Upper Assam

Upper Assam (উজনি অসম Ujoni Osom) is a region in Assam, India. This consists of Biswanath, Golaghat, Lakihmpur, Majuli, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Tinsukia districts.

• 26.72777893.1516671 Biswanath (বিশ্বনাথ Bishwonāth) —
• 26.80305693.5544442 Borgang (বৰগাং Borgāng) — Experience the rich folklore and culture of rural Assam in a picturesque landscape.
• 27.48333394.93 Dibrugarh (ডিব্ৰুগড় Ḍibrugoṛ) — Home to several parks, gardens and temples.
• 27.3895.634 Digboi (দিগ্বই) — Home to the first Asian petroleum refinery with an oil museum and heritage wells.
• 26.50896193.9695435 Golaghat (গোলাঘাট Golāghāṭ) — An old urban centre for Assam, but nevertheless home to wildlife sanctuaries and a UNESCO-listed national park, beautiful views amid ancient ruins, and sacred Hindu and Christian sites from the 17th and 19th centuries.
• 26.7575194.203066 Jorhat (যোৰহাট Jōrhāṭ) — Considered by some to be the cultural centre of Assam and the last capital of the mighty Ahom kingdom.
• 26.9894.637 Sibsagar (শিৱসাগৰ Shiwosāgor) — The former capital of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam. Spectacular temples, tanks and pavilions. Moidam, a royal burial site, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• 27.48916795.368 Tinsukia (তিনিচুকীয়া Tinichukīyā) — famous for its endless stretches of tea gardens.

• 27.64984195.3402941 Dibru-Saikhowa National Park — A wonderful habitat of numerous birds; there are feral horses on the islands of the Brahmaputra close to the park.
• 27.33195.5262 Dehing Patkai National Park —
• 26.71666794.3833333 Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary — An isolated evergreen forest sanctuary near Jorhat, home to India's only ape species, the western hoolock gibbon, as well as the nocturnal Bengal slow loris.
• 26.66666793.354 Kaziranga National Park (কাজিৰঙা Kājirongā) — A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the largest habitat for one-horned rhinoceros and several other unique flora and fauna. Kaziranga is a grassland on the bank of the Brahmaputra; roughly 200 km (120 mi) east of Guwahati.
• 27.2394.15 Lakhimpur (লখিমপুৰ Lokhimpur) —
• 26.9594.1666676 Majuli — A river island in Brahmaputra. It was once considered as the largest river island in the world. Majuli is an interesting mix of tradition, folklore and nature.

Upper Assam forms the easternmost reach of the Brahmaputra Valley, bordered by Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Historically the political and cultural core of the Ahom Kingdom—which ruled the region for roughly six centuries—it is defined today by vast tea estates, petroleum heritage, riverine wetlands, and dense semi-evergreen rainforests. Major urban hubs include Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia.

• Dibrugarh Airport — Located at Mohanbari, about 15 km northeast of Dibrugarh, offering frequent direct connections to Kolkata, Delhi, and Guwahati.
• Jorhat Airport (Rowriah Airport) — Connects the region with daily flights to Kolkata and regional flights to Guwahati.

Upper Assam is well served by the Northeast Frontier Railway:

• Major railheads include Dibrugarh (DBRG), Tinsukia Junction (TSK) / New Tinsukia (NTSK), and Mariani Junction (MXN) (serving Jorhat). Several long-distance express and Rajdhani services run directly to Guwahati, Kolkata, and New Delhi.

• National Highway 715 (NH-715) and NH-29 / NH-127 link the region along the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, connecting Guwahati to Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia. Long-distance overnight buses (both ASTC and private operators) run frequently from Guwahati.

• By bus and shared tempo/sumo: Shared Tata Sumos, winger vans, and minibuses are the most common transport between towns and rural hubs.
• By ferry: Government and private ferries operate across the Brahmaputra, most notably between Nimati Ghat (near Jorhat) and Kamalabari/Aphalamukh Ghat on Majuli island.
• By auto-rickshaw & app-cabs: Within urban centres like Dibrugarh and Jorhat, auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are widespread, with limited app-based ride services in major towns.

• Ahom Heritage: Explore Sibsagar (Sivasagar) for ancient Ahom architecture, including the Rang Ghar amphitheatre, Talatal Ghar palace, and the UNESCO-listed royal burial mounds (Moidams) at Charaideo.
• Tea Plantations: Visit sprawling heritage tea gardens around Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia.
• River Islands: The neo-Vaishnavite monasteries (satras) and vibrant cultural life on Majuli.
• Industrial History: The Digboi refinery and Oil Centenary Heritage Museum, home to Asia's first operational oil well.

• Wildlife Safaris: Spot one-horned rhinos at Kaziranga National Park, trek for hoolock gibbons at Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, or spot feral horses and rare avifauna at Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
• Monastery & Mask-making Tours: Watch traditional bamboo-and-clay mask making at Natun Samaguri Satra on Majuli.
• River Cruises: Take local boat trips along the Brahmaputra to view freshwater Gangetic river dolphins.

Assamese cuisine focuses on delicate, aromatic, and sour flavors rather than heavy spices:

• Sample an authentic **Assamese Thali**, featuring steamed rice accompanied by *khar* (an alkaline dish prepared with raw papaya or pulses), *tenga* (sour fish curry, typically cooked with tomato, elephant apple, or lemon), and seasonal greens (xaak).
• Try roasted duck curry (hanhor mangxo) spiced with ash gourd or black pepper.
• Finish with *jolpan* (flattened or puffed rice served with fresh curd and jaggery) or local rice cakes (pitha).

• Assam Tea: Strong, malty CTC black tea or orthodox whole-leaf tea brewed fresh across roadside tea stalls and tea boutiques.
• Traditional homemade rice beers such as *apong* or *haaz* are culturally significant among local indigenous communities, especially during festivals.

• Wildlife Caution: Wild Asian elephants frequently cross tea estates, railway corridors, and highway stretches—always obey local guides and forest department warnings.
• Mosquito Protection: The region is tropical and humid; carry mosquito repellent and take suitable malaria/dengue prophylaxis, especially during the monsoon (May to September).
• Monsoon Flooding: Ferry crossings (such as those to Majuli) and safari operations inside Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa are routinely suspended or limited between June and September due to river flooding.

• Arunachal Pradesh — Head northeast to explore Pasighat, Roing, or the scenic Ziro Valley (Inner Line Permit required).
• Nagaland — Travel south via Dimapur or Mokokchung into the Naga hills.
• Guwahati — Return west down the Brahmaputra valley to Assam's largest metropolis and transit gateway.