Jorhat
Cultural capital of Assam & gateway to Majuli
Jorhat, the last capital of the Ahom kingdom, is often called the cultural capital of Assam — a genteel town of tea, literature and learning, home to the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, the oldest of its kind in the world, and a long tradition of Assamese arts and letters. It is ringed by some of the finest tea estates in the state, several offering heritage bungalow stays.
For visitors, Jorhat is best known as the jumping-off point for Majuli: the ferry (and now a RoRo vessel) to the great river island leaves from Nimati Ghat nearby. The Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary at Hoollongapar, home to India's only ape, the hoolock gibbon, is a short drive away.
What it's known for
- Tea research and the estate economy of central Assam
- A centre of Assamese literature, education and culture
- The gateway to Majuli via Nimati Ghat
- Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, home of the hoolock gibbon
What to see in & around Jorhat
See & do
- The ferry to Majuli from Nimati Ghat
- Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
- Tocklai Tea Research Institute and heritage tea bungalows
- The Thengal Manor and colonial-era Jorhat
Getting there
Jorhat (Rowriah) airport has flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi; it is a railhead and the base for Majuli and central Upper Assam.
Other cities & towns
Guwahati
The gateway city of the Northeast
The largest city and commercial capital of the entire region.
Dibrugarh
The Tea City of India
The commercial heart of Upper Assam, ringed by tea and oil.
Tezpur
The city of eternal romance
Ancient legend, sculpture and the gateway to Arunachal & Kaziranga.