Discover Assam

The plains of Assam are bestowed upon with much richness. Plentiful water resources that drain from the great eastern Himalayan ranges combined with a sustenance-based approach to livelihood ensure the region harbors fascinating biodiversity spread across four national parks and numerous wildlife sanctuaries. This land of fertility has since long influenced both culture and life. Settlers who came from across Asia right from antiquity ended up calling the plains their home, having found a land of esteemed beauty and bounty. Even the cultivation of rice some experts believe has originated in the region and many unique varieties are still grown here. Some of the settlers formed powerful kingdoms to rule over Assam, such as the Varmanas of the classical age who had allegiances with kings of the Gupta Dynasty, and the mighty Ahoms who ruled uninterrupted for six centuries during the medieval age. The history of these kingdoms and the people is deeply intertwined with Hinduism and the region finds mention in early classical texts such as the epic Mahabharata where the land is known as Kamrupa. Even the invading Ahoms ended up adopting the local religion during their rule.

Later with the advance of British colonialism, it seems history has been rewritten as the old gave way to the new. In the year 1823, a Scottish settler named Robert Bruce discovered tea growing in Assam which started a new era of western interest in the region and dramatically changed the landscape. Besides their love for tea, the British also had a fascination with Northeast India, somewhere these wild frontiers awakened their explorer-like curiosity. The tea found great acceptance by aficionados in Britain upon introduction and ever since tea growing has become perhaps the only large-scale commercial activity in the state with the presence of more than eight hundred tea estates today that cover the landscape with a continuous patch of greenery.

This tour is a well-crafted introduction to the state of Assam. Covering both attractions and secrets, the journey reveals the simple joys of nature and culture that the people find pride in. Starting in the small tea-growing riverside town of Dibrugarh somewhere in the far-eastern plains of the country, you will be staying in a charming colonial-era planter’s bungalow surrounded by unending miles of lush tea plantations. You will also visit a factory to learn about tea production and can join tribal ladies to pluck some fresh tea leaves.

In the historical town of Sivasagar, you will learn about Assam’s medieval era when the Ahoms ruled in all glory, with visits to some of their temples, monuments, and museums. Moving on, the journey will reach the large island of Majuli which sits right in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The island with its rich lineage remains the cultural hub of the Assamese people. Age-old monasteries present here are excellent centers of religious teachings, arts, and drama that focus on the branch of Hinduism that considers Lord Vishnu as the supreme God and demands total love and compassion. There is indeed a sort of divine calm that prevails on this countryside island and monks can often be seen reciting or enacting the great mythological love stories of Vishnu and his incarnations. Lastly, you will visit the renowned UNESCO natural heritage site of Kaziranga National Park where you will be introduced to the biodiversity of the region. The park has for more than a century been involved in pioneering conservation work that has resulted in the preservation of a large number of wildlife species especially the one-horned rhino whose population has increased from under a dozen in the early 20th century to more than two thousand today. Thrilling safaris here will reveal much of the wilderness – rhinos up close, an elephant chasing away noisy tourists, romp of otters creating a ruckus, colorful birds chirping, or perhaps even a mythical tiger on a hunt.

In some perceptions, Assam appears as a doorway to the mysterious northeastern region of India. The cultures and environment remain like a delicate thread that has been developed over countless centuries, a profound melting point of western and eastern elements that became integral to the land itself.