Assam Tourism (2019) > Assam, India Travel Guide, Best Places, Packages

"The Gateway to North-East India"

Assam, India

Assam, a treasure trove of natural beauty and diverse history, is one of the least explored regions in the country, lending it an immaculate, untouched aura that is sure to allure you. A land of wild forests, mighty rivers, and acres and acres of tea plantations, Assam, located in North East India, has a breath-taking landscape and is known to be one of the top biodiversity hotspots in the entire world. A veritable paradise, Assam shares international borders with both Bangladesh and Bhutan and boasts of its vibrant culture and scenic beauty, as well as its historical significance. One of the most beautiful states of India, Assam is the gateway to the enchanting and unexploited northeastern part of the country. With the majestic Brahmaputra river, magnificent hills, its rich flora and fauna, the state is every tourist's paradise.

Spread over an area of 1250 kilometres, Majuli is the largest river island of Asia and is famous for its traditions and its vibrant culture. Home to the 'Mising' or 'Mishing' tribe, Majuli is a great place to sit back and take in the beauty of the village which is surrounded by water. The Misings have a unique lifestyle, and they celebrate various festivals with a lot of pomp and show. Dibrugarh, a city in Assam, is known as the Tea City of India.

Hajo, an extremely ancient pilgrimage centre for not one or two, but three different religions, stands as a beautiful example of the secular diversity that exists in India. The area is dotted with numerous temples, mosques and churches, as well as other religious and sacred artefacts. Haflong, Assam?s only hill station, is a stunningly beautiful place, marked with rolling mountains and lush green valleys. It is also known as 'The Land of the Blue Hills'.

Top Places to Visit In Assam

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli

Guwahati

Hajo

Sivasagar

Silchar

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Top Attractions In Assam

Kamalabari Satra

Dakhinpat Satra

Hajo Powa Mecca

Guwahati Zoo

Garmur

ISKCON Guwahati

Assam Packages

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Splendid Assam and Meghalaya Package

5 Nights

Starting from ₹17,000

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Spiritual Guwahati, Shillong & More

6 Nights

Starting from ₹24,500

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Explore North-East on a Jeep - Guwahati Tezpur, Bomdila & More

6 Nights

Starting from ₹37,650

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Stunning Guwahati, Bhalukpong, Bomdila & More

7 Nights

Starting from ₹29,000

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Trinkets of Northeast - Guwahati, Kaziranga, Shillong & More

5 Nights

Starting from ₹17,500

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Blissful Guwahati, Shillong & More

5 Nights

Starting from ₹19,000

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

Spectacular scenic beauty. Convenient air travel. Connected to all other Northeastern cities. Pleasant temperature.

What's Not So Great?

Relatively less developed tourist facilities as compared to rest of India. All cities are not easily accessible. Heavy rainfall may hinder travel

For Whom?

Assam is a perfect family getaway. The tour of cities reveals the abundant scenic beauty that this state holds in store. It is also an abode of wildlife enthusiasts due to its unique ecology.

Assam Photos

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Brahmaputra - The Soul of Assam

Flowing through most regions of Assam, the Brahmaputra river is more than just a geographical entity. It has integrated into the culture and society of Assam. On its bank, all the major cities of Assam thrive and provide livelihoods to thousands of people. The river also nurtures the vast amount of forests in the state that are teeming with wildlife. The river has been at the centre of art, culture, folklore and literature for its aggressive temperament during the monsoons. Today, it has become an important part of the tourism industry, and many cruises operate along the river.

Arts and Crafts of Assam

Assamese crafts show a wide variety across the region and reflect the local cultural influences that have evolved over time. The most famous crafts are undoubtedly the bamboo and cane products, but other crafts like woodwork are also very famous. The metal crafts in the form of articles of worship as well as household items have made Assam a favourite destination for those who want to add a touch of rusticity to their homes. The tribal masks and traditional painting styles reflect the massive tribal influence on the lifestyle of the people as well as the thriving tribal culture that still forms an integral part of the state. Weaving is the traditional art of the Assamese. The vibrant lifestyle, the all-smile people, the presence of diverse tribes and cultures, make Assam society friendly and beautiful. Assam is famous for its wood, cane and bamboo crafts, pottery, handlooms, jewellery and colourful masks. The vibrant lifestyle, the all-smile people, the presence of diverse tribes and cultures, makes Assam society friendly and beautiful. Assam is famous for its wood, cane and bamboo crafts, pottery, handlooms, jewellery and colourful masks.

Vibrant Festivals of Assam

Like other North-Eastern states, festivities form the core of Assamese life, and this state has no dearth of festivals. The most famous, Bihu, is related to the agricultural cycle and is celebrated three times a year to correspond to various harvest and planting seasons. Mohang Bihu, Kaati Bihu and Magh Bihu are the three festivals celebrated by different communities in their distinctive way with dances and rituals. The Ambubachi Mela of the Kamakhya temple, Ali-ai-Ligang and Jonbil Mela are other major festivals.

Breathtaking Wildlife of Assam

Because of its geographical diversity, Assam is one of the leading biodiversity hotspots in the world. It has many different ecosystems like rainforests, grasslands, bamboo orchards, wetlands and marshes. Most of these forests are now protected as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and are open to tourists except during the monsoon seasons. Many rare species of animals and birds like the Golden Langur, the One-Horned Rhino and a variety of hornbills, amphibians and vultures are found in these forests. The Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Geography of Assam

The beautiful state of Assam is located in the North Eastern part of India and borders West Bengal. It shares an international boundary with Bangladesh and Bhutan and has a hilly terrain. A large area of Assam is naturally irrigated by the two major rivers - Brahmaputra and Barak and the hills of the Barail range run between these two valleys. Known around the world for its fragrant variety of tea, Assam is one of the biggest homes to a majority of India's tea gardens. Guwahati is the largest city and serves as the connection between the North Eastern states and mainland India. Dispur, Jorhat, Tezpur and Dhubri are some of the other main cities in the state.

People Of Assam

The people of the Assam are extremely friendly. They belong to different tribes and communities. Keeping in sync with the picturesque landscapes and the colourful customs, the people of Assam are a perfect example of unity in diversity. The state has the largest number of tribes within their variety in tradition, culture, dresses, and exotic way of life. The native and official languages of the state are Assamese and Bodo. The major religions of Assam are Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Buddhism. From ancient times, artists and sculptors, masons and architects, and others craftsmen such as weavers, potters, goldsmiths, artisans working with ivory, wood, bamboo, cane and rawhide have all flourished in Assam.

History of Assam

The ancient history of Assam shows consistency with contemporary events in mainland India and has been clearly documented since the 1st century AD. It was known as Kamarupa and ruled by subsidiaries of North Indian rulers. The 13th century saw invasions from the North and East by Delhi-based Islamic rulers and the Chinese army.

The Ahoms ruled Assam at the time when Mughals were presiding over the rest of India and were deposed by the advent of the British in 1826. After independence, few parts of Assam became part of East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) and the present day state of Assam was formed in 1962 as various states of the Northeast were carved out of it.