Overview

Barpeta is a district in Assam under Lower Assam Division. It is bounded by Baksa district in the North, Bajali District in the East, Kamrup and Goalpara District in the South and Bongaigaon and Chirang District in the West. The latitude and longitude of Barpeta is 26.19' North & 91.00' East respectively.

Why visit Barpeta?

→ Rich in culture, spirituality and nature

→ A place of great religious importance

→ Rich in  traditional handicrafts

→ The indigenous fire cracker industry

→ Brass metal industry of Sarthebari

→ Popular Holi festivals and Vaishnavate culture

Best Time to Visit ?

→ Winter : November – February

→ Summer : March – April

How to reach:

By Road: There is very good availability of buses plying from Guwahati, Nalbari, Dhubri, Bongaigaon etc. to Barpeta. There is flexibility of timings. Plenty of buses travel between Guwahati and Barpeta. The district lies about 126 KM (approx.) via Barpeta-Nalbari and NH 31 towards South West of Guwahati with an average travel time of 3 hours. Taxies are available also for hire from all major destinations to Barpeta.

By Train:The District Head Quarter is not directly connected by Railway Station. However, the nearest main railway station from the district head quarter Barpeta is the Barpeta Road Railway Station located at a distance of about 30 KM. All the up bound and down bound train services touch Barpeta Road station. It takes around 3 hours to reach Barpeta from Guwahati by train.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), Borjhar Guwahti located at a distance of around 96 Km. The Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati has a good flight connectivity with all major destinations throughout the country.

Weather: Summer Min Temp : 10 c Max Temp 35 c Monsoon : Min Temp 15 c max Temp 30 c Winter : Min Temp 5 c max Temp : 20 c

The climate of Barpeta remains mild and pleasant round the year. Tropical monsoon climate of the District provides two distinct seasons- Summer and Winter. The Summer season of March to May is followed by the Monsoons from June to September. This is followed by cool winter season from October to February.

Natural Tourism

Manas National Park (Previously at Barpeta)
Declared as a national park in 1990 Manas National park is located at Himalayan foothills where its having an unique bio diversity and scenic landscapes. It is one of the first reserves included in the tiger reserve network under project tiger in 1973. Covering an area of 2837 Sq.KM. Manas river flows through the park with unique blending of dense jungles and grass-land, harbours the largest number of protected species of India including tiger, leopard, civet, elephants, buffalo, pygmy hog, golden langoor, Assam roof turtle, and the Bengal florican. This park is included as a site of international importance under UNESCO's world heritage convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989. There are as many as 60 species of mammals,312 birds, 42 reptiles,7 amphibia,54 fishes and more than 100 species of insects The place can be reached by road from Barpeta Road (20KM) connecting National highway No-31 that connects rest of India. The railways connects Barpeta Road with rest of the country and Gopinath Bordoloi airport at Guwahati is nearly 140 KM from Barpeta Road town. The forest lodges are situated inside the park at Mathanguri which lies at a distance of 40 K.Ms from Barpeta Road. Visitors are to obtain necessary permission for entry into park at the office of Field Director Manas Tiger Reserve, Barpeta Road.

History:

Barpeta has been a place of great religious importance. Known by various names like Tatikuchi, Porabhita, Mathura, Vrindavan, Choukhutisthan, Nabaratna-Sabha, Icchakuchi,Pushpak Vimana, Kampur and Barpeta. It was Koch King Naranarayan who founded Barnagar (Sorbhog) The present District formed an integral part of the Koch-Hajo and the Ahom Kingdom till British Administration took over. From the ancient period Barpeta witnessed the rule of the Varmans (380-654) the Salasthamas (655-985) the Palas (985-1260) the Kamatas (1260-1509) & the Koches from 1509. During the Kamata & Koch rule major historical development took place. During this period large number of local feudatory-chiefs who are primarily land lords called 'Bhuyans' ruled the region. Number of villages constituted a 'Chakla' placed under a Bhuyan was patronised by the Kamatas. These Bhuyans arrived from eastern part of India like Kanauj, Gauda and Bengal who in passage of time became general Assamese caste and accepted the Vaishnava faith under influence of Shrimanta Sankardeva.

          Koch King Naranarayan established his temporary capital at Barnagar. Here he met Shrimanta Sankardeva and his renowned disciple and sub-sequently accepted Vaishnavism when Sankardeva was invited by the monarch to Koch- Bihar. It was during king Naranarayan's regime at Barnagar the great saint established Satra at Patbaushi to spread his Socio-religious faith. The Koch rule ended with annexation by the Mughals. The valiant Ahom fought a number of battles against the invading Mughals. Some of the well-known battles were fought at Jakhlikhana, Bhabanipur and Bhatekuchi. Ahoms were defeated and Mughals took over the Administration and systematised the entire revenue administration. Kamrupa became a Sarkar,which was divided into Parganas. Barpeta,Khetri, Bajali, Barnagar, Bahbari and Bijni became Parganas. A Gomasta was appointed to run the 'Tapa' and a number of Tapas became a Pargana. For administrative convenience the Parganas were divided into Taluks, lats and villages. Parganas were placed under Barbaruas and Choudhuries. Taluks remained under Talukdar. They were assisted by Thakurias, Patwaries, Kakati, Gaon barika etc. who kept the revenue accounts. Judges in Parganas were called Shikdar,whereas Amin and Kanango were responsible for land-survey, assessment and collection of revenue.

          With the advent of Shrimanta Sankardeva, this region turned into a religious place dotted with numerous satras and in fact Barpeta town came to be called 'Boikumthapuri Dham'. As a part of providing pantronage to various religious-places irrespective of religions, the Ahom rulers provided a large number of land-grants to the Satras. Dr. Maheswar Neog in his edited work" Prasya Sasanawali" has mentioned a large number of land-grants during the region of Shiva Singha,Rajeswar Singha,Lakshmi Singha,Gaurinath Singha and Chandra Kanta Singha. Grants were made to Muslim-Darghas of Shah Madar at Baushi, Shah Fakir at Barnagar,Panch Peer at Khetri, Syed Shahnur Dewan Fakir at Bhella, where Chandra Kanta Singha granted 100 bighas la khiraj land. Grants were made to Devalaya also. These grants were made in copper-plate inscriptions which are invaluable source of history.

Did you know?

Barpeta is renowned in the Historical map of Assam as the "Land of the Satras". These Satras bear the testimony of the great Assamese reformer, saint, Scholar and Cultural exponent Srimanta Sankardeva and his able disciple Shri Shri Madhabdeva who arrived from Upper Assam back in the 16th century to lay down strong foundation of Assamese Culture in the region through his socio-religious Vaishnava-reform movement. This reform movement left a historic legacy. The Barpeta Satra and various other Satras scattered around the district attract devotees from every nook and corner of Assam.

The town of Barpeta is uniquely divided in 22 Hattis that are inhabited by the devoted followers and families of the Gurus, that are administered by the Satra administration. This unique feature is not found in any other place in Assam.