Day 125 - Tezpur

Tezpur in Assam is situated on the banks of river Brahmaputra, in Sonitpur district. Tezpur has a significant place in history. Situated on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra, Tezpur in Assam is a town of magnificent scenic beauty and outstanding archaeological ruins. Flourishing green valleys surrounded by hills of Arunachal Pradesh, with snow covered peaks of Himalaya as the northern backdrop, lavish tea gardens and magnificent archaeological ruins have all contributed to make Tezpur Assam a tourist's delight. It is the headquarters of Sonitpur district and is considered as one of the most beautiful towns of Assam.The name of the place originated from the Sanskrit words 'Teza' that means blood and 'Pura' that means town or city.Tezpur was ruled by Bana Raja,his daughter Usha and Anirudha grandson of Lord Krishna, fell in love with each other. When this came to the Kings notice he sternly objected this and he isolated Usha in a place called Agnigarh. But when Anirudha tried taking away Usha there was a war between Lord Krishna and Bana raja leading to a major bloodshed with loss of lot of lives.Study from the history also says that the vicinity of the town has historical ruins of the 8th-9th century like Bamuni Hills According to legend, the original name of the city was Sonitpur. Modern day Tezpur was established by the British colonial administration in 1835, which used to be the headquarters of Darrang district.


How to reach here:

By Air: The city has an airport that receives flights from places such as Kolkata and Silchar.

By Rail: Tezpur does not have extensive rail connectivity and it is connected only to Rangiya and Rangapara stations. However trains are not frequent and this may not be feasible. The most suitable option is to take a train to the city of Guwahati and opt for a taxi from the place.


Best time to visit: Throughout the year.


Languages spoken: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi.


Famous Restaurants: Kalash, Royal Paradise, Maaihang.


Places you must visit: 


Agnigarh preserves the sweet memory of young lovers. Agnigarh or the rampart surrounded by fire, is perhaps the most beautiful tourist location of Tezpur. It is believed that, princess Usha the only daughter of King Bana was kept inside the palace which was surrounded by a rampart of fire. Agnigarh meaning 'residence amidst fire'.Agnigarh is a big fortress constructed on top of a hill on the banks of Brahmaputra.The access to this place is quite interesting to reach the top of the hill one should take a circular staircase and is a good option for trekking. 

The ruins of the Bamuni Hill is famous for its aesthetic beauty. The sculptural ruins, dating back to the 9th and 10th century A.D. now lie in the Cole Park and Missionary compound.The most popular amongst these are the ruins of Da Parbatia that belong to the 4th century AD. There are also certain stone carvings present on the walls of these hills that are known for their creative refinement. A cross-shaped bracket lintel decorated with Kirtimukha panels is also present here that consists of 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Nearby attractions of these hills include temples like Bhairabi and Mahabhairab along with tanks like Bar Pukhuri and Padum Pukhuri.

Da-Parbatia is one of the most famous Gupta era ruins near Tezpur with an exquisitely carved door leading to the inner temple. On either side of the door are carvings of the Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, with garlands in their hands. The entire door frame is covered with elaborate carvings of flowers and foliage.This temple displays some finest and oldest specimens of sculptural and iconoclastic art of Assam. This art is present here mainly in the form of wall carvings and carries a characteristic of the art style that existed during the early Gupta period. The doorjambs of this temple are adorned by the figures of Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna and have been ornamented with delicate foliage. This site is also protected under the auspices of Archaeological Survey of India.

Harzara Pukhuri is a very huge lake covering an area of about 70 acres and archeology dates its excavation to the early part of the 19th century.It got its name from Harzara Varman of Tezpur. This lake  was derived from the excavation held in the 19th century. On the other hand, Padum Pukhuri is a famous island park of Tezpur accessible through a wooden footbridge. The name of this Pukhuri suggests a lotus pond.

Bhairabi Temple is situated on Tezpur border. The presiding deity of this oldest temple of Assam is Goddess Durga.  According to legends, Usha, who was the daughter of Asura King Banasura, came regularly to this temple for worshiping Goddess Durga. The stones of the temple is adorned by intricate carvings and images that date back to 9th century.The people visiting this temple offer ghee lamps,fruits and sweets to the goddess.The temple still carries out sacrificial offerings of goats and bulls regularly.

Ketakeshwar Dewal is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is said to have the second biggest Shivalingam in the world.This shrine is a very holy place to the Hindus and is regularly visited by the tourists.There are actually two parts to the temple, one where which is said to be the original place of the Shivalingam and another where the Shivalingam is located presently.The presence of this Lingam in Ketakeshwar Dewal is associated with the legend where it got uprooted during a severe earthquake that took place in Tezpur and got fixed at its current position, itself. Earlier, the temple used to be in the middle of bamboo groves but later on a complete shelter was built over it, making it an established pilgrimage site.

The Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the southern banks of Brahmaputra River in the Sonitpur District, at 30 km from Tezpur. It covers a total area of 44.06 sq. km and its surroundings comprise wet alluvial grassland, riparian and semi-evergreen forests with a river system. This sanctuary is also a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system.he fauna in this sanctuary mainly include migratory birds and it is also known to be the natural habitat for Bengal florican bird species. Other animal species in the place includes civet cat, Asiatic buffalo, one horned rhinos, wild boar and other animals. It also has many varieties of fishes, insects and reptiles.Along with fauna, the flora of this sanctuary is also quite diverse. The natural vegetation in the sanctuary consists of several plant species. Most of the plant species found here are of great commercial and medical value. Many flowering trees are also spread within the premises of this sanctuary.

The Cole Park of Tezpur has been recently renamed as Chitralekha Udyan. This park is mainly famous as a site for hosting large scale painting and drawing competitions along with several exhibitions by nearby schools and institutions. It also houses a horse-shoe shaped lake and several natural walkways. It also has a restaurant and an open stage in its premises. It is also the site of two popular stone ornamented pillars of the Bamuni Hills.The popular inscriptions of the Bhomoraguri, which contained the ancient plans of the bridge, built across the Brahmaputra River, are also displayed at this park for public viewing. This includes information about the concrete road bridge of Kalia Bhomora Setu that has been built over the River of Brahmaputra.

The Kalia Bhomora Setu is a pre-stressed concrete road bridge built over the River of Brahmaputra. It has been named after the Ahom General Kalia Bhomora Phukan and its construction took over 6 years from 1981 to 1987. The construction company of this bridge namely the Hindustan Construction Company was also awarded by the American Concrete Institute with a merit certificate of the most outstanding concrete structure in year 1988.  The bridge has a length of 3015 m and it helps to connect Sonitpur District on the north bank with the Nagaon District on the southern bank of River Brahmaputra.

The District Museum of Tezpur is an archaeological museum. This museum was established in 1986 and its main collection consists of traditional Assamese textiles. Its exhibit includes items like inscriptions, silver and copper coins, textiles, old bricks, wooden objects, manuscripts and several stone sculptures.

The Nag-Sankar Temple of Tezpur  is said to have been built by King Narasankar of Nagakha in 4th century AD. Later on it was repaired by Ahom king Su-sen-pha in 1480. The premises of this temple contain a large pond comprising a large variety of soft-shell turtles and several fishes. Some of these turtles are even believed to be hundreds of years old. Its campus also has animals like peacocks, deer and pythons.

The Mahabhairab Temple is situated on a small hill top in the northern part of Tezpur. The current structure of this temple was built by Nag Baba while later it was developed by Mahadeo Bharati and his devotees. The original temple was destroyed in 1897 earthquake and the present temple was constructed in the early period of 20th century. According to a legend, the original Mahabhairab Temple was built by Asura King, Banasura out of a stone. The main deity of this temple is Lord Shiva and it houses one of the world’s largest Shiva Lingams.At the entrance of this temple, stand the idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman in the form of Dwarpals. This gateway also has elaborated embellishments that have been intricately carved out. The instances of the original temple are seen on the huge pillars of this temple

Auguri Hills is situated on the banks of Brahmaputra River. The specialty of this hill is a statue of Kanaklata, placed on its top. Kanaklata was a martyr in the Quit India Movement. Its hill top also provides a complete view of the Brahmaputra River and Tezpur town. Its rugged terrains are also popular amongst rock climbers.

The Rudrapada Temple  lies on the banks of Brahmaputra River and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shiva in this temple is worshiped in the ‘rudra’ form and the devotees believe that a stone in this temple carries the print of left foot of Lord Shiva. According to a legend, this temple is built in the place where Lord Shiva showed his real life to king Bana. The temple was built by Siva Singa in 1730 AD and Mahashivaratri is the main festival celebrated here.

The Trimurty Udyan is a popular recreation center of Tezpur. The center has been named after three significant personalities of Assamese culture namely Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Rupkowar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla and Natasurjya Phani Sarmah.

Day 124 - Dibrugarh

The city of Dibrugarh is situated on the banks of the River Brahmaputra, in Upper Assam, India. Surrounded by tea gardens with the misty outlines of the Himalayas in the background--Dibrugarh is the largest tea exporting town in India. Some times it is referred as the gateway to some districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Dibrugarh is also well known for its wood and bamboo work. Dibrugarh has had a fluctuating relationship with the River Brahmaputra. Back in 1950, the river changed its course because of the Medog Earthquake, resulting in widespread destruction in the city. The earthquake and the resulting flood destroyed almost 75% of the city of Dibrugarh. The city has recovered from the aftermath since then, and people have come to accept the mercurial nature of the river while staying in its shadow. Dibrugarh is also the education hub of the north-east.


How to reach here:

By Air: Dibrugarh has regular air flight from major cities like Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati from its Mohanbari airport, which is 17-km from the town.

By Rail: Dibrugarh is linked with Guwahati by a broad gauge line. It is also connected with other cities of the country by express and super fast trains.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English.


Famous Restaurants: Diamond Restaurant.


Places you must visit: 


Namdapha National Park  is spread over a total area of 1985 sq km. It is in fact, one of the largest wildlife protected areas in the country and comprises a tiger reserve  and a bird sanctuary.Namdapha National Park is home to clouded leopards, tigers, leopards and snow leopards, as well. Besides, Hoolock Gibbons and white-winged wood ducks can also be found here. The Namdapha National Park had been declared a Tiger Reserve in 1983 by the Government.
 






The Dehing Namti Satra is located on the banks of Disang River in Sasoni Mouza and is around 8 miles from Naharkatiya town. Currently, the main branch of the Satra is located at Namti in Nazira. Earlier, this satra was located between Sariyahtoli and Hologuri roads in the Dibrugarh District. Dehing Namti Satra was found by Binandashyam Gohain who had a follower named Lachit Borphukan.




Dinjoy Satra was found by Aniruddha Dev at Bisnubalikakunshi village towards North Lakhimpur that was later shifted to Khutiaputa. In due course of time and after many disturbances, the Satra was named as Dinjoy Satra when it was brought to Dinjan at Chabua. Since then, it has been kept at the present site and is popularly called as Dinjoy Satra.







The Koli Aai Thaan is considered one of the oldest ‘thans’ of the Ahom rule and is a very popular site among the people of the city of Dibrugarh. This place is dedicated to Koli Aai who was the daughter of the head priest of Dibaru Satra of Assam. Since the Satra didn’t have any male heir, so, the Satra started to function under Koli Aai, who started preaching the followers, and one fine day she vanished from the site. It was believed that she had divine powers. There are neither any temples, nor any idols for worship.

Day 123 - Jorhat

Jorhat is the second largest city in Assam after Guwahati. The name Jorhat is a combination of two words- jor which means joint and haat which means a market. The combination of the two words forms ‘two markets’. The two markets Chowkihaat and Macharhaat, which has been in existence since the 18th century, are situated along the banks of the river Bhogdoi. The city is culturally very rich. Jorhat is blessed with nature and wildlife having varied flora and fauna. Apart from being a part of the Ahom Kingdom’s end, the city is known for its tea plantations. It also has the oldest tea research centre in the world in the form of the Tocklai Research Association. The city of Jorhat is often referred to as ‘the cultural capital of Assam’ because of the prevalent cultural diversities in the region. The historical significance of Jorhat lies in its being the ‘last capital of the Ahom Kingdom.’ King Gaurinath Singha was the last Ahom King to rule this place. Under the rule of the Ahoms and even before that, Jorhat was a thriving commercial and trading center  However, continuous invasions by the Burmese from 1817 to 1824 wrecked the town and crippled its economy. It was not until the British Rule that the city saw its re-emergence as a commercial center.


How to reach here:

By Air: Jorhat has an airport that is located nearby and it is called the Rowraih Airport.

By Rail: The town of Jorhat has a railway station that receives two trains from Guwahati. The nearest major rail head is the Mariani Junction that is located around 17 km from the town itself.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Assamese, Bengali, Hindi.


Must eat : Bora, Pokori, Laru.


Famous Restaurants: Sagar, Parag, Numaligarh Dhaba, Flora.


Places you must visit:

The Gymkhana Club was constructed in 1876 by D. Slimmon, the Secretary of the Club in the Seconidhara Village. Ever since its inauguration, the club has served as a venue for horse races. The Governor's Cup is the major event hosted by this club, every year.During 1870's, the region was dotted with tea gardens and there was no recreational facility available for the British or local people in the region, which is why, the foundation of this club was laid. Now, the club has a 9 hole golf course circuit, which is amongst the oldest golf courses in Asia.This club also has facilities for other sports like billiards, lawn tennis and polo. A swimming pool, a gentleman's bar and theatre are some of the other facilities available in this club. It has the Jorhat Gymkhana Ground, where the C.K. Naidu Under-19 Indian Cricket Tournament was organised. The ground is used by the Khelmati Sports Club for practicing cricket.








Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is a small sanctuary, covering an area of around 20.98 sq. km. The sanctuary is named so as it is a habitat of the hoolock gibbon, the only ape species found in India. It has semi-evergreen forests and evergreen patches of tea gardens and offers shelter to varied flora and fauna.The sanctuary is home to various mammals, including elephants, tigers, leopards, Assamese macaques, pig tailed macaques, capped langurs and jungle cats. The Indian civet, giant squirrel, sambar, wild pigs and barking deer can also be spotted inside the sanctuary.The sanctuary is inhabited by various resident as well as migratory birds, such as the Indian pied hornbill, hill myna, osprey and kalij pheasant. Various species of reptiles found in the sanctuary include the Indian tent turtle, Indian python, common monitor lizard and Indian cobra.

Nimati, also known as the Nimatighat is counted amongst the important river ports of the district, as well as of Upper Assam. The ghat also serves as a link for ferry boats that operate from the river port to the Majuli Island, Kamalabari and Auniati.

Raja Maidam is a vault on the southern bank of the Toklai River, in the north of Jorhat. This vault preserves the remains or ashes of the erstwhile King Purandar Sinha. This maidam was constructed after his death, on 1st October 1894.

Karanga, a small village of the Jorhat District, is renowned for smithereens that successfully caters to the demand of neighboring tea estates and natives.

Sukapha Samannay Kshetra was constructed in the memory of Sukapha, the first Ahom king of Assam. The site is located at Mohbandha near Dergaon and Jorhat. An excavation project is being operated at the site, to find any remains of the Ahom kingdom.

Tocklai Tea Research Center is situated on the Club Road in Jorhat. This research center is counted amongst the largest and the oldest tea research stations in the world. It was established in 1911, with the main aim to conduct scientific research to find solutions for enhancing the productivity and quality of tea in north-east India.In this center  research is conducted on all kinds of tea cultivation and processing, to find ways of increasing the nutritional value of the beverage. The center has 8 research departments, namely botany, soil, agronomy, plant protection, biochemistry, engineering and manufacturing technology, statistics and agricultural economics, and tea tasting.

Bangalpukhari is a famous water tank that lies in the southern part of Jorhat City, near the Na-ali. The tank was constructed by Rupsingh Bangal in 1739, after killing the Badan Barphukan, an Ahom governor. Badan Barphukan captured Burmese soldiers and also tortured the people of Assam.In the month of Sravana of Saka, Rupsingh Bangal killed Badan Barphukan, when he was going for bath. For this act of bravery, Rupsingh Bangal was awarded with money, which he utilised for the construction of this tank. The natives of the region do not look at the water of this tank, as they believe it will bring bad luck because it was dug from the money received for killing a human being.

 

Garh Ali is a historic site constructed during the war between the Ahoms and the Moamarias. A huge embankment named Garh Ali, starting from Seoni Ali and extending up to the Naga Hills, was constructed to safeguard the Ahom Kingdom. It is also referred to as the Bibuddhi Ghar, owing to the confusing pathway.

Dhekiakhowa Barnamghar was established by Madhabdev, a saint reformer of the 16th century. This shrine is situated within the boundaries of Dhekiakhowa Village near Jorhat. The saint reformer started this center for preaching Vaishnavism.This center contributes towards the social and cultural welfare of the natives. It has been in existence for more than 461 years. The shrine played an important role in propagating the Eka-sarana religion and achieving unity among the natives of Assam.

Kunwari Pukhuri on the Trunk Road, is famous for a huge tank that was constructed by Parbatia Kunwari, the granddaughter of the Ahom king, Sataialia Dilabandha Borgohain.

Thengal Bhavan is the site where the first daily Assamese newspaper was published. It is also famous as the site from where the first daily newspaper in any language was published from a village, in India. This centre was built by Raibahadur Shiva Prasad Barooah in 1880. Later in 1929, he established a printing press for weekly newspapers in the local language.

Cinnamora Tea Estate was established by Maniram Dewan, a sirastadar of an assistant commissioner, who worked under the British administration at Jorhat. Established in 1850, this estate is the first tea garden of Assam.