Assam
Introduction
The State of Assam is one of the most beautiful regions of India. There is hardly any other state which has greater variety and colour in its natural scenery and in the cultural treasures of the people that inhabit it. Hugging the shores of the turbulent Brahmaputra, Guwahati is the gateway to the enchanting North Eastern India. The Light of the East, Pragjyotishpura, as it was known once upon a time, is said to have been a vast kingdom during the epic period of the Mahabharata. Today, Guwahati is the hub of the region and also its largest city.
Important places of tourism in and around Guwahati are Kamakhya temple, Umananda (Peacock Island), Navagraha (temple of nine planets), Basistha Ashram, Dolgobinda, Gandhi Mandap, State Zoo, State Museum, Sukreswar temple, Gita Mandir, Madan Kamdev temple, a magnificent archaeological place of interest, and Saraighat bridge.
Other places of tourist interest in the State are: Kaziranga National Park (famous for one horned rhino), Manas Tiger Project, Pobi-tora and Orang (wildlife sanctuaries), Sibsagar (Shiv Temple-Rangghar-Karengghar), Tezpur (Bhairavi temple and scenic beauty), Bhalukpung (Angling), Haflong (health resort with Jatinga hills), Majuli (largest river island in the world), Chandubi lake (picnic spot), Hajo (meeting point of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam), Batadrava (birth place of great Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva) and Sualkuchi (famous for silk industry).
Tourist Attraction
- Destination (External website that opens in a new window)
- Accommodation (External website that opens in a new window)
- Tourist Offices (External website that opens in a new window)
- Guide Map (External website that opens in a new window)
- Tourist Guide List (External website that opens in a new window)
Hill Stations
Haflong
Haflong, the only hill station of Assam is situated at an altitude of 680 m from the sea level. Also known as White Ant Hillock in the main language in Assam, Halflong means White Ant Hillock; it is the district Head Quarter of North Cachar Hills. Apart from its scenic beauty, the hills of Halflong is also known for its more than 2 lakh different flowers include the orchids such as Blue Vanda, rare species of birds, Pineapple, Pera, Peaches, and Oranges. There is a Orchid Garden in Halflong which is a worth visit. Haflong is often referred to as the land of blue hills. This calm and tiny hill station with blue hills, rivers and waterfalls is still untouched by tourism.
Umrangso
It is located at the borders of Assam and Meghalaya, 112-km away from Haflong. This hill station is blessed with the natural backdrop of North Cacher Hills region. For the sake of enjoying this alluring journey, one should travel from Haflong Hill to Umrangso via Jowai to Shillong hill. Near Umrangso, there is a hot water spring which is believed to possess medicinal properties.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Kaziranga National Park
The Kaziranga National Park is the only National Park in the State situated in central Assam with an area of 430sq. km. It is the home of the great Indian one horned Rhinoceros (Unicornis). The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, mellow marshes and shallow pools. One-horned rhinoceros, elephant, Indian bison, swamp deer, sambar, hot deer, sloth bear, tiger, leopard, pig, leopard cat, jungle cat, hog badger, capped langur, hoolock gibbon, jackal, porcupine, python, buffalo and birds like pelican, duck, geese, hornbill, ibis, cormorant, egret, heron, black necked stork, lesser adjutants, ring-tailed fishing eagles, etc are found in large numbers.
You can stroll through the lush coffee and rubber plantations or nearby Karbi Anglong. Or you can visit the Karbi villages, meet the Karbi people and observe their life style. Or romp through the enchanting tea gardens and watch how you get your daily cup of tea. Film shows on wildlife can be arranged at the tourist lodge, on request.
More on Kaziranga National Park (External website that opens in a new window)
Manas Tiger Reserve
Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam was created in 1973 at the time of launch of the Project Tiger in India. The Reserve area falls in six districts, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpetan, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang. Rich in biodiversity of both flora and fauna, Manas has 22 species of fauna that are globally endangered. In 1985 it was declared a world heritage site. The moist sal forests, East Himalaya lower Bhabar sal and Eastern Terai sal forests, riverine successions, moist mixed deciduous forests and so many more include species like Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, Golden cat, leopard cat, pangolin, Indian Elephant and Rhinoceros, Asian water buffalo, Gaur, Swamp deer and the Pygmy Hog.
There are at least two species of wild animals, endemic to this zone, Pygmy hogs and the Golden langur. The pygmy hogs are found, now only in this Tiger reserve, into known former range of distribution, while the Golden langur (Presbytis geei) have never been recorded beyond the limits of this Tiger reserve. There are 21 recorded endangered species of mammals. These are Capped Langur, golden Langur, Slow Loris, Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Bear cat, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Indian Pangolin, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer, Particoloured Flying Squirrel, Hispid Hare and Gangetic Dolphin.
More on Manas Tiger Reserve (External website that opens in a new window)
Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on: 19-02-2010 
