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Digboi, Tinsukia Overview
Digboi is particularly famous in India because it has the oldest refinery. It is also known as the Oil City of Assam. It was here that crude oil was first discovered in India. This was during the late 19th century. Since then, the refinery in Digboi has vastly contributed to boosting the economy of the Tinsukia district. But it is not that Digboi is famous only for its refinery. The place was actively ruled by the British in the early 20th century as well. Therefore, you will find a lot of gold courses in Digboi. These reflect the impact that British colonialism had on the small town. The place is also famous for wax dolls. You will plenty of traditional textiles here as well. Digboi offers accommodation in hotels and guesthouses that are inspired by Italian architecture.
It is quite interesting to note how the town got its current name ‘Digboi’. They say the British would often shout ‘Dig, boy! Dig!” at the Indian laborers working in the fields, digging for crude oil. While the town is famous for its refinery industry, a part of the small town has beautiful tea gardens among hills, offering a spectacular view and showing how natural beauty exists even among rapid industrialization.
The town is loved by ornithologists, who study birds. Since you can find a variety of species of birds in Digboi, it is also a terrific place for bird watchers. A total of 453 species can be found in Digboi, including the likes of marsh babbler, black breasted parrotbill, dark necked tailorbird and Jerdon’s babbler.
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What to Visit in Digboi
Digboi does house India’s oldest refinery, but it has its own share of tourist attractions as well. You can visit the placid Digboi Lake and offers a beautiful view. After spending some time at the lake, you can head over to the Digboi Oil Centenary Museum, where you can learn about the past of Digboi. There are also models and amazing photographs of the original engines and pumps. The museum is sure you take you to the old times with interesting facts mentioned throughout the place.
Try visiting the Digboi Golf Club with 18 holes in the field. Many tournaments take place here throughout the year. The club was founded by the British in 1888. It covers a whopping area of more than 6300 yards. If you would like to learn more about the history of Assam, you can visit the War Cemetery.
Tips For Visiting Digboi