ATTRACTIONS
Guwahati and Around
Guwahati can claim to be the pte-eminent city of the region. Once known as Pragjyotishpura, or 'Light of the East', this attractive city I is dominated by the Brahmaputra on whose banks it is situated. Guwahati has plenty of historical interest: several ancient monuments and structures, Hindu temples and places of tourist attractions are located in and around the city. The two best-known temples here are the Kamakhya and Nabagraha Temples, both of which occupy commanding positions on hilltops that look down on the city. The former is known as the greatest shrine ofTantric Shaktism. Another must-visit for the tourist is the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra. This multi-arts complex is an excellent window to the life and culture of the people of Assam. A visit to Guwahati also won't be complete without a cruise on the magnificent Brahmaputra; boating facilities are also available at Dighalipukhuri, a water body in the heart of the city.

Just outside Guwahati, there are several attractions:
Located beside a waterfall 11 km outside Guwahati are the temples at Basistha, which commemorate the sage Vashisth. This is an attractive spot for both the devout and the day-tripper.The magnificent archaeological ruins of Madan Kamdev are located about an hour outside the city. Chandubi Lake, a natural lagoon and excellent picnic spot, is also easily accessed from Guwahati.

Everyone with an interest in handicraft must make their way to Sualkuchi, 32 km from Guwahati. Here, at one of the world's largest weaving villages, can be found the silks that Assam is famous for - the unique golden Muga; Paat, and Eri fabrics. Also a short trip outside the city of Guwahati is a site of syncretic faith: at Raja, situated on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, three religions meet - Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. Hajo has a large number of Hindu temples, is considered sacred by the Buddhists, and is also an important pilgrimage site for Muslims.

Tezpur and Around
Nestling among Assam's undulating hills at the northern bank of the Brahmaputra is the pleasant city ofTezpur. Once known as Sonitpur, or 'City of Blood', Tezpur has interesting myths woven around it. Legend has it that Lord Krishna waged a bloody battle against Lord Shiva (Hari-Har Yudh) to save the love of Princess Usha and Prince Aniruddha. The hill of Agnigarh, which commands imposing views over the town and river; is said to be the place where Usha was imprisoned.

Tezpur is also rich with contemporary history. It was here that the Indian tricolour was first hoisted under British rule in 1942. Also worth visiting in Tezpur is the Da-Parbatiya Temple, which contains the oldest specimen of religious art in Assam. The ruins of Bamuni hill in Cole Park is worth visiting for its artistic beauty. The park itself is a haven for those in search of some peace and solitude.

The nature reserve Bhalukpong, situated on the bank of the river Jia Bharali, is only 64 km from Tezpur on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It has only recently come to the tourist's notice, and justifiably so; for natural beauty, tranquillity as well as activities such as angling and rafting.

Majuli
NSituated 12 km north of the town of Jorhat and about 300 km east of Guwahati, is Majuli famous for being the largest river island in the world. Its popularity also owes to the presence of several important Vaishnavite sattras, or monasteries. Islanders include Mising tribals, Ahoms, Kacharis, Deoris, and Kumars famous for their Salinara pottery. It also plays host to several among the feathered community - it is part of a major migratory path for ducks, geese and other birds. It is proposed as the 21st UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sivasagar
Located in the eastern part of Assam, Sivasagar is one of the state's oldest cities. Once the capital of the Ahoms, the town is still an important trading centre in tea and oil. Th(':re are several monuments of historical interest here: a huge artificial tank, constructed by Queen Madambika in 1734, is at the centre of the complex. The 32metre high Shivadol is the highest Shiva temple in North East India. Other monuments of note include the Rang Ghar, and the ruined 18th-century palaces of Kareng Ghar and Talatal Ghar.

Hill Stations
The scenic town of Haflong is Assam's main hill station. Situated about 355 !un from Guwahati and 84 !un from Silchar, the town is the district headquarters of the North Cachar Hills district. Apart from its picturesque setting, Haflong is also notable for being the harmonious settlement of several ethnic tribal groups as well as people belonging to different religious communities. The hilly town of Diphu is the headquarters of the Karbi-Anglong district, and is 269 km from Guwahati. This hill station is also known as the centre of Karbi art
and culture.

Flora
The green state of Assam abounds with different types of flora. Perhaps the loveliest is an orchid that grows across Assam. Familiar to the westerner as the 'Foxtail' orchid (it hangs down like a fox's tail), in Assam it is known as Kopou Ful. Along with floral beauty, Assam has a variety of trees and plants that grow in abundance allover the state. For instance, Holwng is a tree that grows to a height of 150 ft in the upper Assam region. Along the banks of the northern regions of the Brahmaputra are extensive Khair-Sisoo forests; the SeguR (Assam teak) also grows here. In the Goalpara and Kamrup districts of western Assam, the Sal tree grows extensively.

Bamboo groves can be found in several parts of the state. So endemic is the plant to the region, there is even an Assamese proverb that refers to it: "Bamboo is courage". The areca nut palm and the jackfruit tree, as also the betel-nut plant, are found here in abundance.

Fauna
Assam's incredibly varied wiJdlife brings in visitors from around the world. Adjoining the Brahmaputra is the Kaziranga National Park, which covers an area of 430 sq km. This national park plays host to Assam's pride and glory - the one-horned rhinoceros. Among the tall elephant grass, tough reeds and shallow pools of the park live a whole host of other animals: elephants, Indian bison, hog deer, jungle cat, tigers, leopards, and a number of other species. This wild congregation is increased, at different parts of the year, by migratory birds, making this park a scene of beauty year-round for lovers of wildlife.

The Manas National Park covers an area of 519.77 sq km and is located near the sub-Himalayan hills. Some of the rare wildlife species found here are the golden langur, the hispid hare and the pigmy hog. During winter, migratory birds also flock to this national park. The Orang Wlldlife Sanctuary, officially the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is another wildlife arena that is sometimes referred to as the 'mini-Kaziranga'. The sanctuary covers 78.81 sq km and is located towards the Brahmaputra's northern banks. Orang is 31 km from Tezpur.

There are also several wildlife sanctuaries in Assam. The Pabha Sanctuary is located in Lakhimpur district and spans an area of 49 sq km. It was set up to protect the water buffalo. The Sonai Rupai Wlldlife Sanctuary, home to elephant and Indian bison, is located at the foothills of the Himalayas and covers 175 sq km. The Dibru-Saikhowa Wlldlife Sanctuary is where wild horses can be found; it is also the place that provides safety to the rare winged wood duck and migratory birds. In the tiny (70 sq km) Laokhowa Wlldlife Sanctuary in Nagaon district, can be found the one-horned rhinoceros, wild buffalo, swamp deer, ducks, cormorant, etc. The list doesn't end here; other Wildlife Sanctuaries of Assam are: Pobitora Wlldlife Sanctuary, Namber Wlldlife Sanctuary, Barnadi Game Reserve, and Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary.

An interesting attraction is Jatinga, situated 9 km south of Haflong. People here believe that thousands of alien birds arrive in Jatinga every summer - apparently for only one reason: to die! Some people believe that these deaths are man-made.

Temples and Monuments
In a land as ancient as the ages, it is but natural to find a variety of temples and monuments. Sattras - monasteries that propagate
neo- Vaishnavism, education and need for peace and harmonious living - are developed in places like Majuli (the world's largest river island), Bardowa, Barpeta, Madhupur and elsewhere.

At Da-Parbatiya Temple ofTezpur, there is a structure that was built in the 5th or 6th century - an excellent example of ancient architecture, its door-frame has a set of very delicate and intricate carvings that bring out the best of Gupta art.

The Kamakhya and Bhuvaneshwari Temples on the top of the Nilachal hill are about 8 km from Guwahati. And at Sivasagar, the Shivadol is a temple devoted to Shiva: this temple is the tallest temple in North East India and is located on the banks of a large lake. Apart from pilgrims, this place attracts migratory birds during winter.

An ancient palace whose origin goes back to the 17th century is worth mentioning: the Talatal Ghar. This palace was built by King Rudra Singha and is located near Sivasagar. The unique feature of this building is that it is sevenstoreyed - with three storeys below ground level! Building such a palace in the damp soil of Assam was a true marvel of engineering. Rang Ghar, the double-storeyed, oval-shaped amphi theatre from where Ahom royalty watched buffalo-fights and other sporting events, still retains its original architectural grandeur.

The Cup That Cheers
Tea helped place Assam on the world map - naturally, it is an industry that occupies an important place in Assam's economy. Tea plants are known to grow naturally in the Upper Brahmaputra valley. Credit goes to Robert Bruce, an official of the British Empire, for publicising, in 1823, the existence of the tea plant in Assam. Assam grows tea in many places - in the Brahmaputra and Barak plains, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, etc. About 51 % of India's tea production comes from Assam and it can boast of the oldest and largest Tea Research Centre. This research centre w~ started in 1911 and is located at Toklai in Jorhat. The Guwahati Tea near Guwahati, Hajo and Sarrhebari, are entirely devoted to the production of traditional metalware.