Assam , A Land Gifted with many things .....

Assam -  Proud of North East

Great scholars believe that the name ‘Assam’ is derived from the “Ahoms”, who ruled Assam for six hundred years from 13th to 19th century. The word ‘Ahom’ itself may be derived from Shan (syam in Assamese) or from the Sanskrit word “asama” (uneven, in the sense of “unequal” or “peerless”), referring to its geology which is equal mix of river valleys and hills.

Assam has been known by various names. The Ancient name of Assam is Pragjyotishpura. The earliest mention of the city of Pragjyotisha is found in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to the Ramayana,this city was founded by Amurtaraja Dharmanarayanson of Kusa and grandfather of the famous stage Viswamitra.

Mahabharat 

Ramayan

Assam, a beautiful state in northeastern part of India, Situated south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Like other states of India, Assam also share international Borders with Kingdom of Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh. Assam is also part of 8 sisters of North East India, other 7 sister states are, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Assam shares its border with 7 states within India, which are Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and West Bengal.

With its 5000 years old civilization and the God gifted scenic beauties, is a treasure house of nature and culture. It is blessed with 20,12,319 hectares of lush Green forests, five national parks, eighteen wild life sanctuaries with wider variety of flora and fauna, world’s largest river island Majuli with Vaisnavite culture, around 2472 lush green tea gardens, various ethnic groups with their distinctive cultural heritage, the Tai Ahom royal remains at Sivasagar showcasing the golden age of Assam history, the rich folklore, the mighty river Brahmaputra, the golden silk Muga having the GI status and many more. Assam is the single largest tea producer in the world with a share of more than 20 %. Assam Orthodox Tea has the coveted GI (Geographical Indications) status in India.

Do You Know all these interesting facts about Assam?

1)      Assam has their own state Anthem, in fact Assam was the first Indian state to adopt an anthem of its own, as early as when it was a province of British India. 'O Mûr Āpûnār Dex' was officially adopted as the Assam's state song in 1927.This anthem was composed by Mr.Lakhsminath Bezbaroa, duration of this Anthem is just 57 seconds.

 Mr .Lakhsminath Bezbaroa

2)      Assam has the largest Banana Market in entire Asia, it is located in Darangiri near National Highway 37 in Goalpara District.

3)      In Morigaon District which is roughly 50 km away from Guwahati a place is there called Jagiroad, which is known as Asia’s largest dry fish market.

Jagiroad Dry Fish Stall 

4)      World Biggest river island is in Assam which is called “Majuli” which is in Brahmaputra River, Majuli is listed as the world's largest river island in the Guinness Book of World's record and it also became the first island to be a district in India in 2016.

5)      Assam is known as to be birth place of Indian Oil Industry, it is in Digboi, a quint town in the Tinsukia District. This is the only place Asia’s first and World oldest refinery in operation is located.

6)      Assam is believed to be home to the largest number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, nearly 5 to 10 million of people illegally migrated during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

7)      World Smallest River island is also in Assam, which is Umananda Island which is in the middle of Brahmaputra.

8)      Assam is known as home to the largest population of Wild Water Buffalo in the world.

9)      Assam is also known as the TEA CAPITAL of India, interestingly British were the first who introduced Tea Plantation in Assam

10)  Assam is the state in India which has the longest river bridge called Dhola Sadiya Bridge also referred as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu is a beam bridge with the length of 9.15 km.

11)  Assam has two UNESCO approved World Heritage Sites, first one is Kaziranga National park which is located fairly in Golaghat and Nagaon regions of Assam, and Second one is Manas Wildlife Sanctuary located in two districts Bongaigaon, & Barpeta of Assam.

12)  Bihu the main festival of Assam is celebrated thrice in a year. There are three types of Bihu – Maagh Bihu (mid-January), Bohag Bihu (mid-April) and Kaati Bihu (in October).

13)  The largest producer of Golden Colour Muga silk in the world is Assam.

14)   Assam is the home to famous Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, having the world’s largest population of it living in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.

15)  The Kamakhya Temple which is also known as Kamrup Kamakhya Temple, Kamakhya Devalaya, which is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas is situated in Guwahati city of Assam.

16)  Assam has the India’s wildest river which is Brahmaputra, this river is also considered to be among the most majestic rivers in the world.

17)  Ranghar, Sibsagar is the Asia’s oldest Amphitheatre, same was used by the Ahom kings as a pavilion to witness games like buffalo fights, wrestling etc

18)  Assam’s Jatinga village, known the world over as the “suicide spot” of birds.

19)  India’s only coal Museum, Margherita is in Assam.

20)  Bhoot Jhalokia (Ghost Pepper) is the hottest chilly in the world, in 2007 it was certified by Guinness World Records. This hottest chilly is found in Assam.

21)  Dhekiakhowa Bornaamghar is a naamghar in Jorhat distric , has the lamp burning records for 484 years , which has been burning since 1528 and till date .It has been published  in Asia Book of Records and has received the formal certificate from Asia Book of Records.

Hope the above facts and figures have made your perception more clear. Please don't miss the opportunity to experience and explore the natural beauty of Assam whenever you plan to visit India. Not only this, you will also get a chance to understand the real norms and cultures of Assam which have made this place quite different than other states of India.

Please do comment if you feel , I had missed anything which you think people should know about it  .