# Assam

By [odno](https://paragraph.com/@odno) · 2023-05-29

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**Assam** ([/əˈsæm, æ-/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English);[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-9)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-10) Assamese: [\[ˈɔxɔm\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Assamese) ([listen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/As-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE-2.oga))) is a state in [northeastern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_India) [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India), south of the eastern [Himalayas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas) along the [Brahmaputra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_Valley) and [Barak River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_River) valleys. Assam covers an area of 78,438 km2 (30,285 sq mi). The state is bordered by [Bhutan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan) and [Arunachal Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradesh) to the north; [Nagaland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaland) and [Manipur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur) to the east; [Meghalaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalaya), [Tripura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura), [Mizoram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizoram) and [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh) to the south; and [West Bengal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal) to the west via the [Siliguri Corridor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siliguri_Corridor), a 22-kilometre-wide (14 mi) strip of land that connects the state to the rest of India. [Assamese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_language) and [Boro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boro_language_\(India\)) are the official languages of Assam, while [Bengali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_language) is an additional official language in the [Barak Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_Valley).

Assam is known for [Assam tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam_tea) and [Assam silk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam_silk). The state was the first site for [oil drilling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_well) in [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia).[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-11) Assam is home to the one-horned [Indian rhinoceros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rhinoceros), along with the [wild water buffalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_water_buffalo), [pygmy hog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_hog), [tiger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger) and various species of Asiatic birds, and provides one of the last wild habitats for the [Asian elephant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_elephant). The [Assamese economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Assam) is aided by [wildlife tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_tourism) to [Kaziranga National Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaziranga_National_Park) and [Manas National Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manas_National_Park), which are [World Heritage Sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site). [Dibru-Saikhowa National Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibru-Saikhowa_National_Park) is famed for its [feral horses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_horse). [Sal tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorea_robusta) forests are found in the state which, as a result of abundant rainfall, look green all year round. Assam receives more rainfall than most parts of India; this rain feeds the [Brahmaputra River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_River), whose [tributaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tributary) and [oxbow lakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxbow_lake) provide the region with a distinctive hydro-[geomorphic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomorphic) environment.

Etymology
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_Main article:_ [_Etymology of Assam_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_Assam)

The first dated mention of the region comes from [_Periplus of the Erythraean Sea_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Sea) (1st century) and [Ptolemy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy)'s [Geographia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographia_\(Ptolemy\)) (2nd century), which calls the region _Kirrhadia_, apparently after the [Kirata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirata) population.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-13) In the classical period and up to the 12th century, the region east of the [Karatoya river](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatoya_river), largely congruent to present-day Assam, was called [Kamarupa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamarupa), and alternatively, [Pragjyotisha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragjyotisha).[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-14) Though a western portion of Assam as a region continued to be called [Kamrup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamrup_region), the [Ahom kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_kingdom) that emerged in the east, and which came to dominate the entire [Brahmaputra valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_valley), was called Assam (e.g. Mughals used _Asham_); and the [British province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Assam) too was called Assam. Though the precise [etymology of Assam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_Assam) is not clear, the name Assam is associated with the [Ahom people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_people), originally called _Shyam_ ([Shan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shan_people)).[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-15)

History
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_Main article:_ [_History of Assam_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Assam)

### Pre-history

_Further information:_ [_People of Assam_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_of_Assam)

Assam and adjoining regions have evidences of human settlement from the beginning of the [Stone Age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Age). The hills at the height of 1,500 to 2,000 feet (460–615 m) were popular habitats probably due to availability of exposed dolerite basalt, useful for tool-making.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-HKBarpujariCHOA-16) [Ambari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambari) site in Guwahati has revealed [Shunga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunga_Empire)\-[Kushana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushana) era artefacts including flight of stairs and a water tank which may date from 1st century BCE and may be 2,000 years old. Experts speculate that another significant find at Ambari is [Roman era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_era) [Roman roulette pottery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_pottery) from the 2nd century BCE.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-17)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-18)

### Legend

_Further information:_ [_Danava dynasty_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danava_dynasty)_,_ [_Bhauma dynasty_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhauma_dynasty)_, and_ [_Asura Kingdom_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asura_Kingdom)

According to a late text, [Kalika Purana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalika_Purana) (c. 9th–10th century [CE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era)), the earliest ruler of Assam was Mahiranga Danav of the [Danava dynasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danava_dynasty), which was removed by [Naraka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narakasura) of [Mithila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithila_\(region\)) and established the [Bhauma dynasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhauma_dynasty). The last of these rulers, also Naraka, was slain by [Krishna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna). Naraka's son [Bhagadatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagadatta) became the king, who (it is mentioned in the Mahabharata) fought for the [Kauravas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaurava) in the [battle of Kurukshetra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurukshetra_War) with an army of [kiratas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiratas), [chinas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinas) and dwellers of the eastern coast. At the same time towards the east in central Assam, [Asura Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asura_Kingdom) was ruled by another line of kings.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam#cite_note-19)

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*Originally published on [odno](https://paragraph.com/@odno/assam)*