India 2018

596 India 2018
The advent of the Ahoms across the eastern hills in 1228 AD was the
turning point in Assam history. They ruled Assam nearly for six centuries. The
Burmese entered through the eastern borders and over-ran the territory at a
time when court intrigues and dissensions were sapping the vitality of the
Ahom royalty. It became a British protectorate in 1826 when the Burmese ceded
Assam to the British under the provision of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
Assam covers an area of 78,438 sq. km, which represents 2.39 per cent of
the total land area of the country. International boundaries that extend up to
nearly 3,200 km, surround the state. Assam - the gateway to the north-eastern
states is surrounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh on the north, Manipur,
Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh on the east and Meghalaya, Tripura and
Mizoram on the south and Bangladesh, Meghalaya and West Bengal on the
west.
Physiography
A significant geographical aspect of Assam is that it contains three of six
physiographic divisions of India—the Northern Himalayas (eastern Hills) the
Northern Plains (Brahmaputra Plain), and Deccan Plateau (Karbi Anglong).
As the Brahmaputra flows in Assam the climate here is cold and there is
widespread rainfall. The hills of Karbi Anglong, North Cachar and those in
and close to Guwahati (also Khasi-Garo Hills) now eroded and dissected are
originally parts of the South Indian Plateau system. In the south, the Barak
originating in the Barail Range (Assam-Nagaland border) flows through the
Cachar district with a 25-30 miles (40-50 km) wide valley and enters Bangladesh
with the name Surma river. The almond shaped valley is built mostly by
aggregation work of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Most of the prominent
towns and cities of Assam are situated in this valley whose length and breadth
are 725 kms and 80-100 kms respectively. Running through a narrow passage
at the Meghalaya plateau and Bhutan-Arunachal-Himalayas, the valley finally
opens out into the North Bengal Plains.
The second natural division of Assam is the Barak or Surma valley which
is surrounded by north Cachar, Manipur and Mizoram. This valley is
dominated by the Barak river. It flows through the valley and finally empties
itself to the old bed of Brahmaputra in Bangladesh. This valley has hills and
‘Beels’ or lakes in plenty. Flood is a common feature lending the quality of
fertility to the valley.
The two valleys are separated by long range of hills. The Karbi Hills and
the N.C. Hills are located in the south of the Brahmaputra valley. Karbi Hills
are a part of the Meghalaya plateau. These hills are dotted with plain areas.
The average height of this plateau is 600 metres with occasional peaks like
Chenghehision (1,359 m) and Dunbukso (1,361 m). Greenery is the hallmark
of these hills, slowly reaching their full height towards the middle of the Dima