Assam Secrets

Assam in a Nutshell

Places to Stay

Wild Grass Resort and Tented Camp, Kaziranga

Located outside the National Park,large private rooms look out over the garden on the wild and thick bamboo groves. Enjoy traditional cuisine on the Verandah. Visits into the Park,Nature Treks and Jeep Safaris arranged into the Park.

Bochagaon, Kaziranga. Tel (03776) 262 085, (0361) 254 6827

GL Resort,Kaziranga

Try one of the 18 Luxury Resorts if you are looking for Luxury in the Wild. Mud Huts and Karbi Style Cottages. They have started a new safari route that begins from Ghorakate and winds its way through the less explored areas of the park.

NH 37, Phulagari. Tel (03672) 299 486.

Satras, Majuli

For a slightly out of the way experience head to Majuli, the largest river island in the world. Satras are the Monasteries which Majuli is famous for. These are Vaishnav Monasteries which are treasure houses of art and culture. A Peaceful and rejuvenating stay at one of the monasteries is an experience to be remembered. The Shawls and Blankets of Majuli are colorful and even make great wall hangings.

12 Kms from Jorhat.

Wild Mahaseer, Balipura

A British Assam Heritage Property that is over 100 years old and has spacious bungalows surrounded by tropical forests and tea gardens. Spread over 22 acres, the resort has a lot of character. Make a trip into the Nameri National Park nearby, a great place for fishing enthusiasts who try and catch the rare Golden Mahaseer .

20 Min from Tezpur.

mahaseer@nivalink.com

Thengal Mansion

Set in the village of Jalukonibari, this 72 year old mansion which once belonged to a tea planter has been converted into a Welcomheritage Hotel. It still retains all the accouterments of the colonial way of life; the white porch has beautiful columns, the verandahs are colonnaded , there’s Louis XV furniture in the drawing room .

Village Jalukonibari, 15kms from Jorhat

Tel (03672) 335 919, 304 267

Eats and Treats in Assam

Bilahi Tenga

No foodie ever leaves without his fill of bilahi tenga, a traditional dish made of fried fish and loads of tomatoes. The fish is cut into small pieces and marinated in salt and turmeric; it is then deep fried before being cooked with fenugreek seeds, green chilies and tomatoes. The flavorful tenga goes well with rice.

Sanjeev Kapoor’s Yellow Chilli at the Hub in Guwahati

Rice Payesh

Where else would you get kheer made of oranges? Each orange segment is peeled, deseeded and allowed to soak in sugar; while milk is simmered for hours in a thick bottomed pan till it reduces to half. Once the consistency is reached, the milk is allowed to cool and oranges added. It is served chilled and its velvety texture with its tang of oranges is divine.

Bamboo Shoot Fry

Assam being the land of so many different species of bamboo, is it any surprise that bamboo is a part of the cuisine ?? Bamboo Shoot Fry is a great introduction; the shoots are cut into strips and fried with fenugreek seeds,salt and chillies to make this lip smacking dish.

Also try the KHARISA ; the famous and distinctive bamboo shoot pickle you will find in every meal. The pickle is made of bamboo shoots pickled with paste of mustard sees and soaked in mustard oil.

Found in most Assamese Eateries.

Must See Places in Assam

Sibsagar

Shiavites come to Sibsagar to offer prayers at the Shivadol Temple which is the tallest Shiva Temple in the country. Best visited during the Shivratri Puja.

360 kms from Guwahati.