Assam is laced with festive seasons and alluring beauty throughout the year. And it is evident that this halting ground will have many attractions and things to do. When in Assam you can visit its many wildlife sanctuaries, be a part of the religious group visiting famous temples, and enjoy an afternoon rowing boat in Brahmaputra River and playing in the water parks. Assam is truly a destination to experience it all.

Wildlife in Assam

Assam is well known among the many wildlife holiday destinations in North East India. The state comprises of a host of explored unexplored sanctuaries and national parks. Assam is mainly famous for two of its most important things, one being the excellent tea of the place and the other is the wildlife tourism. It is one of the most visited states in India that attracts people from all corners of the world who are fond of wildlife.

One of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries of the place is the Kaziranga National Park that goes without saying. The park is spread over a large area of land and the most uncommon species found here is the one-horned rhino. This park generally remains closed from the month of April to October and the best time to visit the place would be the winter months. Apart from the rhino you can see many tigers here, and then swamp deer, sloth bear, Indian bison many other animals. The park also has a collection of many migratory birds like the heron, hornbill, fishing eagle and egret.

Another famous national park in the state is the Manas National Park which is located at the foothill of the Himalayas. This wildlife park is the only place in Assam that is covered under the Project Tiger. Among the wildlife species seen here are the wild boar, hog deer, one-horned rhino and the sambar. The other popular wildlife attractions in Assam are the Saikhowa National Park and the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. The Saikhowa National Park is an ideal place for rare and endangered species and has been declared as one of the biodiversity hot spots in the world. The park has a huge collection of avifauna that includes both local as well as migratory birds. Many uncommon birds are being conserved here and the place is also well-known for wild horses, elephants and tigers.

The Gibbon wildlife sanctuary has got its name from a non human primate. The prime attraction of this park is the sighting of primates which can be very well sighted during early morning. Different types of monkeys are also seen here along with wild pigs and leopards.

The wildlife tours to this state are also comprised of many other sanctuaries that include the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife sanctuary, Nambor and the Porbitora WLS. Apart from having a rich cultural heritage the state of Assam houses one of the rarest and unique collections of species that makes the place an ideal one to plan for wildlife holidays.

Pilgrimage in Assam

When it comes to religious tourism, Assam is such a place that crosses everyone’s mind owing to its several pilgrimage destinations. The Eastern Indian state of Assam has variations of several religions and culture that flourished in its lap over the passage of time. Many temples and monuments are built in this state which reflect different traditions and religious beliefs. People often search for spiritual getaways to get relief from the hurdles and tensions of their life and Assam is one such ideal place.

There are several Hindu temples in Assam, among which, one of the holiest temples of the Hindus is the most famous Kamakhya Temple. This temple is regarded as the Shakti Peeth and is the most visited temple by the Hindu pilgrims in the state. Located on top of the Nilachal Hills, this temple is an icon of belief and has mythological story attached to it. This holy place experiences a huge crowd of devotees during the Manasha puja and Ambubachi.

There are several small temples surrounding the main temple which are dedicated to many deities and are collectively called the Dasa mahavidya. Another notable temple in the city is the Nabagraha which means the temple of nine planets. This shrine had been the centre of study of astrology during the earlier times.

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The Umananda Temple located at the center of the Brahmaputra River is another Hindu place of worship which attracts the devotees of Lord Shiva. In this temple the occasion of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in a grand manner and a huge number people observe fast and offer their prayers on this holy day.

The Mahamaya Temple is another prime pilgrimage site located in western Assam where a group of temples dedicated to Lord Shivacan be seen. It is believed that if one ties tiny bell on a banyan tree located in the temple then the person’s wishes comes true.

With several satras or the Vaishnavite monasteries, Majuli is a major sightseeing site in Assam. Dating back to the 16th century, Satras are an unique feature of Vaishnavism that was propounded by Sankardeva. Apart from being monasteries, Satras are centres for traditional performing arts. Currently, there are only twenty two satras amongst the sixty five monasteries preaching of socio-cultural ideals. These satras also provide guest accommodation. Some of the noteworthy satras are Auni-ati, Dakhinpat, Kamalabari, Garamur, Samaguri, Bengena-ati and Natun Kamalabari.

There are several other popular holy places in Assam like the Powa-Mecca, Christ Church and the Gurudwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.

The Sri Purva Tirupati Balaji Temple is a very recent addition made to the list of temples in Guwahati and has become the major attraction of the city. It is dedicated to Lord Balaji and there is also a Ganesha shrine at the entrance of the temple. Sukreshvara Temple, Satra and the Ugratara Temple are the other mentionable pilgrimage sites of the state.

So if you are planning for pilgrimage tour to Assam, the state has a lot to offer you irrespective of what your religious views and beliefs are.

Hill Stations in Assam

Assam is a state that is blessed with scenic beauty and natural heritage. The unique ecosystem of the place makes it count among the many nature tourism places in the country. These beautiful hill stations in Assam have proved to be a boon to the state tourism and travelers seem to absolutely adore these locations owing to its breathtaking scenes. For all the nature lovers out there, the state has some the best hill stations that attracts the travelers from different parts of the world – some of them are Diphu, Sualkuchi, Lilabari and Marigaon.

There are many popular hill stations in Assam, one of which is the Haflong which is a spectacular place. The greenery and plantations surrounding the place makes it quite picturesque and eye soothing. Then there is Jatinga, which is located in North Cachar Hill and is well known for its orange orchards. This place has an interesting story and it is said that several migratory birds commit suicide in this place on moonless foggy nights. Diphu is another superb hill station of the state which attracts many tourists visiting the place for summer getaways (however it is a Karbi Tribal area prone to a lot of ULFA attacks and curfews). Although this hill station is lesser known one among the people but off late tourists are travelling to this place to explore the beauty of the town located here.

These places also offer amazing sightseeing tours of the beautiful mountains and valleys that make the state an ideal destination for planning vacations. Another very popular hill station of Assam is Maibong which used to be the capital of the Kachari rulers in the ancient times. This place is located at an average altitude of 355 meters. One can witness nature at its best and the tourists are assured to have a thrilling experience when they visit this popular hill station of Assam. The state also has many famous hill resorts where the visitors can accommodate themselves comfortably on their vacations. These resorts have all the arrangements for the comfort and well being of the boarders and take utmost care of the services offered to them.

Umrangshu is another hill station of the state which should not be missed out on your trip here. It is located at the border of Assam and Meghalaya and is about a distance of 112kms from Haflong. If you are planning for perfect weekend getaways from Assam, commendable option for vacationers would be hiring a reliable tour agent who would plan out the trip just perfectly.

Adventure Tourism in Assam

North East India welcomes all the adventure lovers to the state of Assam which has always been one of the adventure holiday destinations of the country. The magnificent topography of the state with fast flowing rivers and exotic hilly places are apt for some exciting and pulse racing sports. Be it land sports or water sports, Assam is suitable for any type of adventure that make tours thrilling and enjoyable. There are several adventure activities that are organized here among which trekking and river rafting are the most common ones.

The Karbi hills and the Cachar hills are the best places in Assam for trekking and are said to be the dreamland for the mountaineers. Several camps are arranged here which provide trekkers with all the necessary arrangements. The ideal time for trekking here is during the months of April to October. These hills are not only suitable for the experienced trekkers but also the novice ones can try out trekking under proper guidance. As for mountain climbing, the Elephant rock is the most famous among the climbers.

Adventure sports in Assam are also comprised of para sailing which has gained immense popularity over the passage of time. This sport is generally carried out in large open places in the northern part of Guwahati and both domestic as well as foreign travelers have taken keen interest in participating in this super exciting sport. Hang gliding is another adventure that the state offers you which mainly depends on the climatic conditions. If the weather is perfect then this sport is a must try. The Kamakhya hills and the hills around the Kaziranga forest are the two ideal places for this adventure.

River rafting is one of the major aspects of adventure tourism in North Eastern India. Assam has a lot of scope for this event because of the presence of the Brahmaputra River. This sport is equally challenging and thrilling; the cold water of the river makes the excitement reach new heights. Boat racing and angling are the other interesting sports of the state that attracts the visitors the most. For boat racing in Assam you can choose locations like Hajo, Saulkuchi, Barpeta, Guwahati etc. These races are very popular and the mighty rivers like Brahmaputra, Manas, Jia Bhoroli and Kapili offers the best venues in Assam.

The most important site for angling in Assam is river Jia Bhoroli, Kapil and Manas.

The adventure tourism in Assam has developed a lot in the past few years and there has been a constant effort on the part of the tourism authorities to provide more scope and opportunities for many new sports so that the place becomes worth visiting for adventure and thrill.