Assam

Sandwiched between the great Himalayan foothills to the north and the plateau of Meghalaya to the south, the lush valley of Assam state is dominated by the mighty Brahmaputra river.The stunning grandeur of its dense tracts of tropical forests, interspersed with emerald patchwork quilts of paddy and verdant tea gardens showcase the life giving largese of the mighty Brahmaputra.

An attractive state to drive through with miles of smooth, flat roads coursing through dense forests or vibrant villages.The name ASSAM has been used for more than eight hundred years from the time the Tai people first came to Assam. the state covers an area of 30285 sq mi and is bordered by Bhutan and Bangladesh. In the mythical past, Assam was known as `Pragjyotishpur`. During the Ramayana age and the later Mahabharata age, Asaam was known as `Kamrup`. Today there are two names for Assam; the official English name ASSAM and the Assamese local name OXOM.

Let us discuss in brief how the name was evolved. When the Shan invaders first came to Assam from upper Burma in the thirteenth century, they called themselves as Tai, which meant glorious. When these Tai people settled in Assam, they came to be known as Ahom while the name of the country became known as Oxom. The prefix `a` is used, like typical Assamese words, simply to give accent on the sound `ch`. It is clear that the origin of the term `Acham` or `Asam` is from the Tai people.

Main attraction of Assam:

Kamakhya Temple:
This is a seat of Tantric Buddism in India. Mythologically Lord Vishnu severed corpse of Parvati into pieces with Sudarshan Charkra while Lord Shiva was carrying her dead body. Her yoni or vagina fell here making it one of the most sacred of Shaktipitas.

Haflong:
It is a picturesque hill-station where one can see the rainbow down below. Jatinga, famous for the unexplained phenomenon of migratory birds 'committing mass suicide', is only 9 kms away from Haflong.

Sibsagar:
The historical city has 200-year-old Sibsagar tank in the centre. Shivadol one of the three temples is said to the highest Shiva temple in India.

Majuli Island:
Situated in the midst of river Brahmaputra, this is the world's largest river island. Over 15 Vaishnava monasteries or satras are located on Majuli.

How to reach Assam:

Air:
It is quite easy to travel to this beautiful place from any part of the world as here you can come in by air. The state has one international Airport in Guwahati. Other airports are Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur and Silchar.

Flights which can take you to Assam are Air India, Indian Airlines, Sahara Airlines, Jet Airways and Deccan Air. They operate regular flights. There is also an international weekly flight between Bangkok and Guwahati.

Road:
A network of National Highways and other roads connect Assam other Indian cities. The tourist destinations in Assam are also well connected by road network.

Rail:
A convenient Indian Railways network runs through out the state connecting major Indian cities with Assam. Northeastindiatravel is always at your service providing means to stay better during your holidaying. Keep yourself updated with our guide to Assam and find out the most suitable information for you and for your family. We strive to give you the best.