Silchar Travel Essentials

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"Gateway to the Barak Valley"

Silchar Tourism

Situated on the Surma (Barak) River, and known for its scenic beauty and natural splendour, Silchar is surrounded by Manipur on the east, Bangladesh on the west, Mizoram on the south and the Barail hills on the north. Located south of Guwahati at a distance of 313 Kms, this town is considered as the most important centre and gateway to Barak Valley in Assam.

Silchar is the 2nd largest town in Assam and is one of the most stable areas in the North-East and hence locally referred to as the Island of Peace. It is also one of the most developed areas with its own airport and institutes of higher education. Due to its picturesque location, Silchar is also used as the gateway to the neighbouring areas of Manipur and Mizoram. Approximately 90% residents of Silchar are Bengalis who speak the Sylheti dialect, the rest being Bishnupriya Manipuri, Dimasa Kachari (Barman), Manipuri (Meitei), Marwaris, Assamese and some tribal groups like Nagas.

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Tea Estates of Silchar

There are a lot of Tea Estates around Silchar. These tea gardens not only provide breathtaking views, but bring you close to nature. North-east is famous for its tea estates, and Silchar is no different. The tea produced in Silchar is of high quality. As the climate and the soil in and around Silchar are apt for growing tea, it is surrounded by wide hills which are covered with tea plants.

The tea produced in Silchar is exported to many countries. These tea estates attract a large number of tourists due to their scenic views. Tea estates like Sindoora Tea Garden and Koomber Tea estate are the most famous ones in Silchar.

History

The history if this city dates back to the period of the British period. The shore of river Barka became a central location for trade and commerce, around which settlements started establishing, converting the place into a city. People came to know the place as Shiler Chor meaning bank of stones. Silchar used to serve as the headquarter for British Empire in the year 1833, after which they established the first polo club in 1850. The people of the valley witnessed various developmental revolutions throughout their history. The Assam Government captured the ruling after Britishers and tried changing the language to Assamese but faced protests from the people. Later, under the jurisdiction of West Bengal, it got Bengali as an official language. Developed as one of the important cities of Assam, it is still today of great historical enthusiasts for archaeological studies.

Etymology

The place derived its name from two words: shil ('rocks') and char ('fields'), meaning rocky fields.

Restaurants and Local Food in Silchar

Assamese and Bengali cuisine is the most popular cuisine of Silchar. Shu?ki (the local name for dried fish), shidal chutney and chunga-r peetha, are some of the local delicacies.
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Suggested Itinerary for Silchar

Start your day early morning by going to Bhubeneshwar temple. Since it is a 17 km hike, so you can keep a whole day for going up and coming down. If you are not too adventurous then you can start your day by going to Khaspur, followed by Badarpur Fort and Maniharan Tunnel and you can go for shopping in the evening. The next day you can go to Kancha Kanti Kali Mandir early morning, followed by Hajo and Maibong.

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How to Reach Silchar

How to Reach Overview

Silchar is well-connected to the major cities like Guwahati and Kolkata through roadways, railways and airways. Many flights leave for Silchar Airport from Guwahati and Kolkata. Guwahati Railway Station is directly connected to Silchar railway station. A good system of roadways connects Silchar to various cities of Assam. A national highway links Silchar with Guwahati directly.

How to reach Silchar by flight

Flights from Guwahati to Silchar are available on a regular basis. Air India also provides the direct service from Kolkata to Silchar. Silchar Airport is around 26 km away from the city centre, and affordable taxi service is available for around INR 200 to pick you from the airport.

How to reach Silchar by road

Silchar is connected to different parts of Assam through roadways. It is very easy to reach Silchar through taxi or by driving on your own. A national highway stretches from Guwahati to Silchar. It is 340 km long. You can also reach Silchar via bus, as all the buses go to Silchar's ISBT.

How to reach Silchar by train

Silchar has its own railway station located in the Tarapur area, but it has only metre gauge currently. It is connected with most of the important places of North-East including Guwahati, Lunding, Agartala, etc. However, if you have to come via train from other parts of the country like Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata, you have to take a train first to Guwahati or till Dibrugarh and then take a train to Silchar. Among the important trains in the north-east are the Cachar express and Barak Valley Express. The other nearest Railway Station is Badarpur Railway Station, located at a distance of 32 km from Silchar. It is very well connected to many major cities like Dimapur and Guwahati. The railway link from Silchar to Lumding is one of the most picturesque railway routes in India.

Local transport in Silchar

To travel around the tourist places in Silchar one can hire local cab available in the city. There are private taxi services in the city. However, one must get the rates fixed in advance. Hiring a taxi would probably be advisable to move around the city of Silchar.

Most frequently searched routes to Silchar

Route Name Distance Time
Kolkata to Silchar 1,288 km 1 day 5 hours
Delhi to Silchar 2,216 km 1 day 16 hours
Hyderabad to Silchar 2,753 km 2 days 4 hours
Chennai to Silchar 2,934 km 2 days 6 hours
Bangalore to Silchar 3,141 km 2 days 10 hours
Pune to Silchar 3,099 km 2 days 8 hours

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Silchar Photos

Silchar, Assam
Salganga
Dolu Lake
Bhubeneshwar temple (Bhubanhill)

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FAQs on Silchar

What is the local food in Silchar?

Assamese and Bengali cuisine is the most popular cuisine of Silchar. Shu?ki (the local name for dried fish), shidal chutney and chunga-r peetha, are some of the local delicacies.
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What are the places near Silchar?

The top places near to Silchar are Hailakandi which is 27 km from Silchar, Shillong which is located 124 km from Silchar, Karimganj which is located 45 km from Silchar, Cherrapunjee which is located 123 km from Silchar, Imphal which is located 115 km from Silchar

What are the things to do in Silchar?

The top things to do in Silchar are Khaspur, Dolu Lake, Maniharan Tunnel, Badarpur fort, Shopping in Silchar, Bhubeneshwar temple (Bhubanhill). You can see all the places to visit in Silchar here

How much does a package cost for Silchar?

The packages for Silchar start at INR 7000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the best way to reach Silchar?

Silchar is well-connected to the major cities like Guwahati and Kolkata through roadways, railways and airways. Many flights leave for Silchar Airport from Guwahati and Kolkata. Guwahati Railway Station is directly connected to Silchar railway station. A good system of roadways connects Silchar to various cities of Assam. A national highway links Silchar with Guwahati directly.
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What is the best time to visit Silchar?

Silchar is a great city to visit in any season. The weather is pleasant throughout the year, and you can explore Silchar in all its glory. The temperature in summers is good, and it's also the season when a lot of travellers come to Silchar. During the winters, the temperature is moderate. It's neither too hot nor too cold and is perfect for those who'd like to spend as much time outside as possible. During the monsoon season, the weather is refreshed due to the frequent showers, but it also enhances the risk of floods.
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Who should visit Silchar?

Silchar is the perfect place for those people who want to explore north-east India. It introduces you to the beautiful sceneries and nature trails of Assam without making you compromise with your basic luxuries. It also a good place for religious people, as Silchar is the abode to the infamous Iskcon Temple, Bhuban Temple and Kancha Kanti Kali Temple.

What is not so good about Silchar?

Limited options in terms of cuisine. Floods are common during the rainy season. Silchar can appear a bit bland as compared to other Assam cities like Majuli and Jorhat if you are searching for cities which can give you more landscape views.

What is famous about Silchar?

Beautiful tea estates. Natural beauty and gorgeous trails. Easy to reach, as it is connected via all modes of transportation. Accommodations are easily available. Connected to nature while having modern facilities like malls. An all-weather city.

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Silchar Reviews

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Amit Prabhu Prabhu

3 years ago
The biggest city in Assam after Guwahati. The city lies on the banks of River Barak. A potboiler of Assamese, Bengali,Manipuri and Mizo culture. It is well connected by Air Rail and Water.

Arampuii Ralte

6 years ago
the most unclean city
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