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Assam is the gateway to the North-East and is dominated by the mighty river Brahmaputra that has its origin in Tibet. Indeed, a large part of the state is located in the narrow valley that the river has created over the ages. The state's population includes a startling mix of Dravidians and Aryans and Tibeto-Burmans. Assam is perhaps best known for two things: tea and the one-horned Rhinoceros, which is found in large numbers at Kaziranga National Park. The capital of Assam, is Dispur, a suburb of Guwahati in 1972. The uneven topography of the land, full of hills, plains and rivers might, therefore, have contributed to her name. Majuli - the largest river island in the world is in Assam.
Assamese is the most widely spoken language of Assam and is spoken by more than one crore people. The origin of the Assamese language dates back to antiquity. Scholars are of the view that the language originated from the eastern variety of Magadhan Prakrit. It is by all standards a composite language into which words of Indo-Aryan, Indo-Chinese as well as Tibeto-Burman origins have made their way. Assam was once upon a time the original home of Tantricism in India. The Shakti temples like Kamakhya in Guwahati and Kechaikhati near Sadiya are proof to this. While veneration to Shiva largely prevailed in the early period, the other goddess cult gained ground subsequently. In fact, at one time, Assam came to be identified with Tantrik Shaktism, especially centering around the Kamakhya temple. Even today, Shiva and the Mother Goddess are venerated in various forms at the folk level in large sections of the Assamese society, both tribal and non-tribal. Capital : Dispur Tourism Offices Travelmasti
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