Occupying 2.39% of India’s landmass, Assam is the most vibrant of eight states comprising the Northeast. Bounded by these states, West Bengal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, its topographical asymmetry is underscored by the Barail hill range sandwiched between two valleys – Brahmaputra and Barak – named after the dominant rivers.
Assam is synonymous with breathtaking natural beauty, teeming wildlife, immaculate tea gardens and warm, beautiful people. It’s strategic location in the northeast of India, and it’s accessibility from the rest of the country makes it the gateway to the northeastern states.
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KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARKKaziranga National Park is spread over 858 sq.kms and is located in the floodplains on both sides of the Brahmaputra river. Patches of mixed deciduous forests are interspersed with vast stretches of savannah grasslands, wetlands and chars of river islands formed by the shifting course of the Brahmaputra. -
MAJULI ISLANDPlaced in the Brahmaputra River, Majuli is a beautiful island that lies in the north-eastern state of Assam. Known as one of the world’s biggest river islands and one of South East Asia’s largest fresh water islands -
KAMAKHYA TEMPLEOne of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages is Kamakhya temple, an ancient Shakti Peeth in Guwahati. It is the central temple in a complex dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas. The Shakti Temple of mother Goddess Kamakhya perched on the top of Nilachal Hills overlooking river Brahmaputra
BY AIR: Guwahati has Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar, about 20 km west of the center of the city. There are direct flights to Guwahati from Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad and other major cities in India by different airlines. Druk Air connects Guwahati internationally airport to Bangkok and Paro twice a week.
BY TRAIN: Guwahati falls under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Guwahati Junction which is the major station of Guwahati is the headquarters of the zone. Two other stations are Kamakhya Junction and New Guwahati (for freight services) located towards west and east from Guwahati respectively. Kamakhya Junction is the second largest station of the city. Guwahati is well connected by express trains to major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Jaipur, Trivandrum, Ranchi, Patna, Kollam, Puri, Jammu etc
BY ROAD: Guwahati connects with the states Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal with National Highway 31. National Highway 37 from Goalpara in Assam to Dimapur in Nagaland traverses the entire length of Assam and connects Guwahati with almost all the major cities of Assam including the cities of Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon. Citizens from Myannmar can come in through the border post of Tamu-Moreh and take a connecting flight from Imphal to the city. There are also regular Bus services from Imphal to the city. Similarly, citizens can come from Bhutan and Bangladesh through Border Posts and take the Bus Services to the city
Assam experiences a Tropical Monsoon rain forest type of climate which is characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity during most time of the year. Its climate is quite different from the rest of India. Some peculiar features of the climate of Assam are its mountain chills, valley winds, sandstorms, fogs, cyclones etc. The hilly areas experience sub- alpine climate whereas the plains experience sultry climate. The most prominent season of all is the rainy season.
The climate of Assam can be basically divided into the following seasons.
| Seasons | Months | Temprature |
|---|---|---|
| Summers | March to june | 28 °C – 39 °C |
| Monsoon | july to September | 22°C – 32°C |
| Winters | November to February | 5°C – 20 °C |
Assam in summer – From March till June
The summers out here is usually hot and wet. It extends between the month of March to June however the hottest months are June, July and August. Summer temperature ranges from 350 C to 380 C. Even though the occasional rain during these months brings down the temperature, it is very hot and humid in some areas of the state during this period.
Assam in Monsoon – From July till September
This is the most prominent season of the state. Many parts of Assam receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon season due to the obstruction of the south west monsoon winds by its hills. Rainfall starts from the month of June and continues till September. It is one of the rainiest places in India and its annual rainfall varies anywhere between 70 inches in the west to 120 inches in the east. Sometimes heavy rainfall also causes problems like floods in different parts of the state and brings lot of destruction. Thunderstorms are also quite common during this season.
Spring and autumn are not so pronounced in this state. If occurs for a brief time in between the seasons. During this time temperature is moderate and rainfall minimum. The climate of Assam supports the growth and existence of different varieties of flora and fauna.
Assam in winter – From November till February
The winter months are basically dry. It extends from October to late February. Due to western disturbances, the place experiences rainfall, fog and cloudy weather during this season. January is the coldest month and the temperature during this time comes to as low as 6o C in certain parts. The average temperature varies between 60 C to 80 C during these months. The early mornings and nights during winter are very misty and foggy. Rainfall is lowest during this season.
Things to keep in mind before traveling
- Unlike other North East, you don’t need to obtain an Inner Line Permit and a Protected Area Permit while travelling to Assam but if you plan to visit other North East states then the permits can be collected from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Tezpur airports.
- The weather in the north-east is pretty unpredictable, so be prepared to have delays due to the bad weather.
- Most roads are being converted to double lane road, so at the moment the roads aren’t in the best shape.
- Locals are friendly and helpful. Be patient as not everyone will know fluent Hindi or English.
- Most cell phone networks don’t work well, so inform your family or friends about your whereabouts whenever possible.
- Don’t forget to carry some ready to cook food packets or instant noodles if you’re strictly a vegetarian.
- Carry extra batteries, power banks and most importantly warm clothing.
- Keep at least a couple of extra days in hand in case of any problems like landslides and bad weather on your way.
Day 1: Arrive from Guwahati airport or railway station and then drive towards to Jorhat which is 350 km. Enroute have lunch at a good restaurant and then head towards Jorhat. In the evening you may visit a nearby market if you need to buy some stuff or browse the area then overnight stay at Jorhat.
Day 2: After breakfast start your day in Jorhat which is famous as Asia’s famous Golf course destination. Visit Historic Garh Ali, Bilvesvar Shiva Temple, Tocklai Tea Research Center and Gymkhana club famous club provides Golf Courses, billiards, polo, and tennis grass courts. After sightseeing visit nearest restaurant for lunch and enjoy taste of Jorhat cuisines. Later visit some more famous excursion which makes your day enjoyable which includes Hollongapar Gibbon wildlife Sanctuary Enjoy your half day at sanctuary by involving in wildlife environment. By the evening return to hotel and overnight stay with dinner at Jorghat Hotel.
Day 3: After breakfast you will visit Nimati Ghat to board a boat for Majuli, It is a once in a life time experience. One has to cross the river Brahmaputra to reach Majuli. Upon arrival you have time to visit explore Monasteries and satars of Majuli, later you may have lunch at any food zone in village. In the evening you have freedom to go for evening walk into market of these villages. Overnight stay with dinner at Majuli resorts.
Day 4: After breakfast you will be taken to Majuli, the largest river island in the world amidst the mighty river Brahmaputra. Majuli is a cultural centre of the Vaisnavite sector of Hinduism of the great Assamese socio-religious reformer Sankardeva. Enjoy your full day at Island. By the evening, enjoy ferry ride at Majuli Island. After that you will come back to hotel/ Resort
Day 5: Head towards Kaziranga National Park.