It is divided into 23 districts and consists of northern Brahmaputra valley, the middle Karbi and Cachar hills and the southern Barak Valley.
Assam is a multi-etnic society. Forty Five different languages are spoken by various communities of Assam.The flora, fauna, wildlife and rivers of Assam have great natural beauty to offer to tourists.
There are also many lodging facilities and hotels. It is also famous for its finest and some of the most expensive teas in the world.
It is also an important producer of natural gas and crude oil. Real estate and Tourism also lend their share in its economy.
Area 78,438 sq. km
Population 26,638,407
Capital Dispur
Principal Languages Assamese
Agriculture
Assam is an agricultural State. Agriculture occupies an important place in the economy of the State. The principal food crop is rice. The cash crops are jute, tea, cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, potato, etc. Noteworthy horticulture items are orange, banana, pineapple, arecanut, coconut, guava, mango, jackfruit and citrus fruits. The State has an estimated 39.44 lakh hectares gross cropped area, of which net area sown is about 27.01 lakh hectares
Forests and Wildlife
Assam is known for her rich forest wealth which constituted 22.21 per cent of the total forest area.
The State has five National Parks and eleven wildlife sanctuaries. The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas Tiger Project (National Park) are internationally famous for one horned Rhino and Royal Bengal Tiger respectively.
Industry
Agriculture-based industries, tea occupies an important place. There are six industrial growth Centres in the State. A CIPET has been established at Amingaon near Guwahati. Assam has always enjoyed the highest reputation for her arts and crafts associated with her cottage industries. Cottage industries include handloom, sericulture, cane and bamboo articles, carpentry, brass and bell-metal crafts. Assam produces varieties of silk, Endi, Muga, Tassar, etc. Muga silk is produced only in Assam in the world.
Irrigation and Power
The major power stations are Chandrapur Thermal Project, Namrup Thermal Project and a few Mobile Gas Turbine Units along with a mini hydro-electric project. Revitalising the Thermal Power Station of Bongaigaon and completing the Karbi-Langpi Project will boost the power supply in the State. Approval has been received for Tipaimukh Dam Project.
Transport
Roads: The total length of roads in the State was 37,515 km which includes 2,754 kms of National Highways. The construction of 160 km of barbed wire fencing and 27 kms of the border road along the Indo-Bangladesh International have been completed.
Railways: The length of railway tract in Assam is 2,284.28 kms comprising 1,227.16 kms under broad-gauge and 1,057.12 km under meter-gauge lines.
Aviation: The regular civil air services operate from Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport (Guwahati), Salonibari (Tezpur), Mohanbari (Dibrugarh), Kumbhirgram (Silchar), Rawriah (Jorhat) and Silonibari (North Lakhimpur)
Festivals
Assam has an exclusive range of colourful festivals. Bihu is the chief festival celebrated on the three occasions. Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu marks the advent of the cropping season and it also ushers in the Assamese New Year. Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is the harvest festival and Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu coming in autumn is a simple affair.
Religion accounts for a large variety of festivals. Vaishnavites observe birth and death anniversaries of prominent Vaishnava saints through day-long singing of hymns and staging of Bhaonas (theatrical performances in traditional style). Ambubachi in Kamakhya shrine, Sivaratri Mela at Umananda and other places near Siva temples, Durga Puja, Diwali, Dol-Jatra, Id, Christmas, Ashokastami Mela, Rash Mela, Parasuram Mela are other religious festivals.
Famous Cities
Dispur: The capital city of Assam is well known for Auction Market of Tea. There are places of mythological significance like Basistha Ashram, and a cultural center Shankardev Kalakschetra.
Guwahati: “Light of the East” is famous for majestic Brahmaputra River. It is the hub of commercial trading in north east. The travelers delight are Umananda temple, Kamakhya Temple, Assam Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Assam State Museum.
Barpeta: This “Land of Satras” has a prominence in terms of business. A great number of schools and educational institutions make it a hub for education in east.
Dibrugarh: The name of the city ha sits origin to the mouth of a river Dibaru. It is a small town less frequented by tourists. This commercial city located along the Brahmaputra is the largest tea exporting town in India.
Silchar: Flowing to the extreme east of this city is the river Barak. The unmatched view of sunrise in the exotic natural environs is marvelous. Bhuban hill,Sri Sri Kancha Kanti Devi Temple, Khaspur, Maniharan Tunnel and temple of Goddess Lakshmi Devi are must see for travelers.
Majuli: This city cradled by Brahmaputra, boasts of being the largest fresh Water River Island in the world. The exquisite beauty, innocence and naivety of the land and its people make it a hot spot among travelers. The city is a dwelling for Assamese Vaishshnavite culture which colors the eco and spiritual tourism.
Hajo: A confluence of three religion, Hajo is located on the northern bank of Brahmaputra. A pilgrimage center for Hindus and Muslims alike it has many temples the most famous being Hayagriva-Madhab Temple. Poa Mecca is a revered pilgrimage for Muslims.
One Horned Rhino in KazirangaSibsagar: The former capital of Ahoms, the city is “The Ocean of Shiva”. There are many places of tourist interest like Rang Ghar, Kareng Dhar and Talatal Ghar Gargaon Palace, Jaysagar Tank and Temples, Ajan Pir Dargah Sharif, Charaiadeo, Namdang Stone Bridge, Rudrasagar Tank and Temple and Gaurisagar Tank and Temples.
Tawang: The city is pleasant and nestles a huge monastery – the Tawang Monastery.
Tezpur: “The City of Blood” named after a mythological battle betwixt Vishnu and Shiva, the Preserver and Destroyer of world respectively, is abundant with folklore and beliefs. Nehru Maidan, Chitralekha Udyan, The Mahabhairav Temple, Agnigarh, Da-Parbatia Bamuni Hills, The Hazara Pukhuri and Cole Park are some of the tourist destinations. The city has many sanctuaries and reserves like The Nameri Tiger Reserve, Orang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri Sanctuary, and Kaziranga National Park.
Wildlife
There are many wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks in Assam that make this state a unique habitat for the wild beasts. Among the well known are Kaziranga National Park (famous for sheltering the rare one horned rhino), Manas National Park (famous for the largest tiger reserve and a World Heritage Site), Orang National Park (a mini Kaziarnga), Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, Pabha or Milroy Sanctuary, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park ( a biosphere reserve), Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Namber Wildlife Sanctuary, Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary, Barandi Game Reserve.
Dance and Music
Each occasion is observed with enthusiastic fervor in Assam. Celebrated with much vigor each form of dance and music is Assam is extraordinary. Some of the famous dances of Assam are Bihu Dance (the most popular dance performed by young boys and girls characterized by brisk stepping, flinging and flipping of hands), Satriya Nritya, a beautiful classic dance of Assam, Bhor Tal Nritya , an extension of Sankari culture, Chah Baganar Jumur Nach (Jumur dance of tea garden), Bagurumba dance of Bodos, Mishing's Ali Ai Ligang. There are many other folk dance forms in Assam like Husari and Bihunas, Dhuliya and Bhawariya, Deodhani, Zikirs, Mohauhau or Mahkheda and Apsara-Sabah.
