Assam Hills

The Assam Hills comprises a large hilly tribal region of Assam, separating the Assamese-speaking Brahmaputra Valley from the Bengali-speaking Barak Valley. Many areas are rugged and scenic, with rice cultivations in river valleys.

• 25.83333393.4333331 Diphu —
• 25.1893.032 Haflong — Assam's sole hill station, in the southern part of the hills. Spilling down from a hilltop, it provides wonderful views of the nearby Borail Mountains. There is also a district museum with some interesting exhibits. The market provides many agricultural products brought in from the countryside, and should certainly be visited. Near the market is a shop selling hand-woven fabrics which is wonderful for picking up inexpensive and lovely souvenirs.
• 25.114992.94373 Jatinga — famous for the "bird mystery." Under certain climate conditions, huge numbers of migrating birds run up against the nearby mountain range and come to rest near the village.
• 25.49668393.1125494 Langting — a commercial centre. There is an evening market that is busy and fascinating.
• 25.393.175 Maibang — an ancient capital of the Dimasa people. The Stone House near the river is the only intact relic of the kingdom there, though other artifacts have been discovered during construction and are on display.
• 25.96824993.437216 Manja — Langkovku waterfall and scenic blue hills.

The Hills are known for its breathtaking natural beauty. A trip to the region, while rewarding, is somewhat adventurous. While the isolation of the Hills has helped preserve the tribal practices, it also means a lack of development.

The Hills consists of two hilly areas, each with their own tribes:

• Dima Hasao (North Cachar Hills) — inhabited by the Dimasa tribe. The Dimasa people have a long history in the hills, which were the heartland of their ancient kingdom. The region also has villages of Zemi Naga, Hrangkhol, Hmar, Kuki, and Biate tribal people. Each group has unique traditions and a proud culture.
• Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills) — inhabited by the Karbi tribe

Indigenous languages of the various tribal groups are most common. Many speak Hindi, Bengali, Assamese or English as a second language in urban areas. The region is home to Haflong Hindi, a Hindi-based pidgin.

There are daily commercial bus services from Guwahati and Shillong. The area can be reached by train from Guwahati, with a transfer in Lumding. A scenic local train to Silchar has stops in Langting and Haflong Hill.

Three-wheeled taxis are ubiquitous in the towns: always make sure of your destination and fare before getting in. Inter-town transport is available in buses and large all-terrain vehicles that often carry ten or more passengers in a quite crowded cab.

Go to the very top of the hill in Haflong for a marvellous view of the Borail Range to the west of the town. Wander down from there into the market to see what might be available. Go to the Circuit House for a view of the Jatinga River. East of the main road is Haflong Lake.

Hiking through the countryside would prove a treat for nature lovers. It would be unwise to do this without a local guide.

The Dimasa are proud of their traditional dju, a rice beer.

There has been a history of inter-tribal violence in the area. There are also a number of violent liberation groups. Obviously, it is good to check a knowledgeable travel agent for local conditions. Because of the violence, there is a heavy police and paramilitary presence in parts of the area. It is probably unwise to travel in the region without a local guide.

• Barak Valley