Jorhat – a beautiful place to live in, explore and to fall in love with! Celebrated for its natural assets, cultural diversity, rich heritage and being a hub of education, this city is known as the “Knowledge city of Assam” and also “The Cultural Capital of Assam” It is one of Assam’s largest towns and derives its name from two haats or bazaars “Macharhat and Chowkihat” on the banks of River Bhogdoi, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
To the North of Jorhat, the Brahmaputra River, forms the largest riverine island, Majuli. Jorhat was the last capital of the Ahom Kingdom till the arrival of the British in 1824. The British brought in the cultivation of tea and today Jorhat is known as “Tea capital of the world” thanks to the innumerable amount of tea plantations and the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, one of the oldest tea research centres of the world.
For more information about the place Jorhat, please visit Jorhat District official website https://jorhat.assam.gov.in/
Jorhat, the lively town
Connectivity
Air
The most convenient way of reaching Jorhat is by Air. The Jorhat Airport (IATA Code: JRH) is a fully operational airport, administered by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with daily flights connecting to Kolkata. Connecting flights are also available from rest of the country.
Railway
Railway is the next convenient way to get to Jorhat. The main railway station is the Mariani junction, 17 kms from the city centre through which every train passes by (railway code:MXN). The Rajdhani Express and Brahmaputra Mail stops there. A loop line connects Mariani to Jorhat Town Station (railway code:JTTN). Trains running through the Jorhat Town Station are the InterCity Express, and the Janasatabdi Exp. which are connected to the state capital Guwahati.
Highway
The National Highway No. 37 (NH37) runs through the heart of Jorhat which connects the city to the airports of Dibrugarh (approximately 3 hours’ drive) and Guwahati (approximately 7 hours’ drive), respectively. The same National Highway also acts as a gateway to the neighbouring states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Dosa from a food stall at Mariani Junction is very popular amongst the youth.
Jorhat – Fun, Flora and Food!
Places for Ethnic Food:
Jorhat is famous for its ethnic food restaurants that serves ethnic North-East Indian Food. Chouka, Jorhat Canteen, Chengmora, Manipuri Kitchen, Nova Akhol, Naga kitchen, Naga Chang, The Tribal Kitchen, Donyi Polo Mishing Kitchen, Mising Donam, Bambusa, Khamti Lahi, are few of the restaurants in that serve ethnic Assamese, Naga, Mising, Manipuri and other tribal delicacies
Eateries and places to hangout:
Jorhat is a lively place with great places for people to hangout and have a good time with good food and ambience. Few such places are Café Momo, Mom’s Momo, Fat Belly, Café Axom, Wood Smoke Café, Delhi Chaat House, The Dosa, Neev’s, Rajputana Login, The Slogan Café, Foodies table, Prism etc. The “7 sisters’ Resort” is a place amidst nature beside a tea garden with a vibrant atmosphere, good food, a swimming pool and bamboo cottages. Musical evenings are often arranged in these places.
Tsangpo River Cruise and Restaurant:
Located at Nimati Ghat of Jorhat, Tsangpo River Cruise offers a unique experience along with good food, affordable stay and short and long cruises.
Baghmora Winter Carnival and Eco Camps:
Baghmora Winter Carnival is an adventure and music event organised by Adventure Destination Official which allows activities like camping, musical concerts, river sports, bonfire sessions, open mic by the riverside and serves ethnic Assamese food. More of such places are the Nam-Da-Pha Eco Camp, Bor Asom Eco-Camp, Mohian Cove Eco-Camp, Gibbon Eco-Camp, Brahmaputra Eco-Camp. They offer riverside camping and bamboo cottages for night stay with bonfire.
Cinema Halls:
Jorhat has Inox Cinema Hall which is a multiplex movie hall and Elle Cinema Hall at Gar Ali.
Cycling Clubs:
There are cycling clubs in Jorhat who arrange cycling tours and rallies to places like Nagaland and other nearby places.
Jorhat Tennis Club:
One of the oldest Tennis Club of Assam situated at K.B. Road. It was established in 1910.
Jorhat Swimming Society:
It is located at the Aquatic Complex of Jorhat Stadium at the heart of Jorhat town. There are total 3 hygienic swimming pools in the complex.
Thengal Manor Heritage Hotel:
Constructed in 1929, Thengal Manor is a beautiful mansion, which is now a popular heritage hotel in Jorhat. The place has a peaceful ambience, and the decor is from the colonial days.
Replica Theatre Village:
The Replica Theatre Village is self-sustainable residential campus for theatre in a village 19 km from Jorhat town. They organize many theatrical workshops and festivals. The rural and folk culture is mainly reflected in their theatre.
Museums:
Thengal Kachari Cultural Centre & Museum is located at Titabor (Balijan Gaon). Sukapha Samannay Kshetra in a memorial built in the memory of Sukapha, the first Ahom king of Assam. Jorhat Science Centre and Planetarium located within the Jorhat town has a thematic gallery on ‘Story of Oil’.
Forests and Sanctuaries:
The Molai Forest is situated north of the city of Jorhat in the state of Assam, India. It encompasses an area of 1,360 acres. This forest was single handedly planted by Jadav Payeng, Padma Shri awardee also known as the “Forest man of India”. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in Jorhat.
The Assam Tea festival:
The Assam Tea festival is held in several parts of the state of Assam in the months of November to January every year. The festivities of Jorhat are reputed during the tea festival in Assam. The festival is hoisted by the Gymkhana Club.
Gymkhana Club:
The oldest golf course in Asia and the third oldest in the world, the Jorhat Gymkhana Club is the pride of Jorhat. It is also famous for being the venue for horse races in the months of November to January. Commonly known as the “Historic Jorhat Race”, the race attracts many tourists and sports lovers.
Bungalows in Jorhat:
The Chameli Memsaab Bungalow and the Burrab Sahib’s Bungalow at the Kaziranga Golf Resort are two most prominent colonial style bungalows at Jorhat.