Top 10 Fact About Assam

1.  Assam has a State Anthem:

The anthem was composed by Lakshminath Bezbarua and goes like this — ‘O Mur Apunar Des’ (O my endearing motherland). It was officially adopted as the anthem of the State in the year 1927 at a conference in Tezpur.

2. Worlds largest Tea producer:

The state of Assam is the world's largest tea-growing region, lying on either side of the Brahmaputra River. Credit of discovery of tea in Assam valley goes to Robert Bruce, a Scottish adventurer, who apparently encountered it in the year 1823. British first introduced Tea plantations in Assam and since then it has been the largest producers of tea ever produced in India.

3. Digboi- the first oil well in Asia:

Crude oil was first discovered in Digboi, Assam in late 19th century. Digboi is known as the Oil City of Assam where the first oil well in Asia was drilled. The first refinery was started here as early as 1901. Digboi has the oldest oil well in operation. Today, Digboi has the distinction of being India's oldest continuously producing oilfield.

4. Traditional Crafts :

Assam has a rich tradition of crafts such as Cane and bamboo craft, bell metal and brass craft, silk and musical instruments making have remained as major traditions. Utilities and symbolic articles such as Sorai and Bota made from bell metal and brass are found in every Assamese household. Hajo and Sarthebari (Sorthebaary) are the most important centres of traditional bell-metal and brass crafts. Assam is the home of several types of silks, the most prestigious are: Muga – the natural golden silk, Pat – a creamy-bright-silver coloured silk and Eri – a variety used for manufacturing warm clothes for winter.

5. Majuli- the world’s largest riverine island :

The world’s largest riverine island, Majuli on the Brahmaputra, is located in Assam. The island had a total area of 1,250 square kilometres (483 sq mi) at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion it had an area of only 352 square kilometres (136 sq mi) in 2014.

6. Land of Festivals :

The state can be called the land of festivals as a host of various cultural activities organised by various ethnic communities of Assam. Bihu, Bushu Dima, Ali-Aye-Ligang, Bhauna are some traditional festivals celebrated by different native communities of Assam.

7. Guwahati is the real capital of Assam :

Though Dispur is the official capital of Assam, it is Guwahati that has all important institutes and amenities. Important institutes like the High Court, National Law University, Indian Institute of Technology, police headquarters, hospitals, educational institutions all are there in Guwahati. One can say Guwahati as a pseudo capital of Assam.

8. Jonbeel Mela :

This is a three-day Tiwa community fair (mela) held at the weekend of Magh Bihu at a historic place known as Joonbeel (in Morigaon district of Assam). This festival is inaugurated by the King of the Tiwa tribe. A few days before the mela starts, communities and tribes like Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi, and Jayantia of the northeast come down from the hills with their local products and interchange their merchandise with the local people in a barter system. It is said to be a hi-tech age barter system and perhaps the only fair in India where barter system is still alive.

9. There are two world heritage sites in Assam :

There are two world heritage sites in Assam which are UNESCO approved. They are the Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park. Manas National Park was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO. The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife species such as the golden langur and pygmy hog. Kaziranga National Park Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon district of Assam and it was being declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1985.

10. Dhola-Sadiya Bridge :

Dhola- Sadiya Bridge is the India’s longest river bridge (9.15 km long). It connects Sadia town in Assam’s Tinsukia district with Dhola village, also in Assam. The bridge is built across the Lohit river which is a tributary of river Brahmaputra.