Apr 13, 20203 min read

When I traveled: Assam

A wonder beyond words...

Oh, the view of Assam was postcard picture perfect.

I was awakened by the sound of birds chirping outside my window, curious for the clock showed 4:30 and I wondered why the birds decided to wake me up at this ungodly hour. I looked out to see they were chirping for the sun was out, I sleepily muttered to myself, "Yup, animals can't conceptualize time, therefore hence proved". When I got off of the bed and came out of the room, I remembered the sun rises earlier and sets earlier as well, for when this happened, I was in Assam. After freshening up, I had to pluck my breakfast from the house garden which had some sweet and juicy fruits and vegetables.

There is a beautiful town on the northern banks of the Brahmaputra River by the name of Tezpur, where a love story worth spreading lay hidden. In this town, there is a hillock named Agnigarh, where a mythological story involving Gods and Demons originates. Agnigarh translates to 'Agni' meaning fire and 'Garh' meaning fortress in Sanskrit. The view from atop this hillock overlooks the Brahmaputra River and it is simply breathtaking. There was a war fought between two Gods brought about by the strong love of the daughter of a Demon King and the grandson of Lord Krishna which flooded the city with the blood of the warriors that were slain and Tezpur owes its name to that war as the name translates to Tez (Blood) and Pur (City) in Assamese. The story was shared with me by Mr. Manik Chandra Bhattacharjee in Assamese and this story is brandished upon the heart of every resident of Tezpur. I had the best time in Tezpur where I visited the Central University and had the finest Chow Mein; I also discovered that in the North East, South Indian food was often in high demand as many are fans of the Dosa and the Idly.

A crash of Rhinos grazing across a green backdrop.

Oh, the view of Assam was postcard picture perfect. The way the hills, the weather, the wildlife and the people co-exist is just beautiful. While travelling from Tezpur to Tinsukia, I saw a crash of rhinos grazing in an endless green backdrop; the sunlight was bouncing off the leaves of trees, making them light up like baubles on Christmas trees. The people that live there are very simple, honest and seem content. They live a hard-working life where they till the soil, take care of their families. For the first time ever, I was happy that I came out of the concrete jungle I was in and explored. It was a sight for sore eyes, the blue flowers blooming across a tilted land surface, the butterflies dancing atop them like little fairies playing hopscotch. The cuisine was unique and the taste was refreshing. I never missed KFC or craved for the junk I usually feast myself on. I was envious of the people who live in such a beautiful place. The smiling faces of the people who I met gave me energy and I knew that anyone who lived there would not worry about anything because seeing another smile at you, makes you smile too and that is a beauty in itself. I revisited the places that I had been to when I was a toddler and every place felt like home.

I even had the opportunity to meet some Bihu dancers and local musicians and had a small jam session with them. The rich culture of Assam inspired me as a musician too, as different tribes have a unique style of music. When I left Assam, I just thought about the children jumping into the lake as the sunset, the clear night sky, the endless green and that unfading smile that would leave a mark in my memory forever. Words cannot express the feeling of being in Assam, but a writer can only try. Give me a chance to go back and I’d go back every single day. We struggle with life every day but this place taught me that, it's often the simple things in life that bring joy and contentment, I learnt that the only thing more important than being happy is to be content. Thinking of Assam pushes a grin across my face.