Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Just 20 km off Jorhat, Assam, lies the largest riverine islands in the world and the largest freshwater island in South Asia. Snuggling in the bosom of the mighty Brahmaputra, Majuli is a treasure island of culture & natural heritage.

This exotic place is also the spiritual destination for many as Lord Krishna is reported to have played on this island. Majuli is a heavenly abode of different kinds of flora and fauna, covering more than 100 species of birds and more than 20 reptiles, 20 mammals, 1000 insects and lesser forms, nearly 100 types of local fish.

The uniqueness of Majuli has to be felt and enjoyed in its idyllic atmosphere. Being the Cradle of Assamese culture, Majuli is the storehouse of a large number of centuries old manuscripts, antiquities, crafts and paintings. Hand beaten pottery and water weed and bamboo-cane art works are quite sort after items for visitors coming to Majuli. Majuli is also the treasure house of traditional medicines.

One must not miss the twenty-one Satras on the island, several of them still very active in the tradition and training of dance, drama, music, art and craft. The best way to experience the secrets of Majuli is through its culture. A cruise down the river in the early morning will greet the visitors to the chirping of hundreds of migrating birds.

The best time to visit Majuli is during the Rasleela festival, at the time of the full moon in the month of November.

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

One hundred and fifty km east of the famous Kaziranga National Park, lies the town of Sibsagar with its picturesque postcard scenery. A historical and heritage place in Assam, Sibsagar is famous for the monuments of the Ahom kingdom which reigned supremacy for 600 years over the town.

The name 'Sibsagar' comes from the city's main feature, the 129-acre artificial man made tank dug in 1734 called the Sibsagar Lake. The water level of the tank testifies to the advanced hydrology of Ahomperiod as the level of the tank never changes and remains above the level of the town all the time. Another man made pond is the 500 acres Gaurisagar Tank dug during the 16th century.

Rising on the periphery of the lake are the archaeological remains, palaces, and temples of the Ahoms, now being preserved as national protected monuments. Shiva Dole, one of the tallest Shiva temple in the world capped with a 7 feet high large golden Dome. Other famous Temples are the Vishu Dole and the Devi Dole. Devotees from all over, throng out here for a visit to the temples, where as migratory ducks from Siberia and various other birds come over during the winter months adorning the lake.

Sibsagar may be visited throughout the year. Sibsagar is well connected to the National Highway 37, which runs right through the state of Assam, connecting Sibsagar with Guwahati and Kaziranga on one side and Dibrugarh on the other. It is also quite close to some of the airports, the nearest being Jorhat just 55 km away. The Dibrugarh, Dimapur, and Tezpur are the other airports.

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Covering a total area of 33.93 sq. km, Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is a dream come true for birdwatchers and ornithologists alike. The sanctuary is situated in the Sibsagar district and was established in 1996 as a wildlife sanctuary.

With the stunning backdrop as its setting, Panidihing is prized for some very rare migratory birds like the adjutant storks, fishing eagles and a variety of ducks. The bird reserve is one of a kind in the country.

The best time to visit the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is between the months of November to April. It is well connected to the major cities, with Jorhat being the nearest train station and the nearest airport.

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife sanctuary, more popularly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the Jorhat district of Assam. Covering a total area of 20.98 sq km, the sanctuary was first establishment in the year 1997 and is the only place in India conserving the Western Hoolock Gibbon.

The Gibbon Sanctuary plays a major role in the research and conservation of the primate community of the animal kingdom. Some of the other protected species of primates includes the Capped langur, Bengal slow loris, Stump tailed macaque, Northern pig tailed macaque, Rhesus macaque and last, but not the least, the Assamese macaque. Besides all these, many other mammals, birds and reptiles are also common here.

Just 19 km from the town of Jorhat, the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary with its rich biodiversity have attracted tourist attention from all over the world. One can visit the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary throughout the year but the ideal time is during the months of June to July & February to March.

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Established in 1850, the Namphake Buddhist Monastery is one of the oldest and most respected Buddhist Monasteries in Assam. In and around the Monastery premises, amidst its green landscape is a Pagoda built in 1937, a symbolic Ashoka pillar and the Nong Mungchiringta (Musulinda tank).

Various ancient manuscripts and religious scriptures, some hand-made, hand-written pages with fascinating hand-dyed paintings to illustrate the texts takes the visitors to a different era. There is also a manuscript made of gold, but that is forbidden to the visitors. Tourists can even look at the pictures of Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand from the time from when she visited the monastery.

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Situated atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Kamakhya Temple is an ancient Shakti Peeth temple and the foremost shrine of Assam for more than a century. Being the centre of the ancient seat of Tantric and shakti Cults of Hinduism, Kamakhya attracts thousands of tantra devotees in an annual festival known as the Ambubachi Mela in the month of June.

The shrine is also famous for the flight of steps going down to the bowels of the earth, to a dark mysterious chamber, were draped in a silk sari and covered with flowers is kept the matra yoni.

Rising to a modest height of 562 feet above the Brahmaputra, several other smaller shrines and temples are also located in its vicinity. The ideal time to visit the temple is during the month of April, as it also coincides with the Bihu festival. Since Guwahati has its own airport, reaching Kamakhya Temple by air is not a problem.

Bihu

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

One of the most important festivals of Assam, Bihu is celebrated by all Assamese people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, faith and belief. There are three Bihu festivals in Assam in a year, in the months of Bohaag (Baisakh, the middle of April), Maagh (the middle of January), and Kaati (Kartik, the middle of October). Each of the Bihu festivals are said to coincide with the farming calender of Assam.

The most popular and also the most colourful of the three Bihus is the Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu celebrated in the middle of April. Dol or Holi as is popularly known is celebrated during this time, with a majestic full moon in the sky. This is also the time when the agricultural season begins. The most popular Bihu dance, which is the folk dance of Assam is performed in conjunction with the traditional Bihu folk music. There are also Bihu dance competition held during this time, attracting large number of tourists from all over the country and abroad.

Art & Crafts

Kaziranga National Park

Majuli: The Largest River Island in the World

Sibsagar

Panidihing Bird Sanctuary

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Namphake Buddhist Monastery

Kamakhya Temple

Bihu

Art & Crafts

For more than two thousand years, Assam has maintained a rich tradition of various traditional crafts. The people of Assam have traditionally been craftsman from time immemorial. Be it Cane & Bamboo items and musical instrument to Bell metal decorations, Woodcrafts or Pottery, Assam has always excelled in making commonly used utilities and daily household accessories.

Assam is also the home of several types of weaving and handloom products, the most prominent and prestigious being their Muga silk. This natural golden silk is exclusive only to Assam and one may fine finely weaved saris and stoles among other things.

A part of Assam is also into Mask making, mostly concentrated in the Vaishnav Monasteries. This traditional art forms the basis of Assamese culture and have found an important place in the cultural activities of the people. Jewellery making of various kind is also quite popular is Assam, specially of gold and silver.