Nalbari Raas Mela 2011 Begins

The famous Raas Mela or festival of Nalbari, Assam, at Sri Sri Harimandir began with a 13-day programme. Union Minister for DoNER Paban Singh Ghatowar inaugurated the Nalbari Raas festival by cutting the ribbon of the main gate.

In Nalbari Raas three 25 feet high idols of Ram, Ravan and Hanuman are being installed. Eight electric gates are being displayed at the entrances of various link roads. Besides, 20 stalls containing the idols have been electrified. An artist of Chandan Nagar of Kolkata Uttam Bhaskar himself electrified the clay models of the Nalbari Raas. About one thousand idols have been displayed at around one hundred make shift stalls.

During the celebration of Raas Mela, this tiny town in fact transforms into a sea of humanity as all roads lead to the Nalbari Hari Mandir premises. Thousands of visitors irrespective of cast, creed and religion throng the venue to witness the famous Raas festival held during the time of Autumn. During Raas festival, the whole Nalbari town wears a new look with the spectacles of artificial electric light and the long que of visitors leave no space on the roads of the town.

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Cruising on the mighty Brahmaputra, Assam

Cruising on a riverboat on the mighty Brahmaputra, world’s highest river, is the best possible way to explore the untouched beauty of this unique region of northern part of India.

Traveling by train or plane through India is one of the most desired option, or who has traveled to India, will be surprised when came to know that it's really the way to go in the country in total tranquility and comfort. Yet, in reality, you can cruise for around 1700 plus miles of some rivers and inland waterways in India through the big city, next to the wildlife sanctuaries and historical monuments, and the heart of rural India. Assam Bengal Navigation are pioneers in this research.

Brahmaputra

Brahmaputra acts as a lifeline of Assam. Originally from Tibet Yarlung Tsangpo name of the river, when the named Dihang Arunachal Pradesh. In addition, it passes through the valley of Assam and Bangladesh when the Jamuna river named.

Assam is the place where the Ganges and Brahmaputra merge creates Sunderban delta and then lift from the Hooghly and the Padma tributaries.

Cruise on the Brahmaputra River began in 2003. It is operated by Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN), an Indo-British company with offices in Guwahati and London. ABN offers a variety of river boats luxury, and as Charaidew Sukapha. These boats are made to perfection luxurious rooms, kitchen and pleasant water views.

These cruises can last as long as 12 days and may also include the river Hugli. The boat does not sail at night. Tourists are provided with breaks during the cruise to enjoy jeep safaris into the forests and Assam's wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to locate the rhinoceros and the tiger before dawn elephant safari in Kaziranga and Manas National Park and visits to birding .

Rhinos can be seen by the water at night. Apart from this, wild elephant, Indian bison, monkeys, deer, peacocks, tigers and leopards, mongoose can be seen here. Rhino cruises are very popular in areas upstream and downstream. They operate from Guwahati - Tejpur or vice versa. These cruises can be combined with Tiger cruises on request.

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A Tribute to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika

Tribute to Bhupen Hazarika, also known as the "Bard of Brahmaputra" who used traditional Assamese music and released successful songs such as "Dil hoom hoom kare" and "O Ganga behti ho" and inspired millions across generations

As a singer, Hazarika was known for his baritone voice and diction.











Awards

• National Award as the Best Regional Film (1975)
• Padma Bhushan (2001)
• Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992)
• Asom Ratna (2009)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009)
• Conferred as the first Indian Music Director for best music Internationally for the film Rudaali at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival at Japan in 1993.
• All India Critic Association Award for best performing folk artist (1979)

In February 2009, the All Assam Students Union felicitated Dr. Hazarika by erecting a life size statue in the heart of Guwahati. It was unveiled by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika himself, a great son of Assam.

(Image source: last.fm)

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Assam Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

Assam wildlife or a hub of birding itinerary is a very talked about topic with tourists and nature lovers alike from all over the world. It has rich varied culture. Nature has ungrudgingly blessed Assam with an ample quantity of scenic grandeur. A wealth of rarest and near-extinct species of wildlife are found in Assam, which includes Golden Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare, White-Winged Woodduck, Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Swamp Deer, Gangetic Dolphins etc. Moreover, During season flock of resident and migratory birds make Assam their natural habitats.

The gateway to the mystic northeastern frontiers abounds in dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Quite naturally, these wildlife tours are a rage with tourists.

Assam wildlife's claims to fame lie in the two legendary UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park.

National Parks Name Area in Sq. km Main attraction Nearest Town Contact Person Telephone Kaziranga National Park 858.98 Rhino, Tiger, Bears, Wild Buffalo,Swamp Deer, Gaur, Gibbon, Bengal Florican, Dolphin, Otter Bokakhat Director Kaziranga National Park 03776-268095 (O) 03776-268086 (R) Manas National Park 500.00 Tiger, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Dhole Pigmy hog, Hispid hare, Golden langur, Bengal florican Barpeta Road Director, Manas National Park 03666-261413 (O) 03666-260288 Dibru-Saikhowa NP 340.00 Ferel horses, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, White winged wood duck and Salix swamp Tinsukia DFO, Tinsukia Wildlife Division 0374-2331472 (O) 2333082 (R) Nameri National Park 200.00 Tiger, 4 species of Hornbill, White Winged Wood duck, Golden Mahaseer Tezpur DFO, Western Assam Wildlife Division 03712-268054 (O) 268003 (R) Orang National Park 78.91 Rhino, Tiger, Maljurias Bengal Florican, Otter Mangaldoi DPO, Mangaldoi Wildlife Division 03713 -230022 Wildlife Sanctuaries Garampani 6.05 Elephant, Hot Water Springs Diphu DFO, Karbi- Anglong East Division 03371-272237 (O) 273303 (R) Laokhowa 70.13 Elephant, Tiger, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Bengal Florican Nagaon DFO,  Nagaon Wildlife Division 03672-225632 (O) 223122 (R) Bornadi 26.22 Hispid Hare, Pygmy Hog, Dhole, Elephants, Tiger, Great Pied Hornbill, Peafowl Mangaldoi DFO Mangaldoi Wildlife Division 03713-230022 (O) Chakrasila 45.50 Golden Langur, Gaur, Sambar, Barking deer Kokrajhar DFO,  Kokrajhar Wildlife Division 03661-270635 (O) 270241 (R) Burachapori 44.06 Elephants, Tiger, Wild buffalo, Aquatic Birds, Bengal Florican Tezpur DFO,  Nagaon Wildlife Division 03672-225632 (O) 223122 Pani-Dihing 33.93 Stray Elephants; Birds Paradise Sibsagar DFO,  Sibsagar Division 03772-220989 (O) 223465 Hollongapar Gibbon 20.98 7 Primates (Hoolock Gibbon, Stump-tailed Macaque, Capped Langur, Pig –tailed Macaque, Assamese Macaque, Slow Loris and Rhesus Macaque ), Elephant, Leopard Mariani DFO,  Jorhat Division 0376-232008 (O) 230456 (R) Pobitora 38.80 Rhino, Leopards, Barking Deer, Migratory Birds Guwahati DFO,  Guwahati Wildlife Division 0361-2656771 (O) 98350-31789 Sonai -Rupai 220.00 Elephant, Tiger, Gaur, Dhole, Sambar, White Winged Wood duck Tezpur DFO,  Western Assam Wildlife Division 03712-268054 (O) 268003 (R) Bherjan, Borajan- Padumoni 7.22 Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Pig-tailed Macaque, Slow Loris and Rhesus Macaque, Leopard Tinsukia DFO,  Tinsukia Wildlife Division 0374-2331472 (O) 2333082 (R) East Karbi Anglong 222 Gaur, Elephants, Tiger, Sambar, Barking Deer, Lesser Cats, Hoolock, Gibbon, Capped Langur, Wreathed Hornbill, Diphu DFO,  Karbi Anglong  East Division 03671-272237 (O) 273303 (R) Nambor 37.00 Gaur, Elephants, Tiger, Sambar, Barking Deer, Lesser Cats, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Wreathed Hornbill Diphu DFO,  Karbi Anglong  East Division 03671-272237 (O) 273303 (R) Marat Longri 451.00 Tigers, Leopards, Gaur, Elephants, Hoolock Gibbon Diphu DFO,  Karbi Anglong  West Division 0371-272247(O) 272221 (R) Nambor- Doigurung 97.15 Gaur, Elephants, Tiger, Sambar, Barking Deer, Lesser Cats, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Wreathed Hornbill Golaghat DFO,  Golaghat Division 03774-284798 2284997(R) Amchang 78.64 Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Lesser Cats, Slow Loris, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur Guwahati DFO,  Guwahati Wildlife Division 0361-2656771 (O) 94350-31789 Dehing Patkai 111.19 Elephants, Tiger, Hoolock Gibbon, White winged Wood Duck, Hornbills, Rain forests Digboi DFO,  Digboi Division 0375-264433(O) 284839 (R) Borail 326.25 Serow, Himalayan Black Bear, Hoolock Gibbon, Langur, Spectacled Monkey Silchar DFO,  Cachar Division, DFO, Karimganj Division 03842245648 (O) 03843273455 (O)

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Manas National Park in Assam

Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Himalayan foothill in the western part of Assam and it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National park in Bhutan. This Sanctuary is well known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog.

History of Manas National Park:
The Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on October 1, 1928 with an area of 360 km². Manas Tiger reserve was created in 1973. Prior to the declaration of the sanctuary it was a Reserved Forest called Manas R.F. and North Kamrup R.F. It was used by the Cooch Behar royal family and Raja of Gauripur as a hunting reserve. In 1951 and 1955 the area was increased to 391 km². It was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO. Kahitama R.F. the Kokilabari R.F. and the Panbari R.F. were added in the year 1990 to form the Manas National Park. In 1992, UNESCO declared it as a world heritage site in danger due to heavy poaching and terrorist activities. In 25 February 2008 the area was increased to 950 km².

How to reach: Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Borjhar, Guwahati is 145 kms. and Barpeta Road Railway Station is 20 Kms. away.
Nearest Highway: NH 31 (22 km away)
Nearest town: The town of Barpeta Road.
Nearest city: The city of Guwahati is 176 km away from the park.
Climate: Heavy rainfall occurs between May and September and the annual average rainfall is around 333 cm.
Best season for visit : November to April.

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Adventure Sports In The Land of Assam

If you are motivated by the zest of thrill, then commit yourself for a tour to Assam, the Northeastern state of India. You have ample time to the state. The topography of the land and varied terrains attracts fans of the adventure.

Rafting: The majestic Brahmaputra engulfs many opportunities for rafting. You can enjoy river rafting in this titanic river and its various tributaries.

Angling: Home to many species of fish like game fish, the Golden Mahseer, or tiger of the Himalayan rivers, rivers like Jia Bhoroli, Kapili and Manas give the fun of angling.

River Cruise: Thinking of challenging the stalwart Brahmaputra, even if it is hazardous ! Hmm! That's the spirit. The torrential river, the wild environs, the mighty hills all come in your way of river cruise. Enjoy the thrill down your nerves.

Boat Racing: Cities like Hajo, Saulkuchi, Barpeta, Guwahati hold boat racing events during festive occasions.

Golf: Many tea gardens of Assam India have golf courses tucked with them. A visit to the tea gardens, playing golf will be an unmatched experience of paramount happiness.

Mountaineering and Trekking: The North Cachar Hills and Karbi Hills are on hit list of the trekkers and mountaineers. These provide extreme friskiness to the tourists. The 'Elephant Rocks' in Morigaon District attract many trekkers.

Mountain Biking and Cycling: Hey! bikers over there... enthused by the frolic biking spirit. Welcome to Assam India and curb those savage and unexplored terrains. You can even take part in bicycle and motorbike rallies.

Para Sailing: Indian and Foreign tourists are attracted to this novel sport in Assam introduced by The Assam Tourism Development Corporation. The best place for para sailing in Assam is the spot is North Guwahati.

Hang Gliding: Who does not like to fly high? So if you wish to enjoy hang gliding come to the Kamakhya Hills and hills around Kaziranga and soar up high.

Bird Watching: The north east India is a shelter for many rare flora and fauna. In the Himalayan foothills you will encounter some of the prettiest birds in their natural habitat.

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