The state of Assam is dominated by the might River Brahmaputra, whose huge, lush valley is sandwiched between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the hills and plateau of Meghalaya to the south. It is an attractive state with miles of smooth, flat roads coursing through jungle and vibrant villages. One of India`s few oil regions, Assam also produces more than half of the nation`s tea. Most of its eight hundred tea estates were laid down by the British, with one golf club for every fifteen estates to relieve the tea planters` boredom and loneliness. Today Assam is recognised as one of the major tourist destinations in North East India.

Pilgrimiage Tours in Assam: This state is a pilgrim`s paradise. On one hand it is gifted with Brahmaputra`s bounty and on the other hand there are several temples and religious places that attract pilgrims from all over the continent. One of the foremost temples in Assam is the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Besides this there are a host of Hindu temples situated in this hilly region. Local transportation in the form of buses and hired cars are available to reach the places of worship. most of the temples are located on hill top. So apart from the spiritual significance, these temples, generally, are famed for the pictorial beauty too.

Nature Tourism in Assam: The presence of Brahmaputra has blessed the state with a favorable flora and fauna. As a result a number of wildlife parks and sanctuaries thrive in Assam. For nature lovers, thus, it will be an ideal destination to further explore the nature`s gifts. Eco tourism is also taken care of. Kaziranga National Park is till date one of the premier wildlife sanctuaries in Assam. Elephants, lions, rhinoceros, migratory birds and a host of wild species are to be found here. Assam is one of those few places still surviving on the face of the earth where there is a harmonious existence of man and animal.

Leisure Tourism in Assam: Plaited by mountains and rivulets Assam is truly a place to spend the leisurely hours. In between these relaxed hours the travelers can drop in at the important places of interest to know grasp in more about the history and culture of this north eastern Indian state. Guwahati, Tezpur, Majuli, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, Silchar and others are the popular tourist spots in Assam. Adventure sports are an integral part of Assam tourism. Trekking, motorcycle tours and Brahmaputra cruise are some outdoor activities with which the travelers can indulge themselves. The State Government is taking all kinds of measures to popularize the adventure sports in Assam. Annual competitions are organised to attract more and more people to the state from both within the country and abroad.

Tribal Tourism in Assam: The largest tribe in Assam is Bodo. They are one of the earlier settlers in Assam. Besides them the travelers will also encounter tribes, such as, Mishing, Nishi, Dimasa, Phake, Karbi and others. All in all there are 12 tribes in Assam. Each group has its separate set of traditions, cuisine, dress, literature and social set up. As travelers it could be quite engrossing to know more about their lifestyles. Here the tourists can also try out the tribal cuisines.

Village Tourism in Assam: Small hamlets tucked away between the hills are a common sight in Assam. The tea plantations are established around the villages. The steep plantations add beauty to the adjacent villages. Several villages had grown around the tea plantations as the people of these villages mostly work in these plantations.

Visiting Information on Assam:

How to Reach Assam
This Indian state is well connected by flights and railways. As a result the tourists will have no problems in accessing this place.

Air: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordolio International Airport, Guwahati is located 18 km west of the city centre and it is served by taxis and airport buses, including those run by Indian Airlines. There are 2 domestic airports at Assam as well-- Dibrugarh Airport and Silchar Airport. Assam is also accessible from Kolkata. There are regular flights from Kolkata for Guwahati, Silchar and Dibrugarh.

Rail: Indian Railways have adequate trains plying to and fro Assam.

Being a hill station the peak season in Assam is from March to November. Barring the monsoon Assam can be visited any time. The capital city here is Guwahati.

The bustling markets of Paltan Bazaar, Pan Bazaar and Fancy Bazaar, Guwahati`s main shopping areas, are bunched in the centre on either side of the railway, with the older residential areas north of the tracks. Most of the bazaars deal simply in provisions; Assamese silk, basketware and other crafts are sold at several good shops on GNB Road, including the State Emporium. Assam is world famous for its tea. Tourists can visit the Assam Tea Auction Centre in the suburb of Dispur, with special permission from the Senior Manager.

Other tourist destinations too have similar market places. In the tribal pockets the travelers can check out the tribal wears and their jewelleries.

Assam is also well known for cane products. The travelers can either check out the souvenirs or furniture.

When in Assam the travelers can dig their teeth into the local delicacies. But most importantly do not forget to sip and taste the Assam tea. Since this is a tourist spot, both Hindi and English are comfortably understood and fairly spoken.

There are several accommodation units in Assam. The hotels range from deluxe to budget ones. Apart from the multi storeyed hotels there are tourist lodges as well in several places, such as, Kaziranga, Haflong, Diphu, Tezpur, Guwahati and others.

For the convenience of the travelers there are tourist information offices in Assam too.

Assamese people are hospitable. The hidden treasures of this small state are abundant. It is now up to the tourists to unravel them.