assam

Assam Tourism – An Ultimate Travel Guide, 2022

South of the eastern Himalayas and in the valleys of the Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers in northeastern India is the state of Assam. 30,285 square miles make up Assam. Along with Assamese and Bodo, the main languages of Assam, Bengali is a third extant language in the Barak Valley. Assam tea and silk are trademark products of the state. The nation’s first oil well in Asia was located there. Assam, which is a habitat to the Indian origin one-horned rhinoceros, untamed lake buffalo, pygmy piglets, tiger, and various genera of Asiatic birds, is one of the last surviving places for feral Asiatic elephants. Wildlife tourism to the two national parks of Assam, Manas and Kaziranga, which are both World Heritage Sites, is beneficial to the state’s economy. In the state, sal tree forests can be found, and year-round greenness is achieved by the state’s copious rainfall. There are traces of human habitation in Assam and the surrounding areas dating back to the early Stone Age. The hills between 1,500 and 2,000 feet high were favoured habitats, perhaps as a result of the accessibility of exposed dolerite basalt, which is excellent for producing tools. A water tank and a set of stairs from the Shunga-Kushan era have been discovered at the Ambari site in Guwahati. These artefacts could be as old as 2,000 years old and date to the first century BCE. The state has earned the moniker “India in miniature” due to the diversity of its ethnic and linguistic groupings, population makeup, and population growth.

What Makes Assam So Famous?

Assam, which is also known as the “Land of Blue Hills and Red River,” is the entry point to the north-eastern states and has been properly called the sentinel of Northeast India. Assam is encompassed by Bangladesh and Bhutan along with seven Indian States. Additionally, it is not up to a point from where India’s international frontier with China and Myanmar are. Assam’s natural beauty is enhanced by the presence of hills, important rivers like the Brahmaputra and Barak, and their tributaries, as well as dense forest and tea plantations. In actuality, the country’s lone male river is Assam’s powerful Brahmaputra. With the largest concentration in India of five national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries, Assam is home to 25% of the country’s rich floral diversity and a vast array of animal species. The world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, wild Asiatic water buffalo, eastern swamp deer, wild elephants, and migratory birds may be found in Assam’s Golaghat district, which is also home to the renowned Kaziranga National Park. There are more tigers in this National Park than everywhere else. Manas National Park, another World Heritage Site, is part of the East Himalayan Biotic Area, which is one of the two biodiversity Hotspots in the country.

When to Visit Assam for Tourism

Assam is brimming with wonderful adventures and stunning surprises. Due to the beautiful weather, Assam is best visited in the winter and summer. Summers are deliciously refreshing, while winters are pleasantly cool. It is advisable to avoid visiting Assam during the monsoon because of the region’s significant rainfall throughout those months. Along the valley of the Brahmaputra River, in the eastern Himalayan foothills, is where you’ll find this natural wonderland. The setting is ideal for the development of fragrant tea gardens, whose harvest is renowned across the world.

Travel MonthsTemperatureSeason
April – June32-38 degreesWarm and inviting during the summer
July – September26-32 degreesHeavy rains during the monsoon
October – March8-20 degreesWinters are chilly but comforting.

Things to do in Assam

Only when a location offers a wide variety of fun activities for visitors can it start to seem lively. One such location that offers visitors a variety of attractions is Assam. One can enjoy spending time in Assam doing the following:

  • Shopping:Shopping should always be included in your agenda, no matter where you go. The nicest souvenirs may be purchased in Assam at any of the several stores there. Everything is available here at affordable prices, including silk sarees, paintings, and handicrafts. Fancy Bazaar, Pan Bazaar, and Paltan Bazaar are some of the top shopping destinations.
  • Look in on the Tea Plantations:In Assam, there are unique tea estates. They offer the best aromatic tea you’ve never had before. The tasting may be ignored now. Although it might be more than amazing to simply wander around one of these tea gardens. Top tea estates include Manohari Tea Estate, Nonoi Tea Estate, Almari Tea Estate, and numerous others.
  • Spot the Wildlife:National parks are one thing that Assam is highly recognised for. For the purpose of viewing the best wildlife, this is why wildlife enthusiasts come here. It is known for having a great deal of both investigated and unknown locations where you can see some uncommon types of flora. In Assam, you can visit national parks including Kaziranga, Manas, Gibbon, Barail, Burachapori, Nambor, and Pobitora.
  • Enter in Festivals:Festivals are among the best methods to honour cultural diversity. The Assamese are experts in that. People from Assam take part in several different festivities. People dress up for the occasion in ethnic attire and adorn themselves with large ornaments to demonstrate their social standing. The following are the festivals of Assam:
  • One of Assam’s most important celebrations is the Bihu Festival. A harvest celebration is held there to honour Brai Shibari. The Assamese celebrate this day by dressing in traditional attire, singing songs, and preparing feasts.Make sure to visit this festival if you’re considering travelling in April.
  • One of the most popular events is the Ambubachi Festival, which is held at the Kamakhya Devi Temple. The four-day Ambubachi Festival is devoted to the worship of Goddess Kamakhya. Visitors can enjoy the numerous Tantric performances at this festival.
  • One of the most attractive festivals, Majuli Festival attracts large crowds of people. Numerous performers were showing their talents at this festival. Many exhibitions will be planned, including everything from food to handicrafts to artefacts to traditional attire. Don’t forget to bring some exquisitely made pottery home with you!

Itineraries for Assam Tour

You can choose your ideal Assam Tour plan from our list of Assam Tour Packages.

How do we reach Assam

You can reach Assam by road, rail or flight.
By Road
By Rail
By Air

The rest of India can be reached from Assam through National Highways 31 and 37. The Inter State Bus Terminus, or ISBT, is located on the outskirts of the city. They often operate buses that connect the state with other northeastern regions and popular tourist destinations in neighbouring states.

For the transportation of coal and tea for its tea plantations, Assam’s railway tracks were built long ago during the British era. Golaghat, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Guwahati, Silchar, and Nagaon are the principal rail hubs. Being the entryway to the other north-eastern Indian states, Guwahati Railway Station is of great significance.

Borjar, 20 kilometres outside of the city, is home to the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. Shillong, Naharlagun, Tawang, and Tura are just a few of the locations near Guwahati that provide helicopter services. When you exit the plane, the airport is flooded with possibilities for renting a car.

Languages
History
People

An unbroken record of Assamese literary history can be found beginning in the 14th century. Assamese, an Indo-Aryan language, is the formal and chief language of the state. Although the Khasi people speak an Semitic language, the majority of the Scheduled Tribes speak Tibeto-Burman languages. Assamese is the local tongue of certain tribes. The majority of the population in the Barak valley speaks Bengali, another Indo-Aryan language like Assamese.

Assam was a component of the state of Kamarupa, which had its administrative centre in what is now Pragjyotishapura. Approximately the Brahmaputra River Valley, Bhutan, the area around Rangpur, and Koch Bihar in West Bengal were all included in the ancient Kamarupa. Prior to the arrival of the Ahom people in the 13th century, Assam was ruled by a number of dynasties, including the Pala, Kachari, and Chutiya. There was constant conflict amongst the rulers during this time. Prior to the late 18th century invasion of troops from Myanmar, the strength and wealth of Ahom reached a pinnacle under the reign of King Rudra Singh. After the Treaty of Yandabo with Myanmar was signed in 1826, Assam became a part of British India. British rule had been established over Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley by 1842. In 1874, Assam was split off into a province, with Shillong serving as the administrative centre.

The majority of the inhabitants of the plains in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys have Indo-Iranian origin. However, the indigenous Aryan peoples had mixed with the Asian peoples by the time they arrived in the area. The Ahom people, who stemmed in Southeast Asia’s mainland, came to this region in the 13th century. Rural indigenous peoples who are at the surface of the Indian caste system make up a sizable portion of the population and are referred to as Scheduled Tribes in official documents. The majority of the Scheduled Tribes are of Asian ancestry and reside in the south-central hill region. A third of Assamese people identify as Hindu. Islam is practised by about one-third of the population, with the majority of Muslims being immigrants from Bangladesh or proselytes from planes of Hindu culture. Even though many Scheduled Tribes have become Christians, some still follow their ancestral faiths.

Weather in Assam

Assam often experiences a “Tropical Monsoon Rainforest Climate,” with high humidity and significant precipitation. Mild winters and hot summers make for a temperate climate that residents may take advantage of all year round.

SeasonTemperature
Winter(October- March) 11 °C – 29 °C
Summer(April – June) 20 °C – 35 °C
Monsoon(July – September) 25 °C – 32 °C

Best Places to stay in Assam

NamePrice (Tentative)
Vivanta GuwahatiStarts from INR 13,216 per night
Novotel Guwahati GS RoadStarts from INR 6,719 per night
Resort BorgosStarts from INR 8,402 per night
Radisson Blu GuwahatiStarts from INR 12,159 per night
Ginger GuwahatiStarts from INR 3,919 per night
Hotel RajmahalStarts from INR 4,439 per night
Wild MahseerStarts from INR 11,988 per night
Hotel KRC PalaceStarts from INR 3,082 per night
Hotel Gulmohar GrandStarts from INR 3,808 per night
Vishwaratna HotelStarts from INR 3,752 per night

Frequently Asked Questions about Shillong Tourism

1. Which city also holds the title of Assam’s cultural capital?

The people of Jorhat have been motivated to engage in cultural activities over the years by the cultural diversity that predominated there nearly a century ago. As a result, Jorhat has produced numerous creative writers, musicians, actors, historians, and journalists, earning the title “The Cultural Capital of Assam.”

2. Where is the Assamese Neo Vaishnavite culture said to have its roots?

The home of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture is Majuli.

3. What are Assam’s top shopping destinations?

The places on the list below that are the best for shopping in Guwahati will allow you to purchase Assamese traditional mementos.
The Maati Centre
Silkalay
Roodraksh Mall
The Hub Mall

4. What are the famous authentic dishes of Assam?

There are a variety of Assamese dishes that have satisfied the palates of both locals and visitors to the state, ranging from mildly spicy foods to flavour-rich dishes, vegetarian dishes to non-vegetarian curries.
Khaar
Masor Tenga
Aloo Pitika
Duck Meat Curry
Spiced Silkworm

5. What can I purchase in Assam?

Although there are many things to explore and buy from Assam, here are the four worth buying items if you visit Assam.
Scottish Clothing.
Natural Goods.
Crafts made of Bamboo
Shawls and Stoles.