Spreading along the length of Brahmaputra, Assam is a north-eastern state of India, that looks like a bird with stretched wings on the Indian map. Its geographic location serves as the gateway to the Seven Sister States of India.
Assam is known for silk, the nearly extinct one-horned Indian Rhinoceros and also is one of the last wild habitats of Asian Elephants.
Also read: Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam
Striking terrains, magnificent landscapes, tea estates and lush greenery makes most of this beautiful state. In fact, almost 35% of the state is made of forests and tea plantations. So make sure you don't miss out on the Assam tea! These fantastic features of Assam makes it an ideal vacation destination for those looking for spending quality time in the laps of mother nature.
Assam is therefore blessed with a number of hill stations. Some of these hill stations are the most sought after places of vacation. In this article, you can read about these 4 mesmerising hill stations - Maibang, Diphu, Umrangso and Haflong.
Best Time To Visit Assam
The ideal time to visit Assam would be between the summer months of April to June, when the weather is pleasantly refreshing and balmy. Assam can be visited even during winter for those who are fond of chilly and cold climate. However, monsoon can be inconvenient due to the heavy and irregular rainfall.
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How To Reach Assam
By Air: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati is Assam's prime airport that connects to many major cities of India such as Aizawl, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, etc.
By Rail: Guwahati Railway Station is the major rail-head of the state. It connects easily to cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, to name a few.
By Road: National Highways run through the state and are well-maintained. These roads come from all the neighbouring states such Manipur, Mizoram, West Bengal,etc. Taxis and inter-state buses are easily available to commute within the state.
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Maibang
The name Maibang is a blend of two Dimasa words, and literally translates to "Plenty of Rice". It is called so because it means Maibang is a land of prosperity. It used to be the capital of kingdom Dimasa Kachari from 1536 AD. During this time, they founded the Stone House which is now a popular tourist spot.
There is a legend behind this stone house. It is said that the king of Dimasa had a dream about a Goddess who persuaded him to build a structure out of a single stone within a single night in order to win his kingdom back, which was attacked by the Koches.
But since he failed to do so, he lost the battle against the Koches. The stone house has windows but is still filled with rock inside. Stone inscriptions from this era can also be found near the stone house.
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Diphu
Located 43 km from the capital city of Dispur and 240 km from Guwahati, Diphu is a beautiful hill station, that makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Apart from the breathtaking landscape that fills Diphu, there are many places to visit. Arboretum is a planned landscape which is a much sought after picnic place. It is maintained by the Forest Department and is filled with local vegetation.
Taralangso Cultural Centre, Botanical garden and the District Museum are some of the other places that must be visited at Diphu.
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Umrangso
Situated at the border of Assam and Meghalaya, Umrangso is a beautiful town spotted with hills and lush green. It is an industrial town that has the Kopili Hydroelectric Project built on the River Kopili. This is one of the town's tourist hotspot. Assamese food delicacies such as Duck meat curry and Masor Tenga (tangy fish curry) can be eaten in the eateries of this town.
Natural hot springs are found in Umrangso. These springs have great medicinal properties and are visited by tourists for just a dip in the water.
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Haflong
Of all the places above, Halfong is the most popular hill station of Assam. Perched at an elevation of 2,230 ft, Haflong is a picturesque place known for its hills and landscapes. It is located 310 km from Guwahati and is favoured spot for nature enthusiasts, trekkers and campers. Paragliding is also an activity that can be done at Haflong.
Places like Haflong Lake, Jatinga Bird Observatory, Haflong Hill are the places visited mostly by tourists.
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