Tezpur : A brief overview
Situated on the north bank of the mighty Brahmaputra, interspersed with green hills and hillocks, parks and lakes, Tezpur is a beautiful town in the middle of the state of Assam. It is the headquarters of Sonitpur district located 190 km east of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam.
Tezpur is a city steeped in history, mythology and folklore. The city abounds in archaeological sites, ancient relics apart from scenic beauty. The famous 8th century door frame of Da-Parbatia, the ruins of the 9th century sun temple at the Bamuni Hill, the ruins of the ancient temple known as Garh Doul, the early 9th century rock inscription of Harjjar Varma, etc. speak volume of the historical significance of Tezpur. The city is also dotted with many old temples including the famous Maha Bhairav temple.
Though Tezpur lost much of its importance during the medieval times, it regained prominence as the capital of the erstwhile Darrang district in 1835. Later on, due to its critical geographical location, the city came to assume much strategic importance besides being a centre of trade and commerce. It is also a transit for tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh, especially the famous Buddhist monastery at Tawang. The world famous Kaziranga National Park is located 55 km east of Tezpur while the Nameri National Park is located 40 km north of it.
During the month of January, the average minimum and maximum temperatures of Tezpur range between 10o C and 22o C. So, woolens are recommended for visitors to the town during that time. The sunrise and sunset hours in December are approximately 6 AM and 4.30 PM respectively.
Assam has enjoyed a reputation for unspoiled natural beauty, substantial biodiversity, tea plantations, and friendly people. The Brahmaputra, the lifeline of the valley which shares its name, floods the nearby land with fertile silt every year to ensure a rich harvest. It is bound on either side by marshy land covered with thick jungle grass, interspersed with patches of rice fields and terraced tea gardens. There is little to interrupt the vast panorama except the occasional lone hillock. Only in the south of the valley is the even horizon broken by the hills of Karbi Anglong. Further south are the North Cachar Hills. Located here, amid orchards is Assam's only hill station, Haflong. The southern part of Assam is the Barak Valley, this region hosts untouched natural beauty. Green is the dominant colour of the state, with an impressive 35% forest cover and thousands of hectares under tea cultivation. Assam has five national parks including the World Heritage Sites of Kaziranga and Manas, and 20 Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaries. The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros is one of Assam's most noteworthy fauna.
