Assam,
is an ancient settlement. As the main airline center
in the northeast, it is a convenient point of entry
into the Brahmaputra Valley in which the state is cradled.
Impressive in its immensity and enchanting in its beauty.
"Umanda Temple" dedicated to Shiva, is on
Peacock Island in the middle of the river. The "Navagarh
Temple" on Chitrachal Hill near the city, was once
a center for the study of astronomy and astrology. "Kamakshya
Temple" on Milachal Hill, ten Kms from Guwahati
and a center for Shakti worship, attracts pilgrims during
the Ambuchi Festival in August. In the center of Guwahati,
the "Janardan Temple" has an image of the
Buddha Demonstrating how Buddhism was assimilated into
Hinduism. Other places of interest in Guwahati are the
"Assam State Zoo" and the "Assam State
Museum". Northeastern India is rich in wildlife
sanctuaries. Assam had nine in 1990, of which Manas
and Kanziranga are the most famous. Kaziranga was established
in 1908 and now cover 430 square Kms of forest, swamp
and plains. There are wild elephants, wild buffaloes
and swamp deer, hog deer , tigers and some exotic birds.
Game viewing is mostly done from the back of an elephant.
Manas, six hours north of Guwahati, now protects over
2,837 square Kms of sub Himalayan riverine forest on
the south bank World Heritage Site and contains 21 of
South Asia's most endangered mammal species and an extraordinary
range of birds. Apart from Assam 's rivers, forest and
animals, visitors can hardly miss the local tea industry.
At harvest time, women with wicker baskets strapped
to their heads wend their way through the bushes and
pluck the leaves . India is the largest producer of
tea in the world. Assam produces 60 percent of India's
tea, over 50 percent of which is exported.
