Assam

Spectacular scenery and rare wildlife combine with a vibrant culture and soul stirring pilgrimages
Assam is a state of breath-taking scenic beauty, rarest flora and fauna, vast rolling plain, mighty waterways and a land of fairs and festivals. It shares its borders in the North and East with the Kingdom of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Along the south lie Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Meghalaya lies to her South-West, Bengal and Bangladesh to her West. Assam has many fascinating aspects to experience, including the Kaziranga National Park, home to the world famous and rare one horned rhinoceros, the remarkable Majuliisland, ancient Ahom architectural marvels and numerous Golf courses backed by beautiful heritage/luxury resorts and colonial tea bungalows. Renowned for its tea, rich flora and fauna and other rare species of wildlife on the verge of extinction, there is perhaps no part of the world where such a variety of wildlife exists barring Africa.

Air
All the major airlines and low cost airlines operate regular flights between Guwahati and other cities of India other North Eastern states.

Rail
Guwahati is also well connected by train with Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi, Thiruvanthapuram, etc. Other important towns in the state are well connected by train and buses from Guwahati.

Road
A network of roads connects Guwahati with all important cities in the neighbouring states and major cities in the country.

Guwahati
Guwahati is a principal centre of socio-cultural, industrial, trade and commerce activities of the entire region.Hugging the shores of the turbulent Brahmaputra, Guwahati is the gateway to the enchanting North Eastern India. The Light of the East, Pragjyotishpura, as it was known once upon a time, is said to have been a vast kingdom during the epic period of the Mahabharata. Today, Guwahati is the hub of the region and also its largest city.

In Guwahati

Kamakhya Temple is an ancient seat of tantric and shakti cults of Hinduism and it is the most important shrine of Assam and Umananda Temple is believed to be the world’s smallest human inhabited river island.

Navagraha Temple is a great centre of the study of astrology and astronomy in the past.

State Museum is a well laid out complex displaying various aspects of Assam’s culture, history and crafts.

DighaliPukhuri is a historic tank with facilities for boating.

Planetarium is the only one of its kind in the entire north-eastern region.

State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden is a store house of endangered and rare species of wildlife and plants.

Sri Manta Sankardev Kalakhsetra is a modern cultural complex, Science Museum houses many exhibits and models depicting various natural phenomenon and modern technological advancement.

Basistha Ashram is a pilgrimage centre and Tirupathi Balaji Temple is modern temple with south-Indian style of architecture.

Tour Operators
Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Tel: 0361 2633654, conducts many different tours for the Guwahati city and different parks and to the nearby places. Please visit www.assamtourismonline.com  for more information on ATDC accommodations and different tour options and excursions and www.assamtourism.org for information on Assam Tourism, Tel: (0361) 2547102 Or contact the Tour Operators:

Kaziranga Holidays
Guwahati
Tel: 0361 2664444/ 97060 44755
E-mail: info@kazirangaholidays.com

M/s Koyeli Tours and Travels
Tel:  0361 2130871
E-mail: Koyelitravels@gmail.com

Landmark Tours and Travels
Tel: 9954008638
Email: landmark@explorenortheastindia.com

Jungle Travels India Private Limited
Tel: 2640368/2662140
E-mail: jti.holidays@rediffmail.com

M/S Purvi Discovery (P) Ltd
Dibrugarh – 786005
Tel: 0373 2301120/2300035
E-mail: purvi@sancharnet.in
M/S Network Travels
Guwahati
Tel: 0361 2549719
Fax: 2515105
E-mail: networkgroup@satyam.net.in

Raj Mahal Travel and Tour
Guwahati
Tel: 0361 2511607
Fax: 2546981
E-mail: rtta@sanchernet.in

Flamingo Travel & Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Guwahati
Tel: 0361 2454669/ 2456514
Fax: 2454669
E mail: info@flamingotravels.com

Rhino Travels
Tel: 0361 2540061
Fax: 0361 2547025
E-mail: rhinotravels@gmail.com

Brahmaputra Cruise Private Limited
Tel: 0361 2600244
Fax: 2734769
E-mail: bcplcruise@gmail.com

ShivaniAviats Pvt. Ltd.
Tel: 0361 2464263
Fax: 2463627
E-mail: shivaniholid@sify.com

Hajo (32 kms from Guwahati) is an interesting place where one can find the shrines of Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists.

Sualkuchi
One of the rural tourism hotspot of Assam that is being identified by Ministry of Tourism, renown for the production of Assamese silk: Pat, EriandMuga, located 30 km from Guwahati.
Gondhmow Tourism Development Society
P.O. &Vill.Gondhmow
Sualkuchi-781103, District: Kamrup, Assam
Tel: (0)9864207439
E-mail: secretary.gtda@gmail.com

MadanKamdev (40 km from Guwhatai) is an archaeological site where erotic sculptures are found.

Majuli is the biggest river island in the world and it is famous for its satras or Vasishnavamonastries.

Sivasagar is a beautiful town and a former capital of the Ahom kings who ruled Assam. Shivadol or Shiva Temple, KarengGhar, TalatalGhar, Rang Ghar are some of the places worthseeing.

Tezpur is famous for the legend of princess Usha, the daughter King Bana and prince Anirudha, the grandson of Lord Krishna for their eternal love and romance.
Accommodation:
Hotel KRC Palace
Surya Rekha Complex, J.N. Road, Tezpur
Tel:03712-222688/223188
E-mail: info@krcpalace.com

Hotel K.F.Boutique (2*)
Mission Charali, Tezpur
Tel: 03712-255203/237825
E-mail: skfood@gmail.com.

Kaziranga National Park (www.kaziranganationalpark.com)

Manas National Park (www.manasnationalpark.net)

DibruSaikhowa National Park

Nameri National Park

Other parks of the state:
Jatinga is famous for the migratory birds suicide mystery located at a distance of 9 km from Halflong. Orang (Rajib Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at 70 km from Mangaldai and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located at 35 km from Guwahati.

Rongali Bihu: April 15
Ambubachi: June
Ras Lila: November 2