Capital of Assam: Assam’s capital is Dispur, a sub-urban locality in Guwahati. Earlier, Shillong was Assam’s capital. Later on, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam, Shillong became Meghalaya’s capital & in 1973, Dispur was made Assam’s capital. Dispur has a lot of history, culture & political significance. Situated on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River, it is a symbol of Assam’s rich heritage.
In this article, we will try to cover Dispur, the capital of Assam, and the population and area of Assam!
Capital of Assam
Table of Content
Capital of Assam (Dispur)
Assam government’s seat of power is Dispur, which hosts the Assam Secretariat. It is also a part of the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency. Dispur is a sub-urban locality located at Guwahati.
|
Assam |
Dispur |
|---|---|
|
Coordinates of Dispur |
26°8′23″N 91°47′33″E |
|
Region |
Western Assam |
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District |
Kamrup Metropolitan |
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Official Language |
Assamese |
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Elevation |
55-290 m (180-955 ft) |
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Time zone |
UTC+ 5.30 (IST) |
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Population (2011)
|
534,872 |
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Government
|
Mayor- Council Guwahati Municipal Corporation |
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Chief Minister of Assam |
Himanta Biswa Sarma |
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Governor of Dispur |
Gulab Chand Kataria |
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State Bird |
White- Winged Wood Duck |
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State Animal |
One- horned Rhinoceros |
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State Tree |
Hollong |
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State Flower |
Foxtail Orchid |
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Places to visit |
Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Basistha Ashram, Shilpagram, Ganeshguri Bazaar, Assam Secretariat, the Assam Assembly House, Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, Ganesh Mandir, Regional Science Centre |
|
National Parks |
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Orang National Park |
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PIN |
781005 |
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Telephone code |
91- (0) 361- XX XX XXX |
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ISO 3166 code |
IN-AS |
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Vehicle Registration |
AS- 01 |
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Climate |
Cwa |
Climate of Capital of Assam
Dispur, the capital of Assam, lies in the north-eastern corner of the state. Had it not been for the Siliguri corridor in West Bengal, Assam would have been isolated from the rest of India.
Geographically, Assam can be divided into Brahmaputra valley in the north, Barak plain in the south, KarbiAnglong & North Cacher hills that divides the two regions. The Bharalu river flows through Dispur, Capital of Assam.
Dispur has a pleasant weather throughout the year along with warm summer which is accompanied by high humidity & it has a quite cold winter. It is accompanied by fog & mist in morning & night. Monsoon lasts between May – August. It experiences heavy thunderstorm & shower.
Demographics Capital of Assam
Here’s a table outlining the demographics of the capital of Assam, which is Dispur:
| Demographic Indicator | Dispur, Assam |
|---|---|
| Population | Approximately 16,000 (as of latest estimates) |
| Language Spoken | Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English |
| Religion | Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism |
| Ethnic Groups | Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Nepali, etc. |
| Literacy Rate | High, but exact figures may vary |
| Education Institutions | Several schools, colleges, and universities |
| Economy | Varied, with government offices, educational institutions, and commercial establishments |
| Major Landmarks | Assam Secretariat, State Assembly Building, Dispur College, etc. |
Administration in Dispur
The Assam Government’s seat of power is Dispur, which is a part of the Guwahati Lok Sabha Constituency. In Dispur, we have the Assam Secretariat building, the State Emergency Operations Centre & the Assam Assembly House. The elected head of government is called the Chief Minister. Usually the Chief Minister reports to the Assam Governor, appointed by the Central Government. The governor is not a citizen of Assam usually & although unelected. S/he has the power to remove the elected Chief Minister from office in some situations.
Dispur being the epicenter of the state’s governance & public administration, houses the Assam Secretariat, where the Chief Minister, state ministers & bureaucrats work .
- Assam Secretariat, in Dispur, is the hub of state administration. The state’s executive decisions are made, policies are formulated & day-to-day operations of the government are managed.
- Dispur Legislative Assembly, where the elected representatives of the state convene to discuss & legislate on matters of public interest.
- The Guwahati High Court, which serves Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh, is also located in Dispur. It is a key judicial institution for the entire northeastern area.
In Dispur, there are regional offices of various Government Departments such as finance, education, health & public works as well.
Economy of Assam
The major areas which contribute to Dispur’s economy are:
- Agriculture: Assam’s fertile land leads to cultivation of tea, rice, various fruits & vegetables. The state’s tea industry is world-renowned.
- Trade & Commerce: Dispur, along with Guwahati, serves as a major trading centre for the northeastern states.
- Tourism: Assam’s lush landscapes & biodiversity, attracts tourists from world wide.
- Infrastructure Development: Dispur being the administrative capital, has several infrastructure projects, such as the road construction, bridges, & buildings, leading to economic growth.
- Education & Healthcare: Dispur has many prestigious educational & healthcare institutions which supports the development of human resources & contributes to the local economy.
Places to visit in Dispur
- Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra is culturally very important. The museum showcases the tradition & culture of Assam & the other northeastern states of India. It displays weapons, articles, statues, costumes, traditional jewellery of Assam & other Northeast states.
- Around 6 kilometres from Dispur is the Basistha Ashram, famous for its Shiva temple. The Basistha Ashram, lies on the confluence of Kanta, Sandhya & Lalita rivers
- Shilpagram is another popular tourist place which displays handicrafts & cultural heritage of Assam & other northeastern states. It has metal & wooden handicrafts, silk sarees, carpets, ethnic jewellery of Assam & other northeastern states.
- The Ganeshguri Bazaar is a local bazaar in Dispur that sells handloom products.
- Other famous places are: Assam Secretariat, the Assam Assembly House, Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, Ganesh Mandir, Regional Science Centre, etc.
How can we reach Dispur?
- Guwahati Airport is the nearest airport to Dispur- Capital of Assam, which is about a distance of few kilometres from Dispur.
- The headquarters of the North-East Frontier Railways is the Guwahati Railway Station. Auto rickshaws, taxis & cabs are easily available from here to reach Dispur.
- A national highway which connects Dispur to other major cities. Assam government runs buses & many other privately owned buses connect Dispur to the other cities sitiuated in the northeast.
Conclusion
Dispur, being the capital of Assam is not just its administrative capital but is also a reflection of the rich history, culture & long-standing tradition of Assam. Its lush landscape & biodiversity adds to its beauty & attracts tourists world over. With the presence of health & educational institutions, adds up to its economy. Tea from Dispur is quite famous. Dispur is situated on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river. Thus, we see how Dispur has played a key role in shaping up the identity & history of the North-east region.
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Capital of Assam- Dispur FAQs
Is Guwahati, Assam’s capital?
No, not Guwahati but Dispur is the capital of Assam. Earlier, Shillong was Assam’s capital. Later on, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam, Shillong became Meghalaya’s capital & in 1973, Dispur was made Assam’s capital.
Name some famous places of Assam.
Some famous places of Assam are: Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Shilpagram, the Assam Secretariat, the Assam Assembly House, Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, Ganesh Mandir, Regional Science Centre, etc.
What kind of a weather does Assam have?
Dispur has a pleasant weather throughout the year along with warm summer which is accompanied by high humidity & it has a quite cold winter. It is accompanied by fog & mist in morning & night. Monsoon lasts between May – August. It experiences heavy thunderstorm & shower.
What is Dispur’s economy like?
In Dispur, tea is the biggest & major production. Cotton, Fruits & Rice are exported from Dispur. The lush fields of Dispur along with Guwahati contribute as important centres of trade & commerce as well. Dispur is pre-dominantly dependent on agriculture. Presence of several hospitals & educational institutions & the administrative capital being Dispur contribute to the development of human resources & also contributes to Dispur’s economy.
How to reach Dispur?
One can reach Dispur through the Guwahati Airport, Guwahati Railway Station & a national highway. It connects Dispur & the other cities located in the northeast.