About Jorhat, India

About Jorhat

Stretching northeast from Guwahati along the valley, Assam penetrates the complex Brahmaputra watersheds at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas, in the area known as Upper Assam. Jorhat is the main centre for the region, with an airport and road connections, and acts as the gateway to Kaziranga, Nagaland and northern Arunachal Pradesh. Although not particularly attractive to tourists in itself, Jorhat makes a good base for exploring the unique Vaishnavite culture of Majuli, the largest river island in the world. North of Jorhat lies Sibsagar, former capital of the Ahoms and home to numerous tombs, temples and palaces.

Jorhat, 310-km east of Guwahati, has research establishments dedicated to the tea industry. A tea research centre is established at Chinnamara, 5-km away from Jorhat. Annual tea festival in Jorhat is another attraction, along with temple of Buri Gohani, British imperial mementos, the hanging platform to hang Freedom Fighters in front of the jail and many others.

Best way to reach Jorhat

• By air: Jorhat Airport at Rowriah, about 7 km from the town, with a few daily flights.
• By rail: Jorhat Town station, and Mariani Junction about 20 km away on the main line to Dibrugarh.
• By road: About 310 km from Guwahati by road; buses and shared taxis run through the day.

Check flights at the Airports Authority of India and trains at IRCTC; distances are approximate.

Known for: Tea research

Jorhat is home to the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, founded in 1911 and among the oldest tea research stations in the world; the tea gardens around the town supply some of Assam's finest leaf.