Top five places to visit in Assam

New Delhi: Go East or West, but one cannot ignore the pristine beauty that lies in this North-eastern state of India - Assam.

Assam, is one of the least explored regions in India but once you land there,you will be mesmerised by its serene beauty. 

The Brahmaptura river divides the mighty state precisely in two parts -Upper Assam and Lower Assam. While upper Assam is more of a plain area, the lower part is more mountainous and has a hilly landscape.

Be it the warm hospitality of the people there or the landscapes, the state has diverse beauty and a rich indigenous culture.

 Majuli, the largest River Island in the world

Majuli or Majoli is a large river island in the Brahmaputra river. One can easily hop on to a ferry from Jorhat city. Spread over 1,250 sq km, the world's largest river Island is sadly in danger now due to global warming.

If you are in the city of Jorhat, another historic attraction is the Gymkhana Club. The Gymkhana Golf Club is an old charm of a 9 hole parkland style golf course and the world's 3rd `oldest Club`.

The Kaziranga National Park

When in Assam, one cannot simply miss the one-horned rhinos in the Kaziranaga sanctuary.. To spot a one-horned rhinocerous is captivating and this wildlife sanctuary is home to wild water buffaloes, tigers, migratory birds, elephants, reptiles, swamp deer and much more.

Kaziranga is recognized as an important area by  Birdlife International for conservation of avi-faunal species .

 Nameri National Park

Assam is not often called the land of magic for no reason. The exotic locales stand witness to it. One such is the Nameri National Park. And if you are an adventurous soul, the river rafting experience in the Jia Bhorali river is bound to thrill you.

You can easily travel here from Guwahati by road.  It is located in the Sonitpur District of Assam, about 40 kilometres from Tezpur and the third national park in Assam.

Halflong. Switzerland of the East.

Halflong is the only hill station in Assam and means `ant hill`. If you are a nature lover, you ought to spend a day here visiting the serene Halflong lake, the Panimoor waterfall, Songbung Presbyterian church and the hill view from Moulpong. These are the main attractions.

Halflong got its name by a Britisher, to indicate that Half-Long is halfway from Kamprup district 

Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati

Guwahati has a rich history and culture. The Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati attracts thousands of devotees from far and near as this is one of 51 Shakti Pithas. The temple is dedicated to mother goddess Kamakhya. There is a popular and quite a strong belief that the devotees' prayers never go unheard here.