The largest of the states in the northeast of India is Assam whose capital, Guwahati, has an inspired location on the banks of the River Brahmaputra. Amidst Assam’s verdant lushness are two important game sanctuaries, Manas and Kaziranga, both best known for their population of one horned Indian rhinoceros, a species that faced extinction. Much of the rest of the state is devoted to tea plantation which yield the strong Assam leaf popular all over the world. Assam, also described as the Shangrila in the North-Eastern India is the gateway to the North-East. The word Assam is derived from the Sanskrit word "ASOMA" meaning peerless. Nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas Assam is known as the land of blue hills and red rivers. The largest and most easily accessible of the north-east states, Assam grows 60% of India's tea and produces a large proportion of India's oil. The main visitor attraction is Kaziranga National Park, home of India's rare one horned rhinoceros.
History :
Assam has a rich legacy of culture and civilization. The state is the homeland of different races of men : Austric, Mongolian, Dravidian and Aryan that came to dwell in her hills and valleys at different times since remote antiquity. Assam has devloped a composite culture of variegated colour. During the epic period Assam was known as 'Kamrupa'. Guwahati is an ancient town whose history goes back to the puranic days. The city known as 'Pragjyotishpur' (place of eastern astronomy) was said to have been founded by Narkasur who is mentioned in Purans and epics. His son Bhagadatta had led a large elephant force to the battlefield of Kurukshetra and had fallen fighting on the side of the Kaurvas, according to the Mahabharta. The earliest epigraphic reference to the kingdom Kamrupa is found in Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta. Huien sang, the Chinese scholar pilgrim who visited Kamrupa in about 783 AD, on an invitation of its of its monarch Kumar Bhaskar Varman, left a record of the kingdom he called Kamolupa. kamrupa also figured in the writinges of the Arab historian Alberuni in 11th century. The advent of the Ahomas across the eastern hills in 1228 AD changed the course of Assam's history. The Ahomas defeated the local Karchari, Chutia and Moran kings and ruled Assam nearly for six centuries. The Burmese entered through eastern borders and overrun the territory. The British appeared in 1826 and defeated the Burmese in several battles. On the partition of Bengal in 1905 Assam was united with the eastern districts of Bengal. From 1912, the chief commissionership of Assam was revived and in 1921 a Governership was created. The Muslim district of Sylhet emerged with the formation of East Bengal (Bangladesh at present) after partition of India in 1947. Dewanagiri in north Kamrupa was ceded to Bhutan in 1951. In 1963 Nagaland, and in 1972 Meghalaya and in 1987 Mizoram emeged out of Assam as full-fledged States.
Cities of Assam
Guwahati,
Sibsanagar,
Tezpur,
Digpur,
Sonitpur.
Tourist Attraction of Assam :-
Kaziranga National Park :-
Situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river, Kaziranga National Park is famous for the stronghold of the armoured one-horned Indian Rhinocerous. The Sanctuary provides unique setting for a sight of its best known wild life including birds.
Sibsanagar :-
Sibsagar Tank and Temples : The tank comprising 120 acres of water, dug ever 200 years age, is above town level although situated down town. fed by natural springs, the tank is surrounded by deep ditches and earthen moats. Three temples are built on itsbanks - Siva temple, Vishnu temple and Devidol temple.
Haflong Lake: Situated in the heart of the hill station it is a picturesque area.
Umrangsu : 115 kms away from Haflong by road, the biggest hydel plant under North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has come up with dams across the river Kopili, a tributery of the Brahmaputra. Near Umrangsu, there is a hot water spring (Garampani) which is believed to possess medicinal properties.
