5 reasons why Assam should be your next Travel Destination

Unknown to many travelers, the little northeastern state of Assam is the perfect spot
to experience the best of India. This vibrant city offers breathtaking natural
sceneries, rich cultural sites, and populous wildlife. If you're tired of the same old
attractions in India, it's time to look to the northeast of the country. Located south of
the eastern Himalayas, Assam is a place of unspoilt natural beauty, with deep valleys,
vast mountains and the massive Brahmaputra River which runs through the length
of the state. Assam is also well-known for their famous tea gardens and wildlife
conservation parks, the latter being the last few sanctuaries to a number of
endangered species.<br/>

Here's a list of great reasons that'll make you pack your bags and take your first big
step into Assam. <br/>

1) Go Wild at their National Parks<br/>

Five national parks are scattered across Assam, each boasting a rich biodiversity of
flora and fauna. You'll spot a wide range of wild creatures, such as elephants, hog
deers and water buffalos that call these wildlife sanctuaries their home. If luck's on
your side, you might even spot the elusive tiger stalking in the thick grass. <br/>

The more popular parks to choose from include Kaziranga, which is famously known
for preserving the world's largest population of great one-horned rhinoceroses, as
well as Manas, a reserve for the golden langur and the pygmy hog. <br/>

2) Visit to the Kamakhya Temple<br/>

Another attraction to visit would be the Kamakhya temple in the capital of Guwahati.
This temple is situated on Nilachal Hill in the western part of the capital city of
Guwahati, and serves as an important pilgrimage site for devotees of Shaktism, the
ones who reverently follow the beliefs of the Hindu goddess Kamakhya. <br/>

The place of worship is associated with the Hindu legend of the goddess Sati, who
was the wife of Shiva and daughter of King Daksha. <br/>

3) Enjoy the awesome Bihu festival<br/>

There are plenty of local festivals celebrated in Assam, the most popular being Bihu,
which is a harvest festival that takes place on not one, but three different times in a
year<br/>

The Bihu festival is concurrent with the crop cycle, where Assamese locals celebrate
important phases in the farming schedule. <br/>
The first event, Bhogali Bihu, takes place in mid-January when locals mark the end of
the harvesting season with eating and enjoyment. The second event, Kongali Bihu,
occurs in mid-October, and the festivities are more solemn in nature as the crops are
in their growing stage. The last and most popular event in the Bihu festival is the
Bohag Bihu, which happens in mid-April. <br/>

This seven-day festival coincides with the onset of the Assamese New Year and the
coming of spring. Locals take it to themselves to put on their best clothes and
celebrate the new year with worship and merriment. <br/>

4) Taste some delicious Assam tea<br/>

The whole state of Assam is devoted into tea-growing, with a large number of tea
estates scattered across the region and situated nearby on either side of
the Brahmaputra River. The location, plus the tropical climate of Assam, gives its tea
the unique malty taste that people have come to enjoy. <br/>

5) Local Cuisine<br/>

One of the best parts about travelling to new places is the opportunity to try
local cuisines of those areas. Assam in that context is one of the greatest destinations
to be explored. Since the staple food of the state is rice, the local cuisine
understandably consists of many rice items. The neighbouring states of West Bengal
and Odisha have also left a mark on the food preferences of Assamese population.
The authentic Assamese food is not spicy, something that makes its stand apart from
many other Indian states. However, that certainly does not mean that Assamese
cuisine lacks flavour. When in Assam, consider it a duty to taste pitha, khar, tenga
and kharali.