Mighty river Brahmaputra travels through 21 districts of Assam (more than 800 km) and it may be home for tea gardens but how many of us know the area was ruled by Ahom dynasty for more than 600 years, uninterrupted from 12th century to 1826 till the British took over.
Or, that it is the home to the largest river island Majuli with its own unique customs and eco-systems. That it has several archaeological sites, grandest temples and mosques, has five national parks and many wildlife reserve forests. Highest number of river Gangetic dolphins too dot this part of the country and has the world’s largest one-horned Rhino conservation parks.
All these can be absorbed this summer when Assam Government hosts the biggest river festival ‘Namami Brahmaputra’ (www.namamibrahmaputra.com) planned all along the mighty river with the main venue being a river island at Guwahati.
Five-day festival
The five-day festival to be held from March 31 to April 4 where the Assam Government led by its Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his team has planned out a host of activities to showcase the region’s art, heritage and culture.
“There will be traditional Assamese sports on display, music and dance forms. Tea festival, local cuisine spread and film festival screening the best of Assamese films along with river cruises, rafting, visits to the sprawling tea gardens and their English bungalows with abutting golf courses will enchant tourists,” said J.N.V. Subramanium, Goalpura District Magistrate.
The IAS officer hailing from Hyderabad gave a glimpse of how the festival will be like at a briefing to the media. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been invited to the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival at Guwahati, the main venue.
Chief Ministers and chief secretaries of all States have also been invited. Accommodation is available in different categories from star hotels to homestays and resorts in Assam, a couple of hours direct flight from here.
Tie-Up with TSTDC
Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation is to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Assam Government for joint promotion of tourism places in each of their respective States with the active participation of the travel industry.
TSTDC managing director Christina Z Chongthu informed that she along with Commissioner Sunita Bhagwath, Archaeology Director Visalakshi and others would be going for a road show there and participate in the river festival along with tour operators. North East tour too is on the agenda.
