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Situated
on the north bank of River Brahamaputra, 196 km from Guwahati,
Tezpur is an important tourist destination. Tezpur was known
as Sonitpur in the olden days and is a city steeped in mythology,
legend and folklore. Tezpur
or the 'city of blood' reminds one of the romantic legend of
Usha and Anirudha.
It is said that Aniruddha, grandson of Lord Krishna fell in
love with Usha, daughter of Banasura. When the Demon king came
to know about the affair he threw Aniruddha into prison. Then
Lord Krishna came to this place and a fierce battle ensued in
which the whole area was drenched in blood. Hence the name Sonitpur
the city of blood emerged. Bana was killed and the lovers were
united for ever. The only testimony to this legend are the ruins
and remains in and around Tezpur.
Besides
its archaeological significance, it is known for its scenic
beauty with the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas and the hills
of Arunachal Pradesh in the North.
Situated on the banks of river Brahmaputra, this town known
for its natural beauty and fascinating archaeological ruins,
is the headquarters of district Sonitpur.
Undulating
green valleys surrounded by the lofty hills and snow-capped
peaks of the Himalayas, and lush tea gardens render Tezpur a
tourist's delight.
Places
to see
Cole Park
It is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful places in Tezpur.
Established by a British Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Cole, the
park has two massive ornamented stone pillars, and the sculptural
remnants of the famous Bamuni Hills.
Orang Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary sprawled over an area of 72 sq. km, is only 65
km from Tezpur. The animals which this area includes, are the
one-horned rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard, sambhar, barking deer
and tiger.
Bhalukpung
Bhalukpung,60 km from Tezpur,on the road to Tawang in Arunachal
Pradesh, is a charming picnic and angling spot. Other attractions
of Bhalukpung are a hot spring and a huge orchid garden.
Agnigarh
This is the site of the legendary romance of princess Usha (the
only daughter of king Bana) and Anirudha. Usha was imprisoned
inside the palace which was surrounded by a wall of fire. The
present day Agnigarh, now only a hillock facing the Brahmaputra,
provides a panoramic view of the great river and Tezpur.
Bamuni Hills
The ruins of Bamuni Hills are famous for their exemplary artistic
finesse. The sculptural remains date back to the ninth and tenth
century A.D. The Bhairavi and Mahabhairab (where king Bana worshipped
Mahabhairab, an incarnation of Shiva) temples and the twin tanks
of Bar Pukhuri and Padum Pukhuri are the other architectural
attractions of Tezpur.
The
Hazara Pukhuri
It is a large tank which preserves the name of Hazara Varman
in Tezpur. It was excavated in the early part of the 19th century.
This is the third largest tank in the area sprawled over 70
acres.
Nameri
National Park
Near the Jia Bhoroli river, the Nameri National Park spreads
over from Assam to Aruachal Pradesh. As in Kaziranga, the best
way to travel within the Park is atop elephants. There are no
roads inside the park. The park is home to the Mithun or Indian
bison and the rare White Winged Wood Duck, among the most endangered
avian species in the world.
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