The most vibrant among the Seven Sisters of North East, Assam stands out to be welcoming for any travel enthusiast with its beauty and charm. Standing beside river Brahmaputra, blessed with exotic wildlife, lush dewy tea gardens, warm people, and a strategic location makes Assam a perfect gateway to enter North East.
In order to reach Assam you can take flights which ply to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Other airports are at Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Silchar. Also by rail you can board trains to Guwahati.
The best places of Assam which can’t be missed are
It is one of the largest river islands and has many monasteries which can be traced back to the 16th century. However most of the island gets submerged during monsoon. It is a must visit for birdwatchers. The only option for accommodation here are home stays.
The beautiful Majuli Island
Picture Credits: beautystars.gr |
Like the name suggests, it is called the ‘The Ocean of Lord Shiva’. It is one of the popular tourist attractions and has a lot of Ahom influence. At present it is a massive trader of oil and tea. The city has a gorgeous scenic set up that will just woo you.
The gorgeous Sivasagar
Picture Credits: in.worldmapz.com |
This is your spot if you have been waiting to go on a rocking adventure. Away from the city resting in the arms of nature, North Cachar Hills are one of the best places to visit in Assam. The hills are home to many tribes which have their own exquisite culture. The panoramic views of the peaks will sooth your senses and instantly rejuvenate you.
The panoramic view of North Cachar Hills
Picture Credits: travelokam.com |
A trip to Assam is not complete if you haven’t cruised the Brahmaputra River. It is the longest river in the country and the cruise flows through the valley of Assam which includes tea garden visits, wild life observation and the scenic beauty villages and towns. You can experience the best of Assam on this cruise.
Brahmaputra River Cruise
Picture Credits: www.pinterest.com |
It is located on Nilachal Hill, Guwahati and is 2200 years old. It is full of rich heritage and artistic beauty. The temple offers an amazing view of the rivers and hills. People who have been here have experienced pure divinity.
Kamakhya temple, Guwahati.
Picture Credits: www.hinduismworld.org |
The park is divided into five ranges and spreads across 858 sq kms. The best way to explore the park is an elephant- back ride or you take the regular jeep safari. The park is home to more than 70 % one horned rhinos and other amazing animals like tiger, Indian bison, deer, sambar along with migratory birds. Johrat and Tezpur are the nearest to Kaziranga.
One horn Rhino at Kaziranga
Picture Credits: www.nelive.in |
It is situated in Tinsukia and is considered as one of the major biodiversity hotspots of the world. The park is a mixture of deciduous and evergreen forests. It consists of many rare wildlife species. The feral horses are one of the most famous species here.
Feral Horses at Dibru National Park
Picture Credits: hdwyn.com |
The other national parks that are also worth a visit are Orang National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park.
However the parks and sanctuaries are closed during monsoon.
Bihu is the most famous festival of Assam which is celebrated three times a year, but the most lavish of all is during mid- April.
Bihu Festival in Assam
Picture Credits: www.snipview.com |
To travel to some of the north eastern states, Domestic Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit or ILP and foreign tourists require a Protected Area Permit or PAP. However, Assam does not require any entry permits for Indians or Foreigners.
Story compiled with inputs from:
http://www.transindiatravels.com/
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