Capital : Dispur

Principal Language : Assamese

Largest City : Guwahati

Establishment :

Districts : Barpeta | Bongaigaon | Cachar | Darrang | Dhubri | Dibrugarh | Dhemaji | Golaghat | Goalpara | Hailakandi | Jorhat | Karbi Anglong | Kokrajhar | Kamrup | Karimganj | Lakhimpur | Marigaon | North Cachar Hills | Nagaon | Nalbari | Sibsagar | Sonitpur | Tinsukia

Major Cities : Barpeta | Bongaigaon | Dhubri | Dibrugarh | Diphu | Goalpara | Guwahati | Jorhat | Karimganj | Nagaon | North Lakhimpur | Sibsagar | Silchar | Tezpur | Tinsukia

Geography

Assam is a tight fit in northeastern India, bounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Nagaland and Manipur to the east, Mizoram and Tripura to the south, and Maghalaya, Bangladesh, and West Bengal to the west. Its geography is greatly influenced by the Brahmaputra River, which runs westward across the state for nearly 450 miles. The river valley is full of many low hills, but mountains surround it and bring more rivers and streams to the Brahmaputra. Additionally, there are large areas of dense tropical rain forests in the state.

Important Cities - Towns and Religious - Tourist Places:

Barpeta,Batadrava (With place of great Vishnav Saint Sankardev), Bhalukpung (Angling), Chandubi Lake (Picnic Spot), Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Goalpara, Golaghat, Guwahati, Madan Kamdev Temple, Navagraha (Temple of Nine Planets), Straight Bridge, State Museum, State Zoo, Sukresuwar Temple, Umanada [Peacock Island]), Halflong (Health Resort), Hajop (Meeting point of Buddhism, and Islam), Hailkandi, Jatinga hills, Jorhat, Karimagnj, Kaziranga National Park (Famous for one-horned Great Indian Rhinoceros), Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli (Largest river island in the world), Marigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Pragjyotishpur, Sibsagar (Shiva temple), Silchar, Sualkchi (famous for silk industry), Tezppur (scenic beauty), Tinsukia.

Climate

The winter months (October - February) bring night and morning fog and temperatures in the low 40s (6C - 8C) but little rainfall. Once summer and the monsoon get into full swing, however, temperatures rise to the high 90s (35C - 38C), and rainfall becomes very heavy (among the heaviest in the world). Rainfalls can become so heavy that destructive floods ensue. Autumn and spring have moderate temperatures and light rainfalls, and are therefore the best times to visit. Assam is also prone to frequent minor earthquakes, but intense earthquakes are rare.

Location :

Location in eastern India, Assam is almost separated from central India by Bangladesh. It is bounded west by west Bengal, north by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, east by Naglad, Manipur and Myanmar, south by Meghalaya, Bangladesh, Tripura and Mizoram.

Culture

Assam's people are a mix of Mongolian-Tibetan, Aryan, and Burman origins, and their cultures have come together in Assam. The language of the people, Assamese, is very much like Bengali. Not surprisingly, much of the population is of Bengali and Bangladeshi decent. Large tribal populations exist in the hills and plains of Assam. Their culture includes a religion much like animism with elements of Hinduism. Many tribes adopted Christianity. Artists, sculptors, and other craftsman have thrived in Assam since ancient times. To this day, their arts are encouraged, especially silk work and weaving. In fact, in every Assamese house, regardless of caste or social standing, there is a loom, and every woman is expected to be skilled in producing fine silk and cotton cloths. The most important celebrations in Assam are the three Bihu festivals. The most important is the springtime Bohag Bihu (or Rangali Bihu), which marks the new year; it is celebrated with dancing, singing, and the presentation of a hand-woven towel to each family member from women of the house. The harvest festival Magh Bihu occurs in mid-January and celebrates community. The Kati Bihu (or Kangali Bihu) of mid-October marks the time of year when common houses lack food grains.

History :

Assam is an ancient land with a rich cultural heritage. Known as Pragjyotisha and later Kamrupa, she played a prominent part in history of Ancient and medieval India. Assam first became a British Protectorate at the close of the first Burmese war in 1826. In 1832, Cachar was annexed; in 1835, the jaintia Hills were included in the East India company's dominions and in 1839, Assam was annexed to Bengal. In 1874, Assam detached from Bengal and made a separate chief commissionership. On the partition of Bengal in 1095, it was united to the Eastern Districts of Bengal under a Lt. Governor. From 1912 the chief commissionership of Assam was revived and in 1921 a governor. From 1912 a governorship was created. On the partition of India almost the whole of predominantly Muslim district of Sylhet was merged with East Bengal (Pakistan, now Bangladesh). Dewangiri in North Kamrup was ceded to Bhutan in 1951. The Naga Hill district, administered by the union Government since 1957, became part of Nagaland in 1962. The State of Meghalays within Assam, Comprising the districts of Garo Hills and Khasoi and Jaintia Hills, came into existence on April 2, 1970 and achieved full statehood in January 1972 when it was decided to form a Union Territory of Mizoram from the Mizo Hill district. Mizoram became a State in 1987. The rest of the part remained as Assam.

Economy :

About 74 percent of the State's working force is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. More than 79 percent of the total cropped area is utilised for food crops production. Rice is the principal food crop. Jute, tea, cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, Potato and fruits are the main cash crops. Forests account for 22.21 percent of the total area of the State. The State has five national parks and 11 wild life sanctuaries. The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas Tiger Project (National Park) are renowned internationally. Assam holds a unique position in respect of mineral oil production. Coal, Limestone, refractory clay, dolomite and natural gas are the other minerals found in the State. Tea occupies an important place so far as agriculture-based industries are concerned. Assam has over 800 tea plantations and contributed about one-sixth of the world's entire tea production. A substantial part of the country's total petroleum output and natural gas is found in the State. The State has two oil refineries and the third with a petrochemical complex is being set-up. Besides a public sector fertilizer factory at Namrup, the industries located in the State are sugar, jute, silk, paper, plywood manufacture, rice and oil milling. A polyester spinning mill has also been established at Nathkuchi village of Kamrup district.

Facts About Assam

* Assam is known as "The Land of the Red River and the Blue Hills". The red river is the Brahmaputra River and the blue hills are the hills surrounding the river valley.

* It is believed that the name Assam comes from either the Bodo word "Ha-cham" (meaning low or low level country) or the word "Asama" (meaning unequalled and referring to the Ahoms, who ruled the land for six centuries).

* Paat and muga are two types of silk that come from Assam. They are considered some of the finest silks in the world.

The major power stations are Chandrapur Thermal Project, Namrup Thermal Project, Karbi-Langpi Hydel-Electric Project and Lakwa Thermal Power Station.