Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Assam Science and
Technology University, Gauhati Commerce College, Handique Girls College, National Law
University and Judicial Academy, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Assam Engineering
College, Assam Institute of Management, Assam Don Bosco University, Assam Down Town
University and Royal Global University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Sports
Assam features the multi-purpose Nehru Stadiumwhich hosts mainly cricket and football;
while the Kanaklata Indoor Stadium in the R.G. Baruah Sports Complex (in the Ulubari
locality) is one of the oldest sports complex in the city.[58] There are smaller stadiums
in Maligaon(the North-East Frontier Railway Stadium) and in Paltan Bazaar where the Sports
Authority of India (SAI) complex is located.The sporting infrastructure specially constructed
for the 33rd National Games in 2007 include a large stadium at Sarusajai—the Indira Gandhi
Athletic Stadium, the Dr. Zakir Hussain Aquatic Complex, and the Karmabir Nabin Chandra
Bordoloi A.C. Indoor Hall. Other new sports structures include the Maulana Md. Tayabullah
Hockey Stadium at Bhetapara, the Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium at
Ulubari, Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Amingaon, Chachal Tennis Complex and Tepesia
Sports Complex. The other renovated sports complexes include Ganesh Mandir Indoor
Stadium at Khanapara, Rudra Singha Sports Complex at Dispur and Gauhati University
Sports Stadium. The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium was also the main venue of 2016 South
Asian Games, which was held from 5 to 16 February 2016. Indra Gandhi Athletic Stadium
also hosted the Himalayan Region Games in 2017. Indra Gandhi Athletic Stadium also hosted
the FIFA U-17 World Cup India in 2017.

Assam is home to professional football team NorthEast United FCof Indian Super League.

The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium presents one of the finest football atmospheres in the
country. They play their home games at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. ACA Stadium is a
cricket stadium located at Barsapara in Assam
Professional sports clubs based in the city
 Club Sport League Stadium

NorthEast
Football Indian Super League Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
United FC

Northeastern Badminto Karmabir Nabin Chandra

Premier Badminton League
Warriors n Bordoloi Indoor Stadium

Nehru Stadium, North-East
Assam F.C. Football I-League 2nd Division
Frontier Railway Stadium

Gauhati Town GSA Super League, Youth

Football Judges Field
Club League U18

GSA Super League, Assam

FC Green Valley Football Nehru Stadium
State Premier League

Media & telecommunications

Assamese daily newspapers published from the city are Dainik Agradoot, Asomiya
Pratidin, Asomiya Khobor, Amar Asom, Dainik Janambhumi, Janasadharan, Niyomiya
Barta, Dainik Asam, Ajir Asom and Gana Adhikar. English dailies are The Assam
Tribune, The Sentinel, The Telegraph, The Times of India and Eastern Chronicle. Eclectic
Northeast Magazineis a leading Assam-based monthly Northeast magazine with an online
version. G Plus is the only English weekly tabloid published from Assam.Doordarshan
Kendra Assam provides composite satellite television services to Northeast India. The
Assam-based 24-hour regional news channels include News Live, DY 365, Pratidin
Time, Prag News, Assam Talks and News 18 Assam/North-East.The Assam Radio Station of
state-owned All India Radio was inaugurated on 1 July 1948 as Shillong-Assam Station.
[64]
 The Headquarter of the Shillong-Assam Station was shifted from Shillong to Assam in
1953.[64] It is a full-fledged Regional broadcasting station with 3 channels; the Assam A & B
Channels are AM Channels and the CBS Channel is a FM Channel. The other FM stations
include 92.7 BIG FM, Radio Gup-Shup 94.3 FM, Red FM 93.5 and Radio Mirchi. Telecom
services are BSNL, Aircel, Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, Idea Cellular and Jio.

Growth issues
Increase in population
Assam has seen a rapid rise in population in the past few years. People from other parts of the
state and the region routinely migrate to the city chiefly for education and occupation
resulting in undesirable expansion of population in the city, which further brings with it many
collateral problems in the city.
Price rise
One of the economic problems that the citizens of Assam have to put up with is the hike in
prices of many essentials, chiefly vegetable, poultry and fish. The prices of these
commodities keep escalating at an inordinate rate because of which the buyers find it difficult
to buy these items. Vegetables are transported into Assam from West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and Meghalaya and the truckers en route have to pay
considerable amount of money as tax at various check posts. It is one of the causes of rise in
prices of vegetables in the markets of Assam. The prices of locally available vegetables and
fruits undergo large markup because of transportation expenses grounds, besides intra-State
check posts taxes. In addition to these, the wholesale dealers as well as the retail sellers
augment the prices of the commodities according to their own desires. The prices of poultry,
mainly chicken that reach the city markets from places like Chaygaon and Barpeta have been
soaring rapidly because of similar factors. There has been steep rise in the prices of fishes as
well, the prominent varieties of which being Rohu ("Rou"), Catla ("Bahu"), Walking catfish
("Magur") and Monopterus ("Kuchia") among many others.[

CHAPTER 3
TOURIST PLACES IN ASSAM
Assam is the largest city in Assam and Northeast India. Dispur, the state capital, is situated
within the city. The city is the second-largest metropolitan area in eastern India after Kolkata
and one of the fastest developing cities in India. Excavations trace the origins of the city to
around the 4th century and it was the capital of Assam until the 10th century. Today, the
metropolitan city has a population of more than 1.8 million people, spread across an area of
over 360 km2; making it the largest city in the state and the region. It is the main center for
shopping and business, attracting people from all over the north east as well as from Eastern
Bhutan. The slow, meandering Brahmaputra River is a focal point of the downtown while the
lush hills of the Shillong Plateau provide a verdant backdrop for the suburbs. The pleasant
environment, however, is somewhat tempered by the inadequate investment in the region,
which is apparent from the low quality of roads. Still, despite the average infrastructure,
private investors have been drawn to the city in recent years and there has been something of
a boom in the construction of shopping malls and high quality condominiums, which has
helped raise the economic profile of the city. The end of decades-long insurgence in the state
has also facilitated an economic boom in the city.

Kamakhya Temple
Kamakhya Temple, Assam Overview
Located on the Nilanchal Hill in the western part of Assam in Assam, the Kamakhya temple
is one of the most revered shrines of Shakti in India. The shrine is one of the 51 Shakti
Peethas in the country and is a part of the four most important Shakti Peethas along with the
Vimala Temple and Sthana Khanda in Odisha and Dakhina Kalika in Kolkata, West
Bengal. Kamakhya temple is the Goddess of Desire, and celebratory for the Tantrik sect of
Hinduism. Followers of the Tantra Sect place their belief in Kamakshi or Kamakhya and
hence this shrine holds tremendous religious, historic and archaeological significance.

Although Kamakhya is the presiding deity of this temple, the 10 Mahavidyas also make an
appearance in the temple. Among these, Tripurasundari, Matangi, and Kamal reside in the
main sanctum of the temple while Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Chhinnamasta,
Dhumvati, and Bagalamukhi have individual temples dedicated to them. The main entrance
of the Kamakhya temple is beautifully designed with simple yet elegant carvings which are
lightly decorated with colourful flowers. The temple has a massive dome which overlooks the
quaint Nilanchal Hills in the background. Visit this temple for a long due acquaintance with
the Divine. 
History of the Kamakhya Temple

The Kamakhya Temple is one of the oldest temples in the country and hence has a long and
illustrious history associated with itself. It is believed that this temple was built during the
Mleccha dynasty in 8th - 9th century. The Kamarupa Kings from Indra Pala to Dharma Pala
were ardent followers of the Tantrik cult and at that time this temple became an
important destination for Tantrikism. The Kalika Purana was composed in the 10th century
and it enhanced the importance of the temple as a seat for Tantrik sacrifices and sorcery.
Mystic Buddhism or Vajrayana emerged here around that time and a number of Buddhist
professors in Tibet were known to belong to Kamakhya. 

The Kamakhya temple was destroyed during Hussein Sha's invasion of the Kamata kingdom.
The ruins remained undiscovered until the 1500s when the founder of the Koch Dynasty
Vishwasingha revived the temple as a site of worship. The Kamakhya temple was
reconstructed in 1565 during the reign of his son and ever since then, the shrine has been an
important religious centre for Hindus across the world.

Structure of the Kamakhya Temple

The current structure of the Kamakhya temple is said to be of the Nilachal type, which is
another word for architectures with a hemispherical dome and a cruciform shaped base. The
temple has four chambers aligned from east to west described as follows:-

1. Garbhagriha: The Garbhgriha or the main sanctum rests on a base which has a number of
sunken panels embellished with the sculptures of Ganesha and other Hindu deities. The lower
parts of the Garbhagriha are made of stone while the zenith is in the shape of an octagon and
is made out of bricks. The Garbhariha is situated below ground level and can be reached by a
series of rock cut steps. A rock fissure in the shape of a vulva-shaped depression which is
present here and worshipped as the goddess Kamakhya. The depression is filled with water
from an underground spring and this is the general pattern of all the Garbhagrihas in this
temple. 
2. Calanta: Towards the west of the Kamakhya temple lies the Calanta, which is a square
shaped chamber of the atchala type. Small moveable idols of Gods and Goddesses are found
here, while the walls of this chamber have a number of images and inscriptions carved onto
its surface. 
3. Pancharatna: To the west of the Calanta is the Panchratna which is a large rectangular
construction having a flat roof and five small spires protruding from its roof. 
4. Natamandir: Towards the west of the Pancharatna is the last structure of Natamandir
which has an apsidal end and ridged roof of the Ranghar type Ahom style. The walls of the
Natamandir has inscriptions from Rajewas Singha and Gaurinath Singha inscribed upon
them.

Legend of Kamakhya Temple

Legend says that once upon a time, a very powerful king named Daksha ruled in the country.
He had a beautiful daughter named Sati, and when she came of age, King Daksh began
looking for a suitable groom for her. As luck would have it, Sati got attracted to Lord Shiva
whom King Daksh despised thoroughly. Despite wanting otherwise, Sati and Shiva got
married and started living together. This was not acceptable to King Daksh, and he decided to
organize a 'yajna' or fire sacrifice ritual where Shiva and Sati were not invited. However, Sati
decided to attend her father's prayer service in spite of not being invited to the same. Upon
reaching the venue, she and her husband were thoroughly disrespected by Daksh and unable
to tolerate the humiliation, Sati jumped into the ritualistic fire.

Upon learning of Sati's death, Shiva was livid and he started performing the 'Tandava' or
celestial dance of destruction. This gave way to apocalyptic destruction on the Earth, and the
Gods feared that the world was nearing its end. When repeated pleas to Shiva by the other
Gods went in vain, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra upon Sati's dead body which cut
it into 52 different parts. Each of the remains fell on a different portion of the country and a
temple emerged there. The Kamakhya Devi Temple was the site where Sati's 'yoni' or vulva
had fallen. This temple is a center for the worship of Shakti, who is believed to be the
Goddess of Desire.

The Ambubachi festival at Kamakhya temple

The Ambubachi Festival is a celebration of the Goddess' fertility. The celebration hinges on
the belief that the Mother Goddess, Kamakhya, Shiva's young bride, is menstruating at this
time. The Temple remains closed and the Goddess is bathed after those three days after which
the normal activities of the temple are resumed. It is believed that at the time of monsoon
when this festival is observed, the Mother Earth is at her fertile best due to the rain nurturing
her womb (the soil).

Kamakhya Temple Timings

On regular days, the temple remains open from 08:00 AM - 01:00 PM and 02:30 PM- 05:30
PM. However, on special days, like Durga Puja, the timings changes are as follows:-
5:30 AM - Snana of the Pithasthana
6:00 AM - Nitya puja
8:00 AM - Temple door open for devotees
1:00 PM - Temple door closed for food offerings to the goddess.

Umananda Temple
Umananda Temple, Assam Overview
The Umananda Temple is located in the small Peacock Island amidst the mighty
Brahmaputra. This quiet place of worship is named after and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The
name 'Umananda' comes from the two Hindi words 'uma' - Lord Shiva?s wife and 'ananda'
meaning happiness. The Peacock Island is the smallest inhabited riverine in the world and
possibly one of the most beautiful too. The Umananda temple is nestled in the laps of this
serene island whose shores are washed by the mighty Brahmaputras. It is a haven for nature
lovers. The surroundings of the temple are undisturbed and serene and thus prove to be a
perfect place just to sit and enjoy the beauty of the area.

The temple is situated on the top of a hill called Bhasmakala or Bhasmakuta. The island was
originally built in 1694 A.D. by King Gadadhar Singha. However, it was destroyed by an
earthquake in 1897 and later rebuilt by a wealthy local merchant. The Umananda temple was
crafted beautifully by the skilled Assamese workmen. Aside from Lord Shiva, there are 10
other Hindu Gods whose idols reside in the shrines.

Aside from being a place of worship, The Umananda temple is also a pleasurable exception
to the typical places of worship. Devoid of the cacophony of forceful religion, this place has a
serene environment which makes you want to sit down for a while and absorb the beauty of
the place.

History of Umananda Temple

The Umananda temple was earlier known as Umananda devaloi which means "The abode of
Lord Shiva". As can be gathered from the name, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The
magnificent temple was built in 1694 by the Bar Phukan Gadadhar Singha. However, the
order was issued by King Gadadhar Singha who was one of the mightiest kings of the Ahom
kingdom.

According to a legend, Lord Shiva resided on this island as Bhayananda. It is said that at the
beginning of creation, Lord Shiva sprinkled ashes here and imparted the supreme knowledge
to his wife, Parvati. The temple's actual history is overshadowed by many such legends. It is
said that the Goddess Urvasi resides on this island and brinks "amrit" or nectar for Goddess
Kamakhya. That is why the island is also called Urvasi island. Even the Bhasmakuta hill on
which the temple is located has a story. Legend says that when Kamadeva disturbed Lord
Shiva during his meditation, he turnedKamadevaa into ashes on this hillock, hence earning it
the name of Bhasmakuta.

During the Mughal rule in Kamrupa, the Umananda temple received grants and donations
from the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Aurangzeb. Sadly, the mighty temple was heavily
damaged in an earthquake in 1897. It was later rebuilt by a rich merchant who was a devotee
of Lord Shiva.

Architecture of Umananda Temple

Although the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva, it has shrines of ten other Hindu Gods and
Goddesses. Idols of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and the Devi, and the ten incarnations of Vishnu
are found in the Umananda temple. The beautifully designed temple can be reached by a
winding flight of stairs. The temple in itself is an epitome of the mastery of the Assamese
craftsmen and architects. The sanctum sanctorum encloses the rock on which Lord Shiva sat
to meditate.

Festivals Celebrated at Umananda Temple

Maha Shivratri is celebrated in this temple with great pomp and show. As the temple is
dedicated to Lord Shiva, this festival is of utmost importance here. Mondays are considered
to be the holiest days of the week and devotees from far and wide come to offer their respects
on this day.

Umananda Temple Timings

The Umananda Temple is open for visitors from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM on all days of the
week.
Assam Zoo
Assam Zoo, Assam Overview

The proud possessors of some rare and endangered species, the Assam Zoo spread over 130
acres of land is a major tourist attraction. The whiter tigers, one horned rhinos, Swamp tapirs
and leopards to name a few, are usually the tourists' favourites.

Being a huge complex, there are a few rest points and eateries within the campus too.

Photos of Assam State Zoo

Basistha Ashram
Basistha Ashram, Assam Overview

Guru Vashishta (or Basistha) is credited to writing the Hindu epic of Vashishtha Ramayana
(behind the scenes Ramayana). It is believed that the sage constructed this aashram and later
breathed his last here.

The fact that this epic still lives on and is a part of the daily routine of innumerable houseolds
of India is a clear indication of how popular this site is. The construction, architecture and
beautiful locale all mix in beautifully and have resulted in the serene and picturesque aashram

Assam Planetarium
Assam Planetarium, Assam Overview

The Assam Planetarium, located on MG Road is an excellent destination for the 'universe
lovers'. The magic of the infinitely expanding universe is explained in such detail and is yet
beyond anybody's understanding.

Apart from the regular Sky watching sessions conducted by the experts at the planetarium,
special shows projected on a dome shaped overhead screen are the star attraction of the
Planetarium. These shows are available in Hindi, English as well as Assamese and the
timings are as convenient. The shows are just 2 hours apart and hence easy for tourists to
manage.

Photos of Assam Planetarium

ISKCON Assam

ns under the ISKCON society are primarily based on the "Hare Krishna mantra." There are
various sessions inside the premises of the temple which preach the life lessons based on the
beliefs of the ISKCON society. Various programs such as Gita classes, stress management
classes, and personality development classes are organized for the devotees by the authorities
of the temple. 

The teachings of the temple are based on four Dharmas to lead a spiritual life. The four
Dharmas are Daya: Mercy, Tapas: Self-Control or Austerity, Satyam: Truthfulness ?aucam:
Cleanliness of body and mind.

Spiritual activities at ISKCON

Apart from the preaching of living a spiritual life, there are several other activities that
devotees of ISKCON indulge in. Chanting the Krishna mantra is a daily practice at the
temple. Apart from this, daily routines at the temple include aarti in morning and evening,
Gita discourses, bhajans, and mantras. Devotees can participate in all the activities of the
temple irrespective of their caste and religion. 

The visitors can have the 'prasadam' at the temple which is available at 1:30 PM, during the
lunch time. There is also a 'Sunday Bhog' available for the visitors at INR 30 on Sundays.
Various festivals such as Janmashtami and Jagannath yatra are celebrated at the temple.

Assam Museum

Assam Museum, Assam Overview

Assam State Museum, also known as Assam Rajyik State Museum, is located in the heart of
Assam city in Dighali Pukhuri tank. It is one of the most famous museums of the North- East
India that gives insights into the rich culture of ancient history and as well as the modern
history of North-East India. Its prominent location in the center of the city attracts a large
number of history buffs and tourists visiting Assam.The museum was established during the
colonization of British in India in the year 1940. It was set up by the Kamarupa Anusandhan
Samiti, Assam research society to showcase the history, sculptures, and handicrafts of North
East India. The museum was developed under the presidency of Kanklal Baruah, and it was
taken by the state soon after his death in the year 1953. The Museum offers an extensive
collection of artifacts and sculptures dating back to the 5th-12th century to the new artifacts
from the World War II. This museum is a great place to visit if you want a sneak-peak of the
history of the North-east India.

Collection at the museum

The museum is divided into various sections each one showcasing the different sect of
history. Manuscript section displays the ancient manuscripts such as Assamese, Tai,
Myanmarese, The interesting part, however, is the collection of these documents on the bark
of old trees that are well-preserved inside the museum. Arms and ammunition section has a
vast compilation of the swords, armors from the Medieval period to the Mughal period. It
also houses the collection of ammunition from the World War II. The collection of arms of
the Ahom dynasty of 1200's is the uniqueness of this section. 

The prehistoric terracotta section has put on display the sculptors from the Indus Valley
civilization and the various terracotta objects extracted from the different parts of Northeast
India. Numismatics and metallic sculptures section have the collection of metal relics of
Vishnu, Goddess Durga, and Buddha along with the collection of coins from Mughal and
Ahom dynasty. 

Epigraphy section has a collection of stone and copper inscriptions belonging to 5-18th
century. Natural history gallery has the collection of natural biodiversity of the state including
the life of one-horn rhino. The museum has also put on display the various handicrafts and
handmade objects of the North-east India along with the reconstructed tribal huts. The
conservation lab was opened in June 1984 to conserve the present collection of the sculptures
and artifacts found in the museum and to extract more historical objects. 

Bhubaneswari Temple
Bhubaneswari Temple, Assam Overview

Dedicated to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, this white shrine perched atop a hill adjacent to the
city is a major draw amongst the religious pilgrims. The temple itself provides visitors with a
magnificent panoramic view of the city of Assam.

The enchanting view of the sunset on the Brahamputra River as viewed from the hill attracts
many tourists. Though the temple is high upon a hill, it requires a 20 minutes walk from the
Bus Stand below to reach the Bhubaneshwari temple.

Pandu
Pandu, Assam Overview

The Suburban town of Pandu is named after King Pandu (father of the famous five
Pandavas). The Tila Hills in the town has temple dedicated to Pandu (the Pandunath temple).

Five Ganesha idols representing the five Pandavas are found here - it is believed that during
their exile, the Pandavas hid here under the disguise of Ganesha. The place also presents
various other idols.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam Overview

Home to the densest population of One-horned Rhinos in the world, the Pobitora Wildlife
sanctuary is a small heaven for the wildlife lovers, situated 30 km to the east of Assam. It is
one of the two treasure troves of the famed and endangered one-horned Rhinos in the world
coupled with an amazing birdlife which has earned it the tag of "Bharatpur of the East". It has
gained immense popularity due to its closeness to Assam and as a stopover en route
to Kaziranga National Park.

The Wildlife Sanctuary which is spread over an area of just 38 sq. kilometres is a small,
heavenly segment of raw wilderness and greenery. The refreshing breeze of the lower
Himalayas, the greenness and calm of the sanctuary and the thrill of being one with nature is
enough to tempt anyone for a visit to this amazing place. The dense population of Rhinos
allows one a greater chance of sighting the endangered creature while on Elephant or jeep
safaris.

Wildlife at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

The Pobitaro Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros. Apart from this,
the other animals found here are wild boar, leopard, barking deer, wild buffalo, etc. This
wildlife sanctuary is also a significant bird area as it houses 2000 migratory birds and reptiles.
In the last six years, there has been an increase in the number of rhinoceros which has gone
up to 93. These 93 rhinoceros are surviving on the 16 sq km area of the park which has led to
overpopulation and the exploitation of the rhino bearing capacity of the sanctuary. This has
resulted in the animals moving out of the park in search of food.

Best time to visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

The best time to visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is from November to February as the climate around that
time is pleasant during the day and chilly at night. One needs to carry along adequate amounts of woollens
during the months of December-January due to extreme cold. Monsoon period should be strictly avoided
as the region is prone to flash floods and the conditions of the roads make travelling almost impossible.

How to Reach Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

 Air: Flights are available for Assam from all major domestic airports in India. From there, you
can hire a cab till Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
 Rail: The nearest railhead is at Jagiroad which is well connected to Assam. From Jagiroad, you
can take public buses or a cab.
 Road: From Assam, Pobitora is a 2 hours ride via a narrow road. If coming from Kaziranga on
NH 37 take the route for Mayang at Jagiroad. Buses are available from Adabari Bus Station in
Assam till Chamata. From Chamata catch a public bus for Kolangpur and take an auto rickshaw to
the Sanctuary. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Assam till Morigaon and a bus from
Morigaon till the Sanctuary.

Where to Stay

There is only one place to stay in the area which is a privately run hotel situated near the main entrance to
the sanctuary. Alternatively, you can seek accommodation in Assam which is very close to the wildlife
sanctuary and offers more variety and choice.
Activities in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Elephant Rides and Jeep Safaris can be enjoyed at the park.

The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Experience

The wildlife sanctuary is heaven for lovers of nature where you can experience abundance in flora and
fauna and be thrilled when you sight one of the most endangered species in the world - the One-Horned
Rhino.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary's Cuisine

You can try authentic Assamese and Bengali cuisine at the local hotel or resort.

Best Restaurants Nearby

The Pobitora Resort near the wildlife sanctuary is the only place serving food.

Itinerary

Parbitora park is best combined with a visit to the Kaziranga National Park. Arrive at the sanctuary at 6:30
AM and take the elephant ride or the jeep ride into the park and spend a good 2-3 hours exploring the
natural treasures it fosters. After this proceed to the Kaziranga National Park.

Tips

The park find itself crowded during weekends and the holiday season, so try to reach early in order to book
elephant rides as they tend to be in short supply during the peak season.

Umananda Island
Umananda Island, Assam Overview

The smallest river island in the world, Umananda Island is a place with legends aplenty, a
place where man and the wilderness co-habit in peace and serenity. Umananda Island lies at
the heart of the Mighty Brahmaputra River which flows through the middle of the city of
Assam. An island with many legends associated with it, it_ã_s pristine and calm environ has
not been destroyed by the presence of human beings as yet. It was known as Peacock Island
among the British Colonists who named it so based on its shape. The Island is home to a very
rare and endangered species called _ãÄGolden Langurs_ã_ who are considered to be highly
sacred among the people of the Himalayas.

The legend goes that it is the very same place where Lord Kamdev (Lord of Love) was burnt
into ashes by the third-eye of Lord Shiva when the former tried to disrupt his meditation
thereby giving it its alternative name _ãÄBhasmchal_ã_. The major attraction of the island is
the Umananda Devi Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiv and sees a large influx of
devotees during religious festivals.

Best time to visit Umananda Island

The best time to visit the island is from October till May. The climate during the winter
months is pleasant with the need of a layer of woolen especially during night time. Post
February, temperatures see a rise though still comfortable. Avoid visiting the island during
monsoons as access to the island can be denied due to the rising water levels of the River
Brahmaputra as well as due to flash floods.

How to Reach Umananda Island

 Air: Flights are available for Assam from all domestic airports in India, from Assam
you can catch a ferry to the island until sunset.
 Rail: Assam is well connected to all major rail heads in India.
 Road: Take a bus or a cab till Kachari Ghat from where you will get a ferries to the
Island.

Where to Stay

Assam is the capital city of Assam and has accommodation options for all budget sizes. Main
cluster of hotels can be found near the Assam Railway Station and near Paltan Bazaar.

Sightseeing in Umananda Island

Umananda Devi Temple is a must-visit on a trip to this island. The temple built by an Ahom
King of Assam in the 16th century is a special place and place of high religious significance.
Even though the temple complex was destroyed by a major earthquake in the 18th century, it
was restored somewhat by a merchant. The temple displays various artistry of the region.

Activities in Umananda Island

One can enjoy boating at the island.

The Umananda Island Experience

A one of its kind island, Umananda is a river island with a different way of life and culture
which is an experience in itself.

Umananda Island's Cuisine

Try out some delightful Assamese and Bengali cuisines in Assam before heading out for a
trip to Umananda Island. Its also a great place to taste cuisine from other parts of North-East
India.

Best Restaurants Nearby

Paradise, Cracklin Mustard, Naga Kitchen and Terra Maya

Itinerary

Leave around 8am from Kachari Ghat for the Island. Upon reaching visit the Umananda
Temple, spent time walking around the island and taking in the environ and calmness of the
place. Leave around noon for Assam.

Did you know?

Smallest River Island in the World

Tips

The Island's biodiversity is rich and fragile so avoid littering at any cost. Also, the boat ride to
and from Umananda Island is a special experience providing various opportunities for
capturing birdlife in your cameras.
Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park, Assam Overview

Home to two-thirds of the world's one horned rhinoceros population, this national park has
been declared as a World Heritage Site. Sitting in the laps of Mother Nature, this park has a
very versatile bio diversity which makes Kaziranga National Park a very important and
popular tourist destination.

Swamp deer, elephants, wild buffalos, Chinese pangolins, Bengal foxes, gibbons, civets, sloth
bears, leopards and flying squirrels are a few animals that can br spotted here. The park is
also home to the Indian tiger and it is a tiger reserve. There are quite a few varieties of birds
to track as well. One can opt for safari rides in the park in either jeeps or SUVs and this is the
best way to get around the park. Elephant rides can be arranged and they have to be booked
in advance as they are popular.

Rafting in Kameng River

1) A compact first aid kit including medicines of importance. 2) Quick refreshments - energy
drinks, energy bars 3) Bathing suits, shorts, river sandals, flip-flops, old sneakers 4)
Waterproof camera bag, fresh batteries, waterproof lens 5) Plastic bags for carrying wet
clothes

General Tips and Tricks

Best time to ride on the waves here is from October till Mid February. Make sure you pay
attention to all the instructions carefully given by the guide. Also prefer to go for the activity
in groups of 4 or 6 asper the operator you choose.Dragontours, Redchilli adventures is one of
the few operators.

About Rafting in Kameng River

Difficulty Level : Medium to challenging/Garde II to IV Grade
Nearest Airport : Assam
Nearest Railhead : Assam
Nearest road city : Assam
How to Reach Rafting in Kameng River

 Air: The nearest airport to your rafting sight is Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi

International airport in Assam. Hire a cab from outside the airport to reach Seppa.
 Rail: Paltan Bazaar Railway Station in Assam serves as the nearest railway station to
our destination of river rafting. In fact, it is apart from being a major station also
headquarters of North East Frontier Railways connecting with all the major cities of
country via regular superfast, mails and express trains. One you have reached Assam,
hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw till Seppa and then finally Marjangle.
 Road: State transport buses of Assam Government as well as the private buses runs
regularly within the state as well as the major cities of whole North east region.
However, if you are traveling from outside Assam, you have to reach Assam via air,
rail or road from where further one can avail taxi or bus.
Hajo

Hajo, Assam Overview

The ancient pilgrim centre of Haajo, is an attraction for three religions - Hindu, Muslims and
Buddhists. Shrines dedicated to Durga, Shiva, Vishnu, Buddha and major Muslim saints are
found all over this place, making it an important pilgrimage center for people from all these
three religions.

It lies on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, 24 km from the city of Assam in the Kamrup
district of Assam, India. Temples and other sacred artifacts can be seen spread across the
region.
Dispur

Dispur Tourism

Dispur is the beautiful capital of Assam packed with panoramic views, unique traditions and
rich tribal culture. Declared as Assam's capital in 1973, the city houses some of the important
buildings of the state like Assam Secretariat, State Emergency Operations Center and State
Assemble House.

Dotted with several Hindu temples, one can witness the distinctive culture of the state.
Dispur is also famous as a tea auction market and is situated on the outer skirts of Assam at
a mere distance of about 10 kms. Enriched in flora and fauna and adorned with beautiful
weather throughout the year, visit Dispur to for a perfect vacation.

Dispur being a capital city is quite a popular destination. So if you are travelling to the city,
you will find some decent rated hotels of economical and mid range budget which offers
comfort at good price. The city also offers few luxury hotels with picturesque views.

Assam State Zoo and Botanical

Gardens
Manas National Park
Manas National Park, Assam Overview

This park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is nestled in the foot hills of the Himalayas and is
home to a number of animal species including the lispid hares, pygmy dogs, etc.

There is a Tiger reserve in the sanctuary. The Manas river runs within the complex and
tourists can opt for a raft ride for a view of the jungle and it's animals. Forest safaris and
elephant rides can also be arranged to move around the sanctuary.
FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS
The gateway to the North-East"
Assam Tourism

Modern cosmopolitan culture, a treasure of historic charms, endearingly called the ?city of
eastern light? Assam is situated on the bank of Brahmaputra River and surrounded by hills on
three sides which makes it an exotic travel destination. The picturesque city is located in the
foothills of lower Assam encompassing an area of 216 km square and the state capital Dispur.
Nicknamed as the ?Gateway to North East India? the city is rated as a cultural hub as it
concentrates the entire northeastern experience within itself.

Assam is where you will find a rich history and culture of the state of Assam, and this is
the most developed city in the entire north-east India. Most travelers covering Assam and
other nearby states typically take a flight to Assam, maybe spend a day in the city, and then
carry on to the other travel destinations. For those spending a day in Assam, there are some
highly revered temples that they can visit - including the famous Kamakhya Devi temple.
Assam is located on the banks of the Brahmaputra, and you can take a stroll by the
riverside, or take a boat ride to the Umananda temple which is located in the center of the
river. There are also various monuments, architectural showcases, museums and more. The
city is also a great shopping destination, and the local market has a good collection of
artifacts and pieces from the states and the cultures nearby.

How To Reach Assam

Assam has its own airport which is connected to cities like Agartala, Kolkatta, Delhi, etc. The
nearest international airport is that of Mumbai. Bus services connect Assam with near by
cities. Both state run and privated busues ply to Assam. The city also has its own railhead.

How to Reach Assam by Flight

The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport or Assam International Airport is the
main airport in North East India. Thus, the airport is well connected to all major cities of
India. The airport is about 20 kilometers from the city center. Pawan Hans provides
helicopter services from other North Eastern cities to Assam.

How to Reach Assam by Road

Assam is very well connected through a network of National Highways to adjoining cities
and states through bus service. The three bus terminals- Adabari, Paltan Bazar, and ISBT
Assam, provide regular state-run and private buses to towns and cities in Assam and
adjoining states.

How to Reach Assam by Train

The city has two major railway stations- Kamakhya and Assam. These stations are connected
to all major cities in the country via a number of express and super fast trains. Traveling to
Assam via train offers a beautiful view of the hilly surroundings and is a rejuvenating
experience.

Commuting Within Assam

Assam is a major city and commuting within the city should not be much problem. Cabs
and auto rickshaws are available, although they may be a little over priced specially if you
look like a tourist. Uber and Ola both run in the city, so the easiest way to travel within the
city would be use these so that you don't have to worry about haggling. Traveling by the
local bus is also an option, but newcomers might find it difficult to find the proper bus -
this is definitely the cheapest mode of transport.

Assamese cuisine
Assamese cuisine is the cuisine of Assam. It is a style of cooking that is a confluence of
cooking habits of the hills that favor fermentation and drying as forms of preservation[2] and
those from the plains that provide fresh vegetables and an abundance of fish and meat. Both
are centered on the main ingredient — rice. The confluence of varied cultural influences in
the Assam Valley has led to the staggering variety and flavours in the Assamese food. It is
characterised by the use of an extremely wide variety of plant as well as animal products,
owing to their abundance in the region. It is a mixture of indigenous styles with considerable
regional variations and some external influences.The cuisine is characterized by very little
use of spices, little cooking over fire and strong flavors due mainly to the use of endemic
exotic fruits and vegetables that are either fresh, dried or fermented. Fish is widely used, and
birds like duck, squab etc. are very popular, which are often paired with a main vegetable or
ingredient. Preparations are rarely elaborate. (The practice of bhuna, the gentle frying of
spices before the addition of the main ingredients so common in Indian cooking, is absent in
the cuisine of Assam. The preferred oil for cooking is the pungent mustard oilA traditional
meal in Assam begins with a khar, a class of dishes named after the main ingredient, and ends
with a tenga, a sour dish. The food is usually served in bell metal utensils made by an
indigenous community called Mariya. Tamul (betel nut, generally raw) and paan generally
concludes the meal.Though still obscure, this cuisine has seen wider notice in recent
times. The discovery of this cuisine in the popular media continues, with the presenters yet to
settle on the language and the specific distinctiveness to describe it
Rice
Rice is the most important ingredient in this cuisine. The large varieties of rice found in the
region has led to speculation that the grain was first domesticated in the Assam-
Yunnan region. Both the indica as well as the japonica varieties are grown in Assam. The
most popular class of rice is the joha or scented rice. As a staple, rice is eaten either steam
boiled (ukhua) or sundried (aaroi). Some very fine quality of rice
namely, Karaballam or kauribadam etc., are available in Assam only.Rice is eaten as snack in
many forms: roasted and ground (xandoh), boiled in its husk and flattened (chira), puffed
(akhoi). (kumol saul), a preparation of rice that is precooked, dried and then husked can be
simply soaked in warm water and eaten as a light meal.Rice is a part of all meals in Assam. A
traditional breakfast consists of chira with yogurt and jaggery. Mostly farmers eat cooked rice
soaked overnight (poita) simply accompanied with salt, mustard oil, onions, etc. Snacks
are xandoh, kumol saul or bora saul, sticky rice, which can be eaten with sweet or salty
accompaniments. For other major meals, rice could be boiled, steamed or wrapped in leaves
and roasted. 'Sunga Saul' is a special preparation in which (sticky) rice (bora saul) is cooked
in bamboo hollows called 'sunga'. 'Sewa diya Bhaat' is another preparation where sticky rice
is steamed over boiling water. They are generally served with meat or fish. Sticky rice is also
wrapped in leaves, usually plantain leaves or tora pat, and dropped into boiling water to
prepare 'tupula bhat'.A special class of rice preparations, called pithas are generally made
only on special occasions like the Bihu. Made usually with soaked and ground glutinous rice
(bora saul), they could be fried in oil with a sesame filling (xutuli pitha), roasted in young
green bamboo over a slow fire (sunga pitha) or baked and rolled over a hot plate with a filling
(kholasaporia pitha).
Fish
The next most important ingredient is fish, harvested from the many rivers, ponds and lakes
in the region. The extremely wet climate and the large numbers of water bodies has ensured
that large varieties of fresh water fish are available in abundance in the valley. It is a staple
item in the Assamese palate. There is no traditional ethnic community in Assam that does not
eat fish. Most traditional rural households have their own ponds for pisciculture. Some of the
most popular big fishes are the Borali (freshwater dhark), rou,
and cital (big), khoria (medium) (Chitala
chitala), maagur, Xingi, borali, bhokua or bahu, Xaal, Xol, etc. The small varieties of fish
available and eaten in Assam like puthi, Ari (long-whiskered catfish), Goroi (green snake
head/ spotted snake head ), Koi or Kawoi (climbing perch Anabas
testudineus), Kholihona(Indian paradise fish Ctenops
nobilis) borolia, mua, ceniputhi, tengera, lachin, bhangun, pabho, etc. The discerning gourmet
can tell which region of Assam is known for which variety of fish.The mas tenga (sour fish ),
which is commonly eaten by most communities of Assam, has lately turned into a signature
dish of Assamese cuisine. The most popular souring agent for the tenga is tomatoes, though
ones made with kajinemujuice (thick skinned elongated lemon)
and thekera (dried mangosteen,) are also popular.The most common way of eating fish in
traditional Assamese homes is by preparing a stew with herbs, vegetables and greens as per
preference and availability. Fish is also prepared by roasting or char grilling. A favorite is
small fish roasted in banana leaves (paatotdia). Hukoti is a special fish dish prepared from
dried small fish like (puthi maas) pounded with arum stem and dried and stored in bamboo
tubes. Variations of this exist among the ethnic communities of northeast India in general and
Assam in particular. Dried and fermented small fish puthy mas (Ticto barb), three to four in
number, are roasted with lavish amounts of green chilis, tomatoes, ginger and garlic (all
roasted). The ingredients are then pounded in a mortar to make a coarse paste and served with
rice. Fish eggs and innards are also cooked and consumed
Meat
The Assamese meat and fish dishes are characterized by low amount of spices and oil, higher
quantity of ginger, norosingho paat (curry leaves) and lemon juice, and differ in taste from
the dishes of neighbouring Bengal. Pork is very popular among the indigenous ethnic
communities. Hindus, such as Brahmins and Kalitas, refrain from pork consumption. Beef is
occasionally consumed by Assamese Muslims, although they traditionally refrain from
consuming pork. The Christians, many ethnic communities, and the non religious sections
consume all types of meat.The basic cooking methods include cooking, shallow and deep
frying. Onla, of the Bodos, is made with ground rice and special herbs and constitutes a
complete meal in itself. Other meats include squab, duck, chicken, goat meat, venison,
and turtle although venison and turtle meat are legally prohibited. The combination
of duck/white gourd and squab/papaya or banana flower is very popular. Meat is generally
stewed using limited spices as well as a choice of herbs and vegetables.Most communities of
Assam are entomophagous. Ethnic tribes of certain areas partake of silkworm, water bugs,
grasshoppers, and other insects. Insects are fried or cooked or roasted in leaves and then
prepared according to the timing of the meal. The red ant egg is considered a delicacy during
the Rongali Bihufestival.
DATA ANALYSIS
Considered to be the gateway to north east India, Assam is the largest city in the region.
It is situated between the southern bank of Brahmaputra River and the foothills of the
Shillong plateau. Dispur, a part of Assam, serves as the capital of Assam.
The Kamakhya temple situated atop the Nilachal hill is an important site
for tantric Hinduism. Besides Kamakhya, Assam has several ancient Hindu temples
including the Umananda Temple, Navagraha Temple and Basistha Temple.  Hajo is an
important pilgrim center for Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists.
The city and its surrounding areas are rich in wildlife. Kaziranga National Park, known
for its famous resident the one-horned Indian rhinoceros, is 214 km away. The  Assam
State Zoo, Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary and Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary are also
worth a visit.
The Saraighat Bridge on river Bramhaputra, a rail- road bridge is one of the important
infrastructural assets of Assam.
As the second largest commercial tea production region in the world after China, Assam
is an important tea trading center. The Assam Tea Auction Center (GTAC) is among the
busiest tea trading facilities in the world.
ALSO SEE Shillong to Assam: How to reach Assam from Shillong by road
Assam is among the 100 fastest growing cities of the world and the fifth fastest growing
among Indian cities. It is a major commercial and educational center of eastern India.
The premier Indian Institute of Technology campus is also located in Assam.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ASSAM
Assam offers a wide variety of options for a stay. From budget to luxury  hotels, the city
has it all. It would be wise to book your room in advance especially if you’re planning
to visit the city during the tourist seasons.
Several budget hotels are situated in Paltan Bazaar and GS Road areas. Most mid-range
hotels have multi-cuisine restaurant and costs between Rs 1400 and Rs 2200.
Luxury hotels can cost between Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,500.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN ASSAM
North east India’s food differs from the typical Indian food. Even though rice is part of
the staple diet, the flavor of the food here is distinct because of the use of indigenous
herbs.
Several dhabas on the highways offer delicious meals at affordable prices. A visit to
Assam can’t be complete without trying Assamese food. Assam, being the most
important city of North-East, offers several restaurants specializing in cuisines of other
north-eastern states.
BEST TIME TO VISIT ASSAM
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Assam is as given below. The best
time to visit Assam is also specified.
MONTH BEST TIME MIN. TEMP (°C) MAX. TEMP (°C)

January 11 23

February 13 26

March 16 30

April 20 31

May 23 32

June 25 32

July 26 32

August 26 33

September 25 32

October 22 30

November 17 28

December 13 25
QUESTIONNAIRE
q.1 What is the Area geography of assam region?

Assam lies between the gigantic Brahmaputra River and the beautiful Shillong plateau.
Assam is surrounded by numerous hills. On the west of the city are the scenic Nilachal hills.
Assam encompasses an area of 556 square kilometers. The city is physically divided into two
parts by the Brahmaputra River. The coordinates of the city are 26.18°N and 91.76°E.
q.2 What kind of source is used for money?
The currency of India is Indian Rupee ( ). You can withdraw money from the ATMs in the
city. Credit cards are not widely accepted here. You might be able to use them in big retail
outlets or at your hotels.
q.3 Is there any Cellular service for tourists?
To avoid roaming charges, tourists can buy a new Assam SIM card at any of the mobile or
recharge shops in Assam. To purchase a new SIM, you would be required to have valid
identification proofs like Passport (for foreign tourists), Driver’s License or Voter ID card.
There are a good number of networks to choose from in Assam
q.4 Is Wifi internet is easily available in Assam?
Wi-Fi is not so easily available in Assam. Some of the hotels in Assam provide Wi-Fi service
to their guests. The Wi-Fi services at these hotels maybe complimentary or chargeable. You
can also look for Internet Cafés in the city.
q.5 What are the Drinking laws in Assam?
The legal age for consumption of alcohol in Assam (Assam) is 21 years.
q.6 What isTipping?
Tipping is an important part of etiquettes to be observed while touring anywhere in India. It’s
a common practice to tip the waiters at the restaurants and the cab drivers while sightseeing.
q.7Safety laws in Assam?
Assam is a safe city and the people are warm and welcoming. However, like in any other part
of the world, it’s best to be cautious and keep your belongings safely at all times.
CONCLUSION
Assam is the largest city in Assam and Northeast India. Dispur, the state capital, is situated
within the city. The city is the second-largest metropolitan area in eastern India after Kolkata
and one of the fastest developing cities in India. Excavations trace the origins of the city to
around the 4th century and it was the capital of Assam until the 10th century. Today, the
metropolitan city has a population of more than 1.8 million people, spread across an area of
over 360 km2; making it the largest city in the state and the region. It is the main center for
shopping and business, attracting people from all over the north east as well as from Eastern
Bhutan. The slow, meandering Brahmaputra River is a focal point of the downtown while the
lush hills of the Shillong Plateau provide a verdant backdrop for the suburbs. The pleasant
environment, however, is somewhat tempered by the inadequate investment in the region,
which is apparent from the low quality of roads. Still, despite the average infrastructure,
private investors have been drawn to the city in recent years and there has been something of
a boom in the construction of shopping malls and high quality condominiums, which has
helped raise the economic profile of the city. The end of decades-long insurgence in the state
has also facilitated an economic boom in the city.
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