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Assam

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Assam is a large state located in northeastern India.

Assam Valley
Assam Valley

It sits just south of the Eastern Himalayas. The state lies along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. To the north, it shares an international border with Bhutan. To the southwest, it borders Bangladesh. A wide strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor connects Assam to the rest of India. Assam is the most populous state in its region. According to the 2011 census, it had 31.2 million people. Dispur serves as the capital. Guwahati is the largest city and urban area.

Kamakhya Guwahati
Kamakhya Guwahati

The landscape of Assam is defined by its water and diverse ecosystems. The state receives a copious amount of rainfall. This rain feeds the Brahmaputra River system. The river creates a unique hydro-geomorphic environment. This means the water shapes the land into specific forms. These forms include riverine grasslands, wetlands, and oxbow lakes. You can also find tropical rainforests and deciduous forests there. The region is a rich biodiversity zone. It is home to many different types of plants and animals.

Kopou Orchid Assam India
Kopou Orchid Assam India

Wildlife is a major part of the state's identity. Assam contains many protected areas. Two famous examples are Kaziranga and Manas National Parks. Both are recognized as World Heritage Sites. These parks help protect rare animals. For example, more than half of the world's one-horned Indian rhinoceroses live in Assam. Wildlife tourism is a major part of the local economy. This tourism relies on the state's many unique ecosystems. The mix of forests and wetlands provides a home for many species.

Assam has a very deep history of human settlement. Evidence shows people lived here during the Stone Age. Early settlers likely lived in hills between 1,500 and 2,000 feet high. They used exposed dolerite basalt for making tools. Archaeological sites like Ambari in Guwahati show very old artifacts. Some items may date back to the 1st century BCE. This makes them roughly 2,000 years old. The region was also known in ancient times as Kamarupa or Pragjyotisha.

Charyapada
Charyapada

Many different dynasties ruled the region throughout history. In the 4th century CE, it was a frontier of the Gupta Empire. Three main dynasties ruled the Kamarupa area. These were the Varmanas, the Mlechchhas, and the Kamarupa-Palas. The Varmanas ruled from about 350 to 650 CE. The Mlechchhas ruled from roughly 655 to 900 CE. The Kamarupa-Palas followed from 900 to 1100 CE. During the Varmana period, the Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited the region. He recorded his travels there.

The Ahom kingdom is one of the most significant eras in Assam. The Ahoms were a Tai group. They arrived in the Brahmaputra Valley in 1228. They were led by a leader named Sukapha. They brought about 9,000 men from Mong Mao. This was a Tai state in China. The Ahoms ruled Upper Assam for nearly 600 years. They established their capital at Charaideo in 1253.

Charaideo Moidams image ,Assam
Charaideo Moidams image ,Assam

The Ahom kingdom eventually faced conflicts with the Mughals. Later, Burmese invasions weakened the kingdom. This led to the British establishing tea estates in the 19th century.

Sketch map illustrating the extent of the Assamese kingdom in their zenith
Sketch map illustrating the extent of the Assamese kingdom in their zenith

Modern Assam has many unique economic and cultural features. The state is famous for Assam tea and Assam silk. Both are recognized as Geographical Indications in India. This means they are tied to the specific place they come from. Oil is also an important resource. It was discovered in the region in 1867. Active oil drilling began in 1889. Today, the state is organized into 35 districts. Assamese and Bodo are the official languages. In the Barak Valley, people also speak Meitei and Bengali.

Assam in 1950s
Assam in 1950s
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🖼️ Images & Media (67)
File:Charaideo_Moidams_image_,Assam.jpg
Charaideo_Moidams_image_,Assam.jpg
File:Sketch map illustrating the extent of the Assamese kingdom in their zenith.png
Sketch map illustrating the extent of the...
File:Battle of Mogul Mir Jumla with Assam in 1661.jpg
Battle of Mogul Mir Jumla with Assam in 1661.jpg
File:Cannon of Gadadhar Singha 2.jpg
Cannon of Gadadhar Singha 2.jpg
File:Garh Garhchuck.jpg
Garh Garhchuck.jpg
File:Assamese royal court scene from Dharma Purana.jpg
Assamese royal court scene from Dharma Purana.jpg
File:Siva dol, Sivasagar, Assam (1).jpg
Siva dol, Sivasagar, Assam (1).jpg
File:Antique Assam Thuria Earrings.jpg
Antique Assam Thuria Earrings.jpg
File:Bengal gazetteer 1907-9.jpg
Bengal gazetteer 1907-9.jpg
File:British Indian Empire 1909 Imperial Gazetteer of India.jpg
British Indian Empire 1909 Imperial...
File:Kanaklata Udyan, Tezpur.jpg
Kanaklata Udyan, Tezpur.jpg
File:Assam in 1950s.png
Assam in 1950s.png

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