Explore Dibrugarh

Exploring Dibrugarh

The Tea City of India

Dibrugarh, fondly known as the "Tea City of India," is a vibrant city nestled in the northeastern state of Assam. This charming city is a perfect blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and modern urbanity, making it a must-visit destination for travelers exploring Assam. With its rich history, sprawling tea gardens, and the majestic Brahmaputra River, Dibrugarh offers an experience that is both serene and invigorating.

A Glimpse into the History of Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh's history dates back to the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for six centuries. The city's name is believed to have originated from the word "Dibarumukh," where "Dibaru" is a river that flows through the region, and "mukh" means mouth. The British colonial period further shaped Dibrugarh's identity, transforming it into a major center for tea production.

The city was heavily affected during the 1950 Assam earthquake, which altered the landscape significantly. However, Dibrugarh emerged stronger, rebuilding itself and continuing to thrive as a hub for tea, tourism, and trade.

The Tea Capital: A Tour of the Tea Gardens

No visit to Dibrugarh is complete without exploring its world-famous tea gardens. The lush green plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a mesmerizing landscape that is synonymous with Assam. Visitors can tour these estates, such as the Mancotta Tea Estate, Jalan Tea Estate, and Ethelwold Tea Estate, to learn about the intricate process of tea production.

Walking through the tea gardens, you'll be greeted by the sight of workers meticulously plucking tea leaves, a practice that has remained unchanged for centuries. Many estates also offer tea-tasting sessions, where you can savor the unique flavors of Assam tea, renowned for its robust and malty taste.

Brahmaputra River: The Lifeline of Dibrugarh

The mighty Brahmaputra River, one of the major rivers of Asia, flows gracefully through Dibrugarh, adding to the city's scenic beauty. The river is not just a visual delight but also plays a crucial role in the lives of the locals. It serves as a source of livelihood, transportation, and irrigation, and its banks are dotted with villages that offer a glimpse into the rural life of Assam.

A boat ride on the Brahmaputra is an experience like no other. As you glide through the calm waters, you can witness stunning sunsets, migratory birds, and the occasional glimpse of the elusive Gangetic dolphins. The river also offers opportunities for adventure enthusiasts, with activities like river rafting and angling.

Cultural Heritage and Festivities

Dibrugarh is a melting pot of cultures, with a rich tapestry of traditions, festivals, and cuisines. The city is home to several ethnic communities, including the Ahoms, Chutias, and the indigenous tea tribes, each contributing to the region's diverse cultural landscape.

One of the most celebrated festivals in Dibrugarh is Bihu, the Assamese New Year, which is marked by traditional music, dance, and feasting. The city's vibrant culture is also reflected in its numerous temples, including the Jagannath Temple, Radha Krishna Mandir, and the Lekai Chetia Maidam, which are architectural marvels that attract devotees and tourists alike.

Modern Dibrugarh: A Growing Urban Center

While Dibrugarh is steeped in tradition, it is also a city on the move, rapidly evolving as a modern urban center. The city boasts a well-developed infrastructure, with shopping malls, restaurants, and hotels catering to both locals and tourists. The upcoming Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India, has further boosted connectivity, making Dibrugarh a gateway to the northeastern region.

The Assam Medical College, one of the oldest and most prestigious medical institutions in India, is located here, adding to the city's educational prominence. Dibrugarh University, another renowned institution, is a hub for academic and cultural activities.

Wildlife and Nature: Exploring the Surrounding Areas

Dibrugarh is also a gateway to some of Assam's most pristine natural reserves. The nearby Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, often referred to as the "Amazon of the East," is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a variety of flora and fauna. It is a paradise for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, with species like the white-winged wood duck, hoolock gibbons, and elephants inhabiting the dense forests.

For those looking to explore further, the Namdapha National Park and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park are within a few hours' drive from the city, offering more opportunities to immerse in Assam's natural beauty.

Culinary Delights of Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh's culinary scene is as diverse as its culture. The city offers a range of delectable Assamese dishes, including pithas (rice cakes), masor tenga (sour fish curry), and khar (a traditional alkaline dish). The influence of tea culture is evident in the numerous tea stalls that serve steaming cups of Assam tea, often accompanied by snacks like samosas and pakoras.

For those with a sweet tooth, local sweets like pitha, til pitha, and narikolor laru (coconut balls) are a must-try. The city's markets are also a great place to buy fresh produce, spices, and the famous Assam tea to take back home.

Conclusion: Dibrugarh - A City of Endless Exploration

Dibrugarh is more than just a city; it is an experience that captures the essence of Assam. Whether you are a history buff, a nature lover, or a tea enthusiast, Dibrugarh has something to offer for everyone. Its unique blend of tradition and modernity, coupled with its warm hospitality, makes it a destination worth exploring. So, pack your bags and set out to discover the charm of Dibrugarh, the heart of Assam's tea country.

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Assam History

Assam is the eastern most sentinel of India endowed with enchanting and picturesque natural beauty. The State is adorned with beautiful lush covers of greenery, a chain of hills and rivers mainly the Brahmaputra and the Barak. It has been the living place of various races, tribes and ethnic groups since time immemorial. The dynamics of synthesis and assimilation of the races make Assam glorified and rich.

There are several opinions to the origin of the name “Assam”. In the ancient Sanskrit literature both the names ‘Pragjyotisha’ and ‘Kamrupa’ were used as designation for ancient Assam. Its antiquity can be established from the fact that it has been mentioned in the two great epics- The Mahabharata and the Ramayana and also in the Puranas. Regarding the name ‘Prajyotisha’ or ‘Pragjyotishpura’, Gait (1992, reprint) writes that Prag means ‘former’ or ‘eastern’ and Jyotisha ‘a star’, astrology, shining. Pragjyotishpur may, therefore, be taken to mean the ‘City of Eastern Astrology’.

References of Kamarupa are found in literature as well as in many epigraphs. The mythology regarding the origin of the name Kamarupa tells us the story of Sati who died due to the discourtesy shown to her husband by her father Daksha. Overcame by grief, Shiva carried her dead body and wandered throughout the world. In order to put a stop to this, Vishnu used his discus to cut the body into pieces, which then fell into different places. One such piece fell down on Nilachal hills near Gauhati and the place was henceforth held sacred as Kamakhya. But Shiva’s penance did not stop, so the Gods sent Kamdev, the cupid to break his penance by making him fall in love. Kamdev succeeded in his mission, but Siva enraged at this result, burnt Kamdev to ashes. Kamdev eventually regained his original form here and from then onward the country came to be known as Kamarupa (Where Kama regained his Rupa or form).

The name ‘Aham’ or ‘Asom’ was probably given by the Ahoms who came to Assam in 1228 A.D. Even though the origin is ambiguous but it is believed that the modern name Assam is itself an anglicization.

The Ahom’s entered Assam fully assimilated and ruled Assam for nearly six hundred years. The period of Ahom rule is a glorious chapter in the history of Assam. The Ahom dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai Mountains. It is between 13th and 19th century that several tribal communities also came into the historical forefront of Assam. Kacharis, Chutias and Koch were the prominent tribal groups that were found in the medieval times of Assam. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. The British emperor took charge of the state and thus begun the colonial era of Assam.

Assam lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders. The British annexed Cachar in 1832 and Jaintia Hills in 1835. In 1874, Assam became a separate province with Shillong as its capital. Sylhet was merged with East Bengal on partition of India. With the partition and independence of India in 1947, the district of Sylhet (excluding the Karimganj subdivision) was ceded to Pakistan (the eastern portion of which later became Bangladesh).

However, like all other states of India, Assam was also involved in various freedom movements. With the enthusiastic participation of many courageous activists Assam, Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950. It saw further reduction of its area when Dewangiri in North Kamrupa was ceded to Bhutan in 1951. The capital of Assam was formerly Shillong (now the capital of Meghalaya), and later shifted to Dispur, a suburb of Guwahati, in 1972. The States of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram got their own separate states.

The history of Assam has passed several stages of development to reach to its present state. The history of Assam can be divided into four eras. The ancient era began in the 4th century with the mention of Kamarupa in Samudragupta's inscriptions on the Allahabad pillar and the establishment of the Kamarupa kingdom. The medieval era began with the attacks from the Bengal Sultanate, the first of which took place in 1206 by Bakhtiyar Khilji as mentioned in the Kanai-boroxiboa rock inscription, after the breakup of the ancient kingdom and the sprouting of medieval kingdoms and chieftain-ships in its place. The colonial era began with the establishment of British control after the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826, and the post-colonial era began in 1947 after the Independence of India.

The first Governor of independent Assam was Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari and Chief Minister was Gopinath Bordoloi who witnessed the foundations laid of Gauhati University (1948), Gauhati High Court (1948) and Guwahati station of All India Radio (AIR). When Gopinath Bordoloi passed away in 1950, Bishnu Ram Medhi took over as the next Chief Minister of Assam. During his tenure from 1950 to 1957, the First Five-Year Plan was started, Panchayat system of governance was introduced and the agricultural sector got more importance.

Bimla Prasad Chaliha was the third chief minister from 1957 to 1970. In 1958th the 66th session of Congress was held at Jalukbari, Guwahati. The Saraighat Bridge was constructed over the Brahmaputra river (1965), an Oil refinery was established at Noonmati, Guwahati in 1962 during his time. In 1959-60 the famous language revolt took place in Assam, and as a result Assamese became the official language of the State and Bengali also enjoyed the same status in the Cachar District of Barak Valley.

Mohendra Mohan Choudhury assumed the mantle of chief minister in 1970. The foundation of Bongaigaon Petro-Chemicals, Paper Mill at Jogighopa and Jute factory at Silghat in Nagaon were laid in his tenure. In 1972 Sarat Chandra Sinha came to power after Congress secured absolute majority. In 1974 the capital was finally shifted to Dispur in Guwahati.

The Assam Movement (1979-1985) was a popular movement against illegal immigrants in Assam. The movement, led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP), developed a program of protests and demonstration to compel the Indian government to identify and expel illegal, (mostly Bangladeshisi), immigrants and protect and provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the indigenous Assamese people. The agitation programs were largely non-violent, but the Nellie massacre was a case of extreme violence. The agitation program ended in August 1985 following the Assam Accord, which was signed by leaders of AASU-AAGSP and the Government of India.

The Assam Accord (1985) was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement in New Delhi on 15 August 1985. A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) in 1979. It culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord.

Today Assam has an area of 78,438 square kilometers. It consists of thirty three districts and is credited to be the most populous state in the entire Northeast India.

Detail View About Assam on Assam State Portal

Data Reference fron Assam State Portal :- https://assam.gov.in/about-us/394