ASSAM

So long hidden behind red tape, Assam's beauty is a fact that defies imagination. The rarest of flora and fauna, blue hills and green tea, a bustling capital and black oil, it is a beauty that soothes even as it disturbs. Assam is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan in the north, Nagaland to the east, and Manipur and Mizoram to the south. In the south-west, Assam touches the borders of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

In Guwahati, the commercial capital of Assam, the tour starts from Kamakhya temple, Basistha Ashram, Zoo, Gita mandir, Nabagraha temple, Assam State Museum. Assam is very rich in wildlife. There are three national parks and 12 wildlife sanctuaries of which Kaziranga and Manas are most well-known.

Gateway To The Northeast : Guwahati, the industrial and commercial hub of Assam is revered for its ancient Hindu temples. It spreads at the edge of the vast moving, river-sea of the Brahmaputra. It's the service center for the oil industry and tea plantations. The world's largest tea auctions are held in the nearby city Dispur, the offcial state capital.

The People : The Assamese are a mixture of Mongolian-Tibetan, Aryan, and Burman ethnic origins. Their language is akin to Bengali, spoken in West Bengal and in Bangladesh. Since the late 19th century a vast number of immigrants from Bangladesh have entered the valley, where they have settled to cultivate the almost empty lands, particularly the low floodplains. The hilly margins of the plain are inhabited by the hill tribes of the Garo, Khasi, and Hajong. The Bodo are the largest minority group in Assam and are concentrated in the northern areas of the Brahmaputra River valley.

Occupation : Agriculture is basic to Assam's economy. Rice is grown on about two-thirds of the cultivated area; tea and jute are also important crops, and their sale accounts for a major portion of Assam's income. Other significant crops include oilseeds, peas, beans, canola (rapeseed), sugarcane, and fruits. Oil and coal are found in upper Assam, and the state produces about one-sixth of India's petroleum and natural gas.

Handicrafts : Artist and sculptors, masons and architects, and others practicing minor crafts such as weavers, spinners, potters, goldsmiths, artisanns of ivory, wood, bamboo, cane and hide flourished in Assam from ancient times. Every household possesses a handloom used to produce silk and (or) cotton clothes of exquisite designs. The Eri, Muga and Pat are the important silk products of Assam.

Festivals : Assam observes Bhogali Bihu , Rongali Bihu, Kati Bihu, Janmashthami and Durga Puja festivals. Rangali Bihu, the main Bihu festival, is in April. This festival is essentially in celebration of a good harvest and is accompanied with lively dances, music and feasting. Guwahati also celebrates the Ambuchi Festival in July.