The relatively lesser explored though enchanting Indian state of Assam--earlier famous as Kamarupa – –is an ancient state with a rich history. The land of the Red River and the Blue Hills, Assam was inhabited even in the stone ages.
Located in the lap of the eastern Himalayas and spread across the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys, Assam is bounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north; Nepal and Manipur in the east; Mizoram and Tripura in the south; and Meghalaya, Bangladesh and West Bengal in the west.
Assam has 27 administrative districts. Assamese, Bodo and Bengali are the chief languages of the state. Dispur is the state’s capital while Silchar, Guwahati (earlier Pragjyotishpur), Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Jorhat are some of the key cities.
Assam became a part of the Indian Union in 1826 by the Treaty of Yandaboo concluded at the end of the first Anglo-Burmese War. Brahmaputra is the main river of Assam and runs for more than 450 miles in the state.
The entire Assam is naturally beautiful with scenic valleys, enchanting rivers and green vegetations. Among the many attractions of the state, these are the chief ones: Kamakhya and Madan Kamdev (temples with a great spiritual significance); and Kaziranga and Manas (national parks and world heritage sites).
Other attractions of the state are the world famous Assam Tea, known for its strong taste; and the Pata and Muga Silk—the magnificent varieties of silk that much inspire those in the business of clothe and saree making. Other renowned attractions are the One-Horned Rhinoceros and the Asian Elephants.
