State of India - Assam

Area: 78,438 sq km

Population: 2,24,14,322

Capital Of City: Dispur

Languages: Assamese

Crops: The principal food crop is rice. Cash crops are jute, tea, cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, potato.

How You Know:

History: The state of Assam stands like a guard of the Indian frontiers. It shares India's international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Tea is the most famous product of Assam. You might have seen advertisements for branded tea claiming that the tea is pure Assamese. The state contributes about 15 per cent of the world's entire tea production. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre where tea is sold to dealers is the biggest tea auction centre in the world. India's largest tea exporting town, Dibrugarh, is also in Assam.Assam is also known for its wildlife. The Kaziranga National Park covers an area of 430 sq km. People from all over the world come to see its famous one horned rhinos. The Manas National Park is the place to spot tigers and other rare species like the hispid hare, golden langur etc.Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. The merriments include dancing and singing on the wild beats of Dhol and Pepa (buffalo hornpipe). The colourful festival is exclusive to Assam and is celebrated on three different occasions in a year. Rangali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the biggest and marks the Assamese New Year. Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is the harvest festival and Kati Bihu or Kangali Bihu in autumn is a simple affair.The Assam Tea logo (see left) features a rare one horned rhino symbolizing purity. It can only be used with permission from the Indian Tea Board and is displayed on 100% pure Assam tea.

Tourist Places: Important places of tourism in and around Guwahati are Kamakhya temple, Umananda (Peacock Island), Manas (tiger project), and Hajo (meeting place of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam).