Tinsukia district

Tinsukia is one of the twenty three administrative districts n the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Tinsukia. The district occupies an area of 3790 km² and has a population of 1,150,146 (as of 2001).

History

The ancient name of Tinsukia was Bangmara. It was the capital of Muttack Kingdom. Sarbananada Singha established his capital at Rangagarah situated in the bank of river Guijan. In 1791 A.D. he transferred his capital to Bengmara. The Bangmara city was built by King Sarbananda Singha with the help of his Minister Gopinath Barbaruah alies Godha. The city was built in the middle of the present Tinsukia City.It was declared as the 23rd district of Assam on 1st October 1989 with three sub divisions-Tinsukia, Magherita (Sadar), and Sadiya.

Several tanks were dug in the days of Sarbananda Singha viz., Chauldhuwa Pukhuri, Kadamoni pukhuri, Da Dharua Pukhuri, Mahdhuwa Pukhuri, Bator pukhuri, Logoni Pukhuri, Na-Pukhuri, Devi Pukhuri, Kumbhi Pukhuri, Rupahi Pukhuri etc.

Apart from the these ponds there are many ancient roads constructed in different parts of the Muttack territory. Godha-Borbaruah road, Rangagarah road, Rajgor road and Hatiali road were main roads within the territory.

In 1823, the British first discovered Tea Plant in Sadiya and the first Tea Plantation was started in Chabua near Tinsukia. The name Chabua comes from "Chah-Buwa" (Tea Plantation).

In 1876, coal was found near Ledo and Margherita. The oil city of Digboi is in the Tinsukia district. In 1882 Crude Oil was found in Digboi and the first Oil well of india was built. In 1901, an oil refinery was setup in Digboi. It was the first refinery of Asia and the third in world.

In 1882 the "Dibru-Sadiya Railwayline" was inaugurated through Tinsukia, which was the turning point in the Economical History of North-east India.

Visit: web site http://www.tinsukia.nic.in/index.asp

Economy

Tinsukia is one of the premier commercial centres in Assam. It is an industrial district, yet it produces a sizeable amount of Tea, Oranges, Ginger, Citrus fruits and Paddy.

Transportation

Tinsukia is well connected by air, National Highway and railway. It is only 532km by road from the State Capital Dispur, Assam. The nearest Airport is at Mohanbari, Dibrugarh which is about 40 km from Tinsukia with daily connection from Delhi/Guwahati and Calcutta.

Tourism

Dibru saikhowa national park is famous for birds( [see video in youtube [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dibru+saikhowa] ). One of the bio-diversity-hot-spots with over 350 species of avifauna providing unique habitat for globally threatened species. A safe for extremely rare white winged wood duck and many migratory birds. Its Wild-Horses, called Feral Horses, are precisely sufficient to make the visitor wild.

Digboi boasts of two modern wonders of the world – a hundred-year-old oil field still producing and the world’s oldest operating oil refinery. Tucked amid blue hills and undulating plains carpeted with emerald green tea plantations, Digboi still retains its colonial ambience. It’s simply breathtaking to have a bird’s eye view of Digboi from the famous Ridge Hill point. On clear days, one can also see the snow- covered mountains of the eastern Himalayas.

National Oil Park: Digboi also has an oil museum and a wildlife sanctuary of unsurpassed beauty. Going down the hill, visitors will come across oil derricks of various types and other devices still declaring the glory and marvel of the now outdated innovations of the last forties. If one comes down from the hill on the other side, one will have the greatest sight of his lifetime. One may also bump across a herd of elephants or a Royal Bengal Tiger, besides some rare species of birds.

War Cemetery The most dramatic event in Digboi’s history took place during the World War II, when the belligerent Japanese got closer and were within three days marching distance of Digboi. These images come back as one kneels at the headstones at the Digboi War Cemetery.

Margherita The centre of tea gardens, plywood factories and coal mines and lot of picnic spots dotting the sandy banks of river Dihing. Cool, misty and away from the mainland, of breathing in the aroma of fresh tea leaves is an experience, both rare and heartwarming. The tea gardens here are perhaps the best in the world.

Sports The 18-hole golf course developed by the Scottish pioneers in their immutable style. In fact, Digboi can almost be called a Golfing Resort with so many as eight golf courses within its vicinity, each with its individual character and challenges.

External links

* [http://tinsukia.gov.in/ District Administration website]