The Seven Sister States The Seven Sister States is a name given to the contiguous states of Arunachal Pradesh,

Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura in northeastern India. These states cover an area of about 250,000 sq. km. or about 7 percent of India's total area. They had a population of 38.6 million in 2000, about 3.8 percent of India's total. Although there is great ethnic and religious diversity within the seven states, they also have similarities in political, social and economic contexts.

The Seven States State Capital

Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Tripura Dispur Imphal Shillong Aizawl Kohima Agartala

ASSAM

Geography Assam is a northeastern state of India. Located south of the eastern Himalayas, Assam comprises the Brahmaputra and the Barak river valleys along with the Karbi Anglong and the North Cachar Hills with an area of 78,438 square km. Assam is surrounded by six of the other Seven Sister States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. These states are connected to the rest of India via a narrow strip in West Bengal called the Siliguri Corridor or "Chicken's Neck". Assam also shares international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh . Its capital is Dispur, a city located on the outskirts of its largest city, Guwahati.

Festivals There are several important traditional festivals in Assam. Bihu is the most important and common and celebrated all over Assam. Bihu is a series of three prominent festivals. Durga Puja is another festival celebrated with great enthusiasm. Muslims celebrate Eids with much eagernes in all over Assam.

Bio- diversity Assam ,a land of high rainfall, is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world and consists of tropical rainforests, grasslands, bamboo orchards and numerous wetland ecosystems . Many are now protected as national parks and reserved forests. Assam is becoming an increasingly popular destination for wildlife tourism, and Kaziranga and Manas are both World Heritage Sites.

Assam has successfully conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction, along with the tiger and numerous species of birds, and it provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant. The state is the last refuge for numerous other endangered species such as the Golden Langur , White-winged Wood Duck , Bengal Florican, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Pygmy Hog, Greater Adjutant etc. Some other endangered species with significant population in Assam are the tiger, elephant, Hoolock gibbon, Jerdon's Babbler . Assam is also known for orchids.

Natural resources and industry Assam is endowed with petroleum, natural gas, coal, limestone and other minor minerals such as magnetic quartzite, kaolin, sillimanites, clay and feldspar

Tradition and crafts Assam has a rich tradition of crafts; presently, Cane and bamboo craft, bell metal and brass craft, silk and cotton weaving, toy and mask making, pottery and terracotta work, wood craft, jewellery making, musical instruments making, etc. remained as major traditions. Historically, Assam also excelled in making boats, traditional guns and gunpowder, ivory crafts, colours and paints, articles of lac, agarwood products, traditional building materials, utilities from iron, etc.

Places of interest Kaziranga National Park lies on the south bank of the Brahamaputra. It covers an area of 688 sq. kilometres. Kaziranga is famous for the great One-Horned Rhinos. Manas is situated in Assam spread over an area of 391 sq km, Manas houses 19 of India's most endangered animal populations. It has the largest population of tigers among Indian reserves. It is a home to the rare golden langur . The prominent fauna here are the rhino, wild buffalos, elephants, gaur, swamp deer, capped langur and clouded leopard. Guwahati's best known temple is Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill

Situated at a distance of 24 kms. from Guwahati, Sualkuchi is a renowned centre of silk production and is particularly known for Muga - the golden silk of Assam which is not produced anywhere else in the world. Chandubi Lake- A natural lagoon and fine picnic spot which is 64 kms. from Guwahati. The lake and its surroundings, broken by cliffs and forests, is an ideal holiday resort and has the added attraction of fishing and rowing opportunities in the lake itself. The place is easily accessible by bus from Adabari, Guwahati. The best season to visit is from November to Apri. Pobitora Pobitora is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries of Assam. It is about 50 km. from Guwahati City. Covering an area of 15.9 Sq. km. Pobitora is mainly famous for its Great Indian Onehorned Rhinoceros. Other animals such as the Asiatic Buffalo, Leopard, Wild Bear, Civet Cat etc. have also found this sanctuary to be their ideal habitat. More than 200 birds and various reptiles are found in this sanctuary. Orang Wildlife Sanctuary- A miniature Kaziranga - covering an area of 72 sq. kms. The animals to be seen in this sanctuary are one - horned rhinoceros, elephants, leopard, sambar, barking deer, tiger, varieties of water birds, green pigeon, florican, teal, geese etc.