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Tezpur v • d • e Assam • India
Tezpur
District(s)	Sonitpur
Coordinates	26.63° N 92.8° E
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 48 m (157 ft)
Population	58,240 (2001)

Coordinates: 26.63° N 92.8° E

Tezpur is a city and a municipal board in Sonitpur in the Indian state of Assam. It is an ancient town on the banks of the river Brahmaputra and is the largest of the north bank towns. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Sonitpur district of Assam.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 References 5 External links

Historical ruins of 8th-9th century dot the surrounding areas of the town. They bear resemblance to the Gupta period art. Accordingly there are plenty of myths as well. Modern Tezpur was founded by the British colonial administration in 1835 as the headquarters of Darrang district. Being from the core Assamese cultural region, the town has produced many stalwarts such as Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903-51), Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha (1909-69), Phani Sarma (1909-70), Ananda Chandra Agarwala (1874-1939).

After independence of India in 1947, it remained the headquarters of Darrang district. During the Indo-China war of 1962 the Chinese army came close to the town and the town had to be evacuated. In 1983 a part of the district was carved out to form a separate district, named Darrang. Tezpur became the headquarters of the new district of Sonitpur.

Guwahati maybe the mast head in terms of economic development but Tezpur was and is always the cultural capital of the Assamese culture.

The surrounding tea gardens and agriculture contribute to the local economy. Presently Tezpur is a commercial, administrative and educational centre -- apart from housing a major base of the Indian Army and Airforce (Salonibari). The nearest civilian airport is Saloni -- 8 km from the heart of the city. The distance from the state capital Guwahati is about 190 kilometres. The town attracts tourists for its scenic beauty. The population is largely of heterogeneous nature. Assamese, Bengali (mainly migrants from the erstwhile undivided Bengal and the current Bangladesh), Nepali, Bihari, Marwari communities form the majority. People from various tribes such as the Tea-tribes (brought in by the colonial planters as indentured labourers from the Chhotanagpur plateau region), Bodos, Mishings etc. have also made it their home. Like other places in Assam, the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh adds religious spice to the regular political debates and name-calling.

In 1987 the Kolia Bhomora Setu, over the river Brahmaputra, was inaugurated connecting it to the southern district of Nowgaon. The bridge is the longest bridge across the river and spans a total length of 3015 metres. It has become a tourist attraction by itself. ( http://www.geocities.com/akash_p_b/KALIABHOMORA.htm)

Tezpur has a central university (Tezpur University), apart from numerous colleges and schools. Tezpur also has many school, colleges of very high repute. Darrang college, Tezpur College are the leading colleges. Assam Valley school situated at around 15kms from Tezpur is a very high standard residential school established by Williamson Magor Group. Other schools like Don Bosco High School, St.Joseph's High School, Govt Boys High School, Govt Girls High School, Tezpur Academy, Children's Paradise School and Carmel Residential School are among the leading ones.

Tezpur also have a very old connection with the Tea Gardens and Britishers. During British rule it used be a leading point for loading Tea for carrying them in Steamers. The graveyard of Alexander Bruce, the father of Indian tea Industry is at Christian Cemetry at Tezpur. The Rail station and the existng railway line towards Rangapara was built by British. The old stations at Saloni Bari & Tezpur still have the old structures intact. The Monabarie Tea estate is once said to be largest tea estate existing.

Tourist Information :

From Tezpur TAWANG (12 Hrs) / BOMDILA (5Hrs) / KAZIRANGA (40Kms) are very easily accessible.

For ORCHID lovers the Orchid sanctury nearby i.e BHALUKPUNG will a bonus point.

Moreover the Bharali river is a Anglers delight as angling / water rafting are allowed during winter seasons.

How to get there ?

It is well connected by both AIR and ROAD transport. There are direct flight from Calcutta trice a week, Guwahati to Tezpur daily .

It is only 180 kms and both Government and Tourist Buses ply regularly to and fro from Guwahati .

From Tezpur tourist vehicles are available for TAWANG ( Snow clad in NOV to FEB, Anunachal Pradesh )( 12hours ), KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK (Famous for Indian one horn Rhinocherous ) ( 45 Kms )

Tezpur is located at 26.63° N 92.8° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 48 metres (157 feet).

The rivers in and around Tezpur are very fast flowing ones specially towards the Himalayas foothills. The town is situated beside the river Brahmaputra and have a number of small hillocks and the problem of flooding during the monsoons doesn't occur.

As of 2001 India census,^GRIndia Tezpur had a population of 58,240. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tezpur has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 79%. In Tezpur, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Tezpur

• http://www.deepraj.com/tezpur.htm
• http://tezpur.tripod.com
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tezpur
• http://www.assam.org
• http://sonitpur.nic.in/
• http://www.geocities.com/akash_p_b/home/tezpur.htm
• http://gautom.4mg.com/photo2.html
• http://www.tezu.ernet.in
• http://www.namasthenri.com/education/assamvalley.html
• http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/1962war.htm
• http://cbi-theater-9.home.comcast.net/hump_express/hump062845.html
• http://p2.www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071892/Tezpur
  

	State of Assam Assam Topics | History | Politics | People of Assam
Capital	Dispur
Districts	Barpeta | Bongaigaon | Cachar | Darrang | Dhubri | Dibrugarh | Dhemaji | Golaghat | Goalpara | Hailakandi | Jorhat | Karbi Anglong | Kokrajhar | Kamrup | Karimganj | Lakhimpur | Marigaon | North Cachar Hills | Nagaon | Nalbari | Sibsagar | Sonitpur | Tinsukia
Major cities	Barpeta • Bongaigaon • Dhubri • Dibrugarh • Diphu • Goalpara • Guwahati • Jorhat • Karimganj • Nagaon • North Lakhimpur • Sibsagar • Silchar • Tezpur • Tinsukia

Coordinates: 26°38′N, 92°48′E