Assam is a state in North-Eastern India sharing an international border with Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh. The capital city is Dispur while the largest city is Guwahati.
Assam is one of the seven states of the region known as Seven Sister States.
The region is widely known for Assam tea, Assam silk and one-horned Indian rhinoceros.
Assam has many ethnic groups, 23 scheduled tribes and forty-five languages spoken by different communities with Assamese and Bodo recognised as official languages.
UNESCO World Heritage sites
There are two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park.
MAJOR TOURIST SITES
Major tourist destinations include: Guwahati, Jorhat, Dispur, Tezpir, etc.
NATIONAL PARKS
The national parks and wildlife sanctuaries provide habitats for several endangered species, including one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant and pygmy hog. Among the most popular ones are Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Nameri National Park, Orang National Park.
HANDICRAFTS
Cane and bamboo craft, bell metal and brass craft, silk and cotton weaving, toy and mask making, pottery and terracotta work, wood craft, jewellery making are popular crafts of the region.
FOOD
Assamese cuisine is less spicy than any other Indian dishes. The region’s staple diet is rice which is prepared in many different ways, it is also a primary ingredient for the many rice beers. Some of the popular dishes are: the masor tenga (a light and sour fish dish), narasingh masor jhol (fishes cooked in a light gravy of curry leaves), poitabhat (cooked rice soaked overnight and served with mustard oil, onion, chili, pickles), pura ( various forms of grilled and roasted food), bora (fried balls of mashed lentil or gram), etc.
FESTIVALS
Assam has a rich tradition of performing arts. Ankia Naat is a traditional dance-drama, Bihu is a popular traditional dance. Masks of gods, goddesses, demons and animals are used in large numbers during performances.
Among the most popular festivals are: Majuli – a four day cultural festival, (November); Elephant festival held in Kaziranga National Park (February); Magh Bihu – a harvest festival (January); Bohag Bihu, that marks of the Assamese New Year (April); Ambubachi mela - the most important festival of the Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati (June), etc.
CLIMATE
Assam has a tropical monsoon rainforest climate, with heavy rainfall and high humidity. The maximum temperature in the summers is around 38 °C (100,4 °F), and the minimum temperature in the winters is around 6 °C (42,8 °F).
Best time to visit is October to April.
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