About Assam

Assam the land of the Red River, the Brahmaputra, and the Blue Hills flanking it. Assam - the land where you find flowers that are exquisitely beautiful, animals that are rare, and a beleagured people that are proud and inviting. In ancient times Assam constituted a part of the land known successively as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura, and Kamarupa. Asom (Axom) or its anglisized version Assam is a comparatively modern name. Opinions on the root of the name vary with one view ascribing its origin to the Bodo word Ha-Cham which means "low or level country" and a second view ascribing it to the word Asama, meaning "unequalled" or "peerless", and used to denote the Ahoms, a Shan tribe which ruled the land for six centuries from the 13th Century A.D.

The State harbours a virtual bonanza of attractions for tourists of every kind. There are the historical monuments and structures which speak of a glorious past of high architectural achievement. The shrine of Kamakhya is there for the religious. So are a hoard of other places of religious significance including the Vaisnavite Sattras which provide the visitor a glimpse of the unique form of Hinduism propagated by Sankardeva and his deciples. It is however none other than Mother Nature which transforms the State into a haven of tourism. The flora and fauna of famous wildlife sanctuaries such as Kaziranga, places of unsurpassed natural beauty such as Haflong and Chandubi ensure that the visitor goes way with a lasting impression. Then there is the added attraction of a colourful people with exotic customs and exquisite art and handicrafts to match. Assam is a mini-India if not more.