Assam is a land of blue hills, green valleys and a red river — the majestic and sacred Brahmaputra. It is known for its famous tea, its silk and its biodiversity, and is also rich in archeological heritage. Assam is in the north eastern region of India, just below the eastern Himalayan foothills. It is surrounded by the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya, which together with Assam are known collectively as the seven sisters, and by the nations of Bhutan and Bangladesh. The borders of China and Myanmar are within the range of 80 to 100 km.
THINGS TO DO
EXPERIENCE FESTIVAL CHEER
The festivals of a particular region are the mirrors that reflect the life and cultural orientation of the people. And thanks to a massive diverse cultural milieu and numerous habitant communities, Assam hosts a bevy of festivals across the year. These fiestas are the perfect time to be in the state as they offer the ideal opportunity to mingle with the locals and get close to their lives and habits. The main festival of Assam is Bihu and there are three distinct ways to celebrate it within a year – one in January, one in April and the other in September-October. The significance of Bihu lies in the fact that it is not a religious festival but a way to celebrate mother nature and the various stages of harvesting. Apart from Bihu, the people of Assam celebrate various other festivals – witness Kamakhya Temple in full glory during the Ambubachi Mela (June); be a part of the lives of the Bodos (one of Assam’s main tribes) in Baishagu (April) and enjoy the Mising (another tribe) hospitality in Ali Aye Ligang (mid February). Apart from these celebrations, Assamese people observe all the major Indian and global festivals like Diwali, Holi, Eid and Christmas; but yes, with a tinge of local flavor!
Embark on a Spiritual Sojourn
Assam with all its natural beauty and mystic charm is home to a unique spiritual mix. Not a frontline pilgrimage destination, the state, nevertheless has its set of temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches. All the major religious faiths co – exist in the land and have grown into full – fledged ways of living with a set of indigenous spiritual leaders.
The tiny town of Hajo is an eternal example of communal harmony with Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism – all co – existing peacefully. Visit the Hayagriva Madhava Mandir, which is reminiscent of the Jagannath Temple in Puri; pay your respect at the Powa Mecca and witness the power of Shakti in Kamakhya Temple. Sikhism is not much prevalent in Assam but the town of Dhubri at the bank of the Brahmaputra houses a gurdwara (often called Dhubri Saheb) founded by Guru Teg Bahadur in 17th century. Find solace amid all these peaceful abodes and experience serenity.
Mystery hunt in Mayong
Who does not love a good tale of mystery with open ending? And the films of Christopher Nolan are not the only answer to it. Despite the growing information flow about the life and living in Assam, there is still a section of society as well as a section of travelers who are either apprehensive or intrigued by the scattered tales of the indescribable and indefinable. These stories are everywhere in the state but two places commend special mention if we talk about the unexplained mystery trail of Assam – Jatinga and Mayong.
A 40-km drive from Guwahati will lead you to the quiet and peaceful village of Mayong in Morigaon district; but the serenity of this place is more a veil of mystery than anything else. Often referred to as India’s magic capital, Mayong is (in)famous for the tales of people vanishing into thin air, fierce beasts being tamed as if they were a puppy and not a beast or humans being converted into animals and vice a versa. An outlaw of a place for many years, Mayong, of late, has gained prominence as a tourist destination and adventure seekers from all parts of the globe visit this eerie village. Another sleepy hamlet Jatinga is known for the mass bird suicides that take place from September to November every year.
Take the Heritage trails
An ancient land of myths and legends, it is no surprise that Assam has a rich repertoire of historical monuments with numerous mythological references attached to them. A cultural heritage aficionado or a history lover will have a field day while living some of the lesser known episodes and tales from Assam’s past amid ruined palaces and quiet architectural marvels. Icing on the cake – many of these remnants of the past have been keeping a low profile in the midst of soul – soothing natural beauty or fitness – testing highlands!
To warm up, you can start with a heritage walk along the alleys of old Guwahati and then move 41 kms north to Baihata Chariali that houses an archaeological site called Madan Kamdev. Take a trip to the culturally rich town of Sivasagar and stand witness to the finer side of the Ahom dynasty amid the Rang Ghar, the Charaideo hillock, Joy dol, Shiva dol, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar and Sivasagar tank. Assam’s cultural capital, the town of Jorhat, is witness to many historical events in the state and is still a must – visit for a history chaser. The present town of Tezpur finds frequent reference in The Mahabharata and the love story of princess Usha (King Baana’s Daughter) and prince Anirudha (grandson of Lord Krishna) tickles the romantic hidden inside you; not to mention other tourist points like Agnigarh hill, Cole Park, Mahabhairab Temple and Hazara Pukhuri.
River cruise on the Brahmaputra
The river runs through the entire length of Assam but the stretch that touches Guwahati is the most highlighted one, courtesy the city’s commercial and political status and the famous Saraighat Bridge. The Brahmaputra divides the city into two parts while on its imposing journey from the Himalayan glaciers to the Bay of Bengal. After the completion of Saraighat Bridge, these waters were traversed just for fishing and coastline trading but the scene has changed drastically in the past decade or so. Now several ferry service providers offer laid-back river cruises for the travelers.
The Bharalu ghat and the Kachari ghat in the city are the main places from where you can book a cruise. Usually operated in the afternoon, these cruises last for two to three hours and take you along the majestic waters of the Brahmaputra. These ferries have sitting area for the guests and one can avail the food and beverage services onboard. Imagine yourself on one of these ferries with a cup of tea standing witness to the sunset on the crimson western sky!
Heritage walks in old Guwahati
There is a reason why the phrase – old is gold – exists in our vocabulary and the old Guwahati area further cements that saying. Though there is no specific new Guwahati on either maps or local lingo, we can recommend certain localities that will bring back the old world charm once you set foot in them. And we are referring to the literal meaning of the word ‘foot’ here as these vintage parts are best explored if you walk down its alleys and corridors. The major areas that fall under this bracket are?the academic hub of Panbazar, the colonial remnant Uzanbazar, the roads of Kharghuli, the entire area of Digholipukhuri and some parts of Aambari area.