Key Facts About Assam

Assam (also known as Ahom) is the gateway to the North East of India. It is one of the largest states in the region.

Assam:  Formed on 26 January 1950
No. of districts:  33
Capital: Dispur
Official Language: Assamese,Bodo, Bengali
High Court: Guwahati, Assam
Geographical Indications:  Muga Silk, Tezpur Litchi, Karbi Anglong Ginger
State Animal: One-horned rhinoceros
State Bird: White-winged wood duck
State Flower: Kopou phul (Foxtail Orchid)
State Tree: Hollong 

Majuli, world biggest river island became India's first river island district in 2016 

Natural Vegetation Tropical moist deciduous and tropical evergreen 

Known as/for:

• India's gateway to Northeast India -
• The first oil reserves of India were discovered in Assam 
• The first oil well in Asia was drilled in Assam 
• The largest producer of bamboos in India 
• The largest producer of tea in India Physical Characteristics 
• A land of plains and river valleys 

Three principal physical regions: 

• The Brahmaputra River valley in the north, 
• The Barak River (upper Surma River) valley in the south, 
• The hilly region between Meghalaya (to the west) and Nagaland and Manipur (to the east) in the south-central part of the state separating the two valleys 

Major Rivers:

• Subansiri, 
• Lohit (Tellu), 
• Dihang/Siang, 
• Kopili, 
• Dhaleswari, 
• Barak,
• Dhaleswari, 
• Kameng, 
• Brahmaputra, 
• Kameng 

Major Regional Festivals:

• Bihu, 
• Ambubachi, 
• Elephant Festival, 
• Brahmaputra beach festival, 
• Majuli, 
• Baishagu, 
• Baikho, 
• Me-Dum-Mi-Phi

Major Art Forms:

• Assam School of Painting (Manuscript paintings) Music – Ainaam, 
• Borgeet, 
• Hiranaam, 
• Dihanaam, 
• Zikr and Zari, 
• Malitas (Ballad) Dance - Satriya Nritya, 
• Bhaona, 
• Oja Pali, 
• Bihu, 
• Jhumur Naach, 
• Deodhani, 
• Gumrag,
• Dhuliya, 
• Bhawariya, 
• Bhortal Nritya, 
• Bagurumba 

Industry:

• Fertilizer,
• Jute, paper, 
• Silk and textiles, 
• Sugar, 
• Chemicals, 
• Electronics,
• Cement, 
• Sawmills, 
• Plywood and match factories 

Minerals:

• Hard sandstone, 
• soft and loose sand, 
• conglomerates, 
• coal seams, 
• shales, 
• petroleum, 
• sandy clays, and limestone 

Agriculture:

• Rice,
• Tea,
• Jute,
• Oilseeds,
• Pulses,
• Legumes such as peas, beans,lentils) corn (maize), 
• Sugarcane, 
• Rape (an oil-yielding plant)

Important Historical Sites

• Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty, 
• Sibsagar, Cachari ruins In Khaspur, 
• Carvings, inscriptions, 
• pillar on the Urvasi Island in Guwahati 

World Heritage Sites 

• Kaziranga National Park on the bank of the Brahmaputra, 
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary near the border with Bhutan 

Ramsar Sites:  Deepor Beel

National Parks:

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park,
• Kaziranga National Park, 
• Manas National Park, 
• Nameri National Park, 
• Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park

Biosphere Reserve:

• Dibru-Saikhowa, 
• Manas

Wildlife Sanctuaries:

• Amchang WLS
• Barail WLS
• Barnadi WLS
• Bherjan-Borajan
• Padumoni WLS
• Burachapori WLS
• Chakrashila WLS
• Deepor Beel WLS 
• Dihing Patkai WLS
• East Karbi -Anglong WLS
• Garampani WLS
• Hollongapar -Gibbon WLS
• Lawkhowa WLS 
• Marat Longri WLS
• Nambor WLS
• Nambor Doigrung WLS 
• Porbitora WLS 
• Pani-Dihing Bird WLS
• Sonai Rupai WLS

Tiger Reserve 

• Orang, 
• Kaziranga, 
• Manas, 
• Nameri

Elephant Reserve:

• Sonitpur, Dihing-Patkai, 
• South Arunachal, 
• Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, 
• Intanki, 
• Chirang-Ripu, 
• Eastern Dooars