Green Spaces in Sonitpur District

Sonitpur District is a land of natural beauty, ancient monuments, and rich cultural heritage. It is spread over an area of 5,225 sq km on the north bank of the Brahmaputra. The name ‘Sonitpur’ literally means ‘the city of blood.’ It is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Lakhimpur District in the east and Darrang District in the west. Sonitpur, located between the mighty Brahmaputra and the Himalayan foothills of Arunachal Pradesh, is largely plain with some hills.

The central and southern portion of the main plain has hills and hillocks, especially near the Brahmaputra river. Important hills include the Agnigarh and the Bhomuraguri. The region has trees and tea-plantations and paddy fields.

The northern portion is made up of Forest Reserves and sparsely populated forest-villages. The region abounds in bio-diversity with evergreen and deciduous trees of several types. There is a National Park (Nameri), a few Wildlife sanctuaries (Sonai-Rupai & Bor-Dikorai), and a number of reserve forests (e.g. Chariduar, Balipara reserve-forest). In the extreme north of the region (Bhalukpung, Sijushah, Pabhoi, etc.), are hills and hillocks marking the starting of the Himalayan foothills.

Tezpur is an important tourist destination with beautiful parks, temples and ancient monuments. It is a serene town, famous for its beautiful parks, ancient Hindu temples and archaeological ruins steeped in mythology, legend and folklore. Cole Park, Agnigarh, Padum Pukhuri, Ouguri hill, Trimurty Udyan, Bamuni Hills, Mahabhairab Temple, and Nameri National Park are the main tourist destinations.

Nehru Maidan

Nehru Maidan, the triangular green park behind the Tourist Lodge, features a pretty little church and the small District Museum, with old manuscripts and sculptures from both ancient and modern times, labeled in Assamese and English.

Chitralekha Udyan

Opposite the Tourist Lodge, Chitralekha Udyan, with its central lake, was laid out by a British Deputy Commissioner in the 1800`s to house remnants of Asura`s palace. The park is at its best in the early evening when the fairy lights and pathways are lit up.

The Mahabhairav Temple

The main market, Chowk Bazaar, is on MC Road roughly 1-km north of the tourist lodge, with the ancient Mahabhairav temple,still further north, dedicated to an incarnation of Shiva.

Agnigarh

1-km east along the river Brahmaputra, the hill of Agnigarh commands a great view over the town and river. It is said to be the place where Asura imprisoned his daughter, Usha. Preserving the sweet memory of young lovers, Agnigarh or the rampart, surrounded by fire, is perhaps the most beautiful tourist sport of Tezpur. According to the legend, princess Usha the only daughter of King Banasura was kept inside the palace, which was surrounded by ramparts of fire.

Da-Parbatia

There is little left of Da-Parbatia temple, 6-km west of town, except its finely carved doorframe depicting Ganga and Yamuna, said to be the oldest specimen of religious art is Asom. The ruins of the doorframe of Da-Parbatia temple are perhaps the finest and oldest specimens of sculptural of iconoclastic art in Asom. Its carving has the characteristic of the style of early Gupta School of sculpture. The doorjambs having two Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna standing below with garlands in hands in artistic pose and elegance are decorated with beautiful ornamental foliage.

Bamuni Hills

The ruins of Bamuni hills are famous for its artistic beauty. The sculptural remains, which date back to the 9th and 10th century AD, now lie in the Cole Park and Missionary compound.

The Hazara Pukhuri

This large tank preserves the name of Hazara Varman in Tezpur and was excavated in the early part of the 19th century. This is the third largest tank covering an area of 70 acres.

Cole Park

It is one of the most beautiful places in the town. The park, which was first established by a British Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Cole, is the place for peace loving people. One can see here the two massive ornamented stone pillars and the sculptural remains of the famous Bamuni hills.

Bhalukpong

Bhalukpong, a beautiful picnic and angling spot was the capital of `Bhaluka`, the grandson of King Banasura. It is 64-kms from Tezpur under the foot of the Aka Hills (Arunachal Pradesh). Remains of old fortifications are still visible. This picturesque place lies on the way to Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh. Other attractions of Bhalukpong are a hot spring, a big orchid garden at Tipi and the unspoilt beauty of nature.

Eco Camp

About 50-km from Tezpur, off the road to Arunachal Pradesh and a drive over a dirt track and creaky bridges one reaches the Eco Camp – a unique experiment by the Asom anglers Association and the state`s Forest Department. The Eco Camp is near the Jia Bhoroli River and across the river, on the other side, is the Nameri Tiger Reserve.

Bhomoraguri

A mammoth stone inscription made by the Ahom General Kalia Bhomora Phukan, who planned to construct a bridge over Brahamputra could be seen here. Almost two centuries later, a bridge over the Brahmaputra, at the same place has now been completed. The 3.05-km bridge named after the great Ahom general connects Nagaon district with Tezpur. It was opened for vehicular traffic by the then Prime Minister of India, late Rajiv Gandhi on April 3rd 1987.

The Nameri Tiger Reserve and Wild Life Sanctuary

Straddling the verdant environs of Arunachal Pradesh and Asom, the Nameri Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is famous for its golden Mahseer- an angler`s passion. At this Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve the best way of travel is on elephants, as there are no roads inside the park. The thick jungle, with patches of swamp, is home to a variety of animals and birds. Among the animals that one can spot over here include the powerful Mithun or Indian Bison and the rare white winged Wood Duck, counted among the most endangered bird species on earth.

Orang Wildlife Sanctuary

A miniature Kaziranga covering an area of 72-km is only 65-km to the west of Tezpur town. The animals to be seen in this sanctuary are the one-horned Rhinoceros, Buffaloes, Leopards, Sambhars, Barking Deer, Tigers, varieties of water birds; Green Pigeon, Florican, Teal, Geese and the Wild Elephants.

Kaziranga National Park

The first national park of Asom, Kaziranga is 80-kms from Tezpur via Kalia Bhomora Bridge. The park is world famous for its one-horned Rhinoceros. Kaziranga is the abode of varieties of wildlife life such as the Tiger, Elephant, Indian Bison, Buffalo, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Hog-Badger, Cap Langur, Hillock Gibbon, Swamp Deer, Sambhar, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear, Goose, Hornbill, Ebisse, Cormorant, Egret, Heron, Fishing Eagle and Pelican.