About Jorhat
The “Cultural Capital of Assam”, Jorhat is the second largest city in Assam after Guwahati. Jorhat is known in Assam for its rich culture and tradition, education centres and its warm hearted people. The gateway to Upper Assam, Jorhat is remembered for the very famous Kaziranga National Park and the Majuli island, the largest river island in the world. “Jorhat” the name in Assamese means a combination of two words- ‘jor’ meaning joint and ‘haat’ meaning a market. And hence Jorhat meaning “two markets”. The two markets here are “Chowkihaat” and “Macharhaat”, which has been in existence here since the 18th century and are situated along the banks of the river Bhogdoi.
Jorhat History and Present
Historically Jorhat was the town which served as the last capital of the Ahom kingdom in Assam. The town fell under the rule of Burmese in 1817 and then in 1819 the Burmese defeated the Ahoms and they took retreat to Jorhat from Nazira. Eventually with time Jorhat saw many developments with the rest of Assam and became what it is today-- a culturally, educationally and esthetically developed town in Assam. Today Jorhat is considered as a major commercial and business hub of Assam with ever increasing numbers of malls, hotels and restaurants and educational institutes.
Today the Jorhat district administratively comprises of three sub divisions-- Jorhat, Majuli and Titabor. The city is further divided into 6 revenue circles and 8 development blocks. There are 6 Legislative Assembly Constituencies and 111 gaon panchayats in Jorhat.
The name “Cultural Capital of Assam” belongs wholeheartedly to Jorhat as Jorhat is a place of dynamic culture and traditions. The “Vaishnava Culture” is practiced in many parts of the city. One of the finest examples of Vaishnava culture being practiced here is in the Majuli island which is the centre of Vaishnava culture being manifested in the several satras or monasteries situated here. Majuli is also fast emerging as a centre of education. Education is said to be the backbone of Jorhat’s culture. The city has produced many writers, educationists, historians, actors and musicians of repute. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Krishna Kanta Handique, the greatest names in the field of education in Assam, have been from Jorhat.
The weather and climate of Jorhat is ever ready to welcome tourists here in the city and as such Jorhat can be visited throughout the year as the city maintains moderate temperature throughout. Summer in the beautiful city starts from April and lasts till June. Temperature is hot and humidity is high in summer here. The maximum temperature can be around 28 degrees in summer. Monsoon season starts from July and lasts till September and is characterized by heavy rainfall. Winter in the city starts from November and lasts till February. The maximum temperature during winter can be around 18 degrees and minimum around 7 degrees.
Jorhat Tourism
Tourists would find Jorhat a very lovely place to have some very good time with family and friends. Jorhat being the second largest city in Assam after Guwahati, there are many places of tourist importance in the city. The city is culturally very rich. Tourists can have a glimpse of the varied culture of Assam in Jorhat. The major tourist destinations of the city portray the essence of historical significance. Tourists would be spellbound to see the world’s largest river island here that is the Majuli Island. Located in the middle of the Brahmaputra river, Majuli is the biggest river island in the world and is the centre place of Vaishnavites as there are several satras in the island where the Vaishnava culture is practiced and these Satras were founded by the greatest Vaishnava saint Srimanta Sankardeva.Tourist would also love to visit the Kaziranga National Park in Jorhat. Round the year tourists from all over India flock the place to enjoy its natural beauty. A world heritage site, Kaziranga possesses extensive variety of flora and fauna and is famous for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. Tourists can also visit the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary famous for different spices of primates. Other major tourist attractions of Jorhat are Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar, Thengal Bhava, the many pukhuries (tanks) of historical importance special to Jorhat, the Jorhat Gymkhana club, Mou Chapori at Neematigarh, a small river island on Brahamaputra, Lachit Borphukan Maidan and so many others.
The beauty of Jorhat would be incomplete without the mention of the tea gardens here as a very special distinction of Jorhat is being the “Tea Capital of the World”. And as such one will have a sensuous experience seeing the ever beautiful tea gardens here. The city possesses several tea gardens that is to say about 135 tea gardens. So once in Jorhat the tea gardens here would be a never miss option. Read More.....