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Climate:
Assam has only two climates, the rainy season and the cold and dry. It is cold from October to February and the rest of the year is rainy. The temperature rarely drops below 5º C. The wettest places in the world are in this area.
Rivers:
Due to the heavy rainfall, melting on the Himalayan slopes, and the other watersheds of
the eastern India region, Assam is menaced by an extensive river system consisting of the Brahmaputra, the Kusiyara, the Bhareli and the Barak and their tributaries. All rivers in Assam are liable to flooding, mainly because they receive very heavy rainfall within a very short time. When in spate, the Brahmaputra spreads to 20 km wide.
How to Get There:
By Air:
Assam is well connected by air to the rest of the country and the other Sister states. Airlines operating in the State include Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Kingfisher Red, Air India, Indigo Airlines, Go Air Business and Spicejet. Pawan Hans operates a helicopter service to Itanagar, Naharlagun, Tawang, Shillong, Tawang, Tura, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Imphal, Jorhat, Kolkata, Lilabari and Silcharand. Many tea garden owners have their small aircraft flying regularly. Guwahati Assam Airport is the only international airport in the state. The other airports are Balipara, Tezpur, Misamari, Jorhat, Kumbhigram, Silchar, Dinjan and Dibrugarh Chabua Airport.
By Rail and Road:
Railway infrastructure is on the limited side, mainly due to the annual flooding, but major cities are connected. Roads that are maintained by the civil authorities are poor; those maintained by the military and Border Roads Organisation are excellent. |
Demographics:
The total population of Assam is 30 million with 5 million households. It increased unprecedentedly between 1970-75 and 2001-2006. This growth is attributable to influx of population from Bangladesh. The recorded literacy in Assam is 68%. Assam has over 125 ethnic groups, of which 65% identify themselves regionally, 30% locally, and 5% trans-nationally. More than fifty languages are spoken by different communities, and bilingualism is an obvious result. Major religions are Hinduism 62%, Islam 32%, Christianity (4%), Sikhism(1%); Animism, Buddhism and others complete the circle.
National Parks:
Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world, with tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, riverine grasslands, bamboo orchards, Tea gardens and numerous wetland ecosystems. It has five National Parks, the Kaziranga, Manas, Dibru-Saikhowa, Nameri and Rajiv Gandhi National Park and 17 Wildlife Sanctuaries. Most protected species are resident here.
Places to Visit:
Dighalipukhuri, Chandubi Lake, Sualkuchi and Hajo near Guwahati; Majuli, Haflong and Digboi near Jorhat and Bamuni hill, Harzara Varman, Bhalukpung and Diphu near Tezpur.
Monuments:
Da-Parbatia, Agnigarh, Poa-Mecca, Satra and Madan Kamdev are some of the ancient temples and monuments in Assam.
Festivals: The major festivals celebrated in Assam are Bihu, Baishagu, Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baikho, Rongker, Rajini Gabra Harni Gabra, Bohaggiyo Bishu, Ambubashi Mela and Jonbill Mela.
The people of Assam also celebrate Holi, Durga Puja, Diwali, Swaraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Idd, Muharram, Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the birth and death anniversaries of Vaishnava Saints Srimanta Sankardev and Madhabdev.The tribals of Assam have their own colourful festivals like the Kherai Puja of the Bodos, the Baikhu and Pharkantis of the Rabhas, Ali-ai-ligang and Parag of the Mishing tribe, the Sagra-misawa wansawa and laghun of the Tiwas. The Ahoms of Tai origin celebrate Me-Dum-Me-Phi on the 31st of January annually. Bathow festival is celebrated by the Kacharis.
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