Assam is an Indian state with rich culture, diversity, tradition, archaeological sites, and national wildlife parks governed under the leadership of chief minister Sri Himanta Biswa Sarma. It shares its borders with Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. Guwahati, situated on the south bank of river Brahmaputra, is the largest city in Assam, famous for its silk markets and the popular hilltop Kamakhya temple and is also known as the ‘Gateway to North-East India’. The article below discusses some of the popular destinations in Assam, their unique features, and some interesting facts to note. 

Popular Destinations In Assam 

Some of the most popular destinations in Assam are listed below,

•     Guwahati – The Gateway to North-East India, is famous for its silk bazaars, subtropical humid climate, and the rich wildlife such as the rhinoceros, tigers, python, gaurs, primate species, endangered birds, Asian elephants, etc. The largest city in Assam borders the Shillong plateau and Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary to the east. The Bharalu tributary of the river Brahmaputra flows in the city of Guwahati. 

•     Jorhat – It is one of the most important cities of Assam with a beautiful historical value and a centre for the tea industry. In the name Jorhat, ‘jor’ means twin, and ‘hat’ means market. It is famous for its rich culture, art, and tradition and is connected with all forms of transportation; rail, road, water, and air. Several prestigious research institutions and universities are in Jorhat. 

•     Hajo – It is a famous pilgrimage place of Assam, popularly known as an ancient Tantrism, and is the meeting place of the Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. Hajo is located 24 kilometres from Guwahati and is known for its famous Hayagriva Madhava Mandir, where devotees come from faraway places to attain nirvana. The Pao Mecca Mosque situated in Hajo is a prominent Muslim pilgrimage.  

•     Kaziranga National Park – It is a world heritage site with a two-thirds population of the great one-horned rhinoceros in the world. As per the recent statistics, there are 2413 rhinos, 1666 Asiatic water buffalo, 468 eastern swamp deer, 1940 Indian elephants, wild boar, hog deer, gaur, and sambar. The Kaziranga National Park harbours flora with evergreen, deciduous forests, grasslands, Indian gooseberry, Kumbhi, and cotton tree. 

•     Majuli Island – It is situated in the Brahmaputra River, is the first river island to be converted into a district, and is 300-400 kilometres east of the city of Guwahati. Majuli Island was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2006 and is easily accessible by ferries from the town of Jorhat. The population of Majuli island consists of tribal, non-tribal, and scheduled caste. 

•     Orang National Park – It is situated on the north bank of Brahmaputra and is widely known for its rich flora and fauna. Along with the Brahmaputra River, the Pachnoi river, the Belsiri river, and the Dhansiri river also border the Orang National Park in Darrang and Sonitpur. The rich fauna includes the royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, great one-horned rhinoceros, wild boar, Gangetic dolphin, and Indian fox. Etc. 
•     Haflong lake – Haflong, meaning anthill, has a subtropical highland climate and is the only hill station situated in Assam. The Haflong Lake is maintained by the Dima Hasao Forest Department and the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. It is widely famous for migratory birds alongside the rivers and its water sports activities such as boating and fishing and is also regarded as the Scotland of Assam.

•     Kamakhya Temple – It is located in the Nilachal hills in Guwahati and is one of the most prestigious temples for Hindus dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya. It is also regarded as one of the oldest and most important of the 51 Shakti Pithas in the Shakti cult. It is also the famous festival site to celebrate the menstruation of the goddess in the Ambubachi Mela. 

•     Umananda Island – It lies in the river Brahmaputra and is a small river islet in Guwahati. ‘Umananda’ means ‘Uma’ for the Hindu Goddess Parvati and ‘Ananda’ for Lord Shiva. It is also known by the name ‘peacock island’ for its structure resembling the feathers of a peacock. The famous Umananda Temple of Lord Shiva harbours a large population of golden langurs.

•     Panimoor Falls – It is located in the North Cachar district of Assam, widely known for its scenic beauty. It lies 120 kilometres from the Haflong lake and is famous for its milky white waterful known as the Panimoor. It has pilgrimage centres, rocky hill forests, wildlife, tea vegetation, grasslands, waterfalls, and mighty rivers. The nearest railway station from the Panimoor Falls is located at Lumding in Assam.   

Conclusion 

The Indian state of Assam is an epitome of beauty, culture, tradition, rich flora and fauna, magnificent rivers, tea plantations, and silk culture. Guwahati is the largest city in Assam, nestled on the banks of the river Brahmaputra. Upon reading the article, the reader will be equipped with some of the most famous places in Assam and some interesting facts about them. It harbours many wildlife national parks and sanctuaries. There are popular world heritage sites in Assam. The Guwahati airport is the primary form of transportation connecting the northeastern states and is located 26 kilometres from Dispur.