For most people, knowledge of North East starts and ends with Assam. Call it ignorance or prejudice, but this is how things actually stand. While there is definitely more to North East than Assam, it is also true that being the most significant state of the region it attracts maximum attention among travellers. Guwahati, the state’s capital is the biggest city and economic hub of the region. But there is more that makes Assam a traveller’s delight. From the famed Kamakhya Temple to Kaziranga, tea gardens to river valleys, nature’s abundance can be experienced in every nook and corner of the state. But if you are one of those who likes to walk the unbeaten tracks, Assam will surprise you with its mesmerizing beauty and mysticism. Let’s take you through a tour of some of the lesser known destinations in the state. 

Nameri National Park

Nameri National Park lies in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas and is one of the prominent parks of Assam. While most tourists flock to Kaziranga and Manas National Park while in Assam, you must visit Nameri to experience the landscape that is abundantly dotted with river tributaries; semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and scores of animals such as Sambar, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Tigers and Leopards. Located 35 kilometres from Tezpur it’s a paradise for any natural lover and gives you a glimpse into the state’s exclusive flora and fauna.

Majuli River Island

The world’s largest river island is in Assam and it’s called Majuli. The island is on the River Brahmaputra and is the seat of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture. Majuli is also the first island district of the country. One of the major attractions of Majuli is the various Satras or monasteries, mostly built by the famous Assamese saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his famous disciple Madhavdeva. Majuli is also a natural hotspot for flora and fauna and the wetland makes idle home for birds such as Siberian Crane, Whistling Teal, Pelican and Greater Adjutant Stork.

Peacock Island

When traveling to Assam, you will invariably stop at Guwahati. While some give exploring this capital city a miss, the ones who do don’t end up going to a few exotic spots around Guwahati. One of them is the Umananda Island or what the British called the Peacock Island for its shape. It offers fascinating view and feel of the mighty river when you explore around the island.  There is a 17th century Shiva temple here known as the Umananda Devaloi attracting scores of local worshippers.

Agnigarh Hill

The hillock of Agnigarh is one of the must-visit spots in Tezpur. Entrenched in history Agnigarh is one of the highest points in the town. According to mythology, King Banasura had built a fortress here to isolate his daughter Usha, who was in love with Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna. There are numerous sculptures at Agnigarh hill which depicts Usha-Aniruddha’s love story and the fierce battle fought between Banasura and Krishna.

Haflong


For a state as large as Assam and surrounded by mountain and hills on all sides, it is quite an interesting trivia that Haflong is the only hill station. The headquarters of Dima Hasao district, Haflong is a quiet hill station that still holds the old-world charm. You can easily enjoy a couple of days at this hill station walking around the Haflong Lake, visiting the Ethnic village or making a day trip to see the famous Jatinga Bird Observatory. Make sure you travel on a train from Guwahati as it would take you through one of the most exciting mountain railway journeys in India.