Main Info
Kokrajhar goalpara
An Overview
Kokrajhar is a town located in Bodoland territorial area district, Assam. It is one of the original 27 districts of Assam and can be found on the north bank of the mighty Brahmaptura river, and is known to be inhabited majorly by the Boro tribe. It covers throughout the international border and leads to the Kingdom of Bhutan. The town provides refuge to the elusive golden langur, having the Chakrashila wildlife park located right in the heritage-rich region of Kokrajhar in Assam. The region is endowed with natural beauty and lies at the Himalayas foothills. The town is endowed with lush landscape, the Kokrajhar area is also the headquarters of the Bodoland Autonomous Council and it was founded in the year 1993. The somewhat rugged beauty of nature amplifies the little town of Kokrajhar, and also provides for a picture perfect view for onlookers and tourists alike from all angles. The town is also known as the gateway to North-East India and surely a serein and beautiful sight to behold. The town spans approximately about 3169 square kilometers, but is loaded with unparalleled beauty to be seen. The various patches of the beautiful green shade make the town a wonder to behold, this lush beauty of a town is tucked away safely in the care of mother nature. There are three major tourist attractions in Kokrajhar which are the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Hanuman Temple and Kali Temple, spaned over an area of 45 square kilometers, it has the singular honour of being one of the only two areas to be inhabited by the golden langurs. So many nature lovers from various places visit the region to have a glimpse of its magnificent endowment. The town is well known for the provision it makes for activities such as hiking, photography of the landscape and the wildlife, and birdwatching.
The Vast History of Kokrajhar
In old times, there was a Goalpara district that was not divided at that time. The Kokrajhar today was a part of it then. The town was carved out in 1957 as a Civil Subdivision from the former Dhubri Subdivision of Goalpara district by the Chief Minister of Assam as at that time. Up until the time it was created, it was just an ordinary town with a railway station. It received an upgrade into a district on the 1st of July 1983, and has always enjoyed good trade relations with Bhutan. From the moment of the upgrade, it has since been transformed into a major railway station with straight train links to various towns such as the major towns of Kolkata and Chennai. The locals of the town now speak mainly Bodo, but earlier settlers were known to have been Mon-Khmer speakers who were later pushed over by Tibeto-Burman speakers who migrated originally from Tibet and China. The foremost known settlements of the Bodo people began with the earliest known ruler of Assam known as Kalika Purana, who belonged to the Bodo tribe. According to later written materials, the last known rulers of Naraka dynasty that ruled over Assam fought for the Kauravas in the very famous battle of Mahabharat, and they were defeated by the mighty Krishna himself.
Kokrajhar Temples
Kokrajhar has a mix of rich cultures and is home to various beautiful temples. Some of these temples include;
Hanuman temple: The famous Kokrajhar Hanuman temple is a site to behold for all devotees of the lord Hanuman. The old beautiful structures of the temple along with the peaceful and serene surroundings creates an atmosphere of tranquility in the minds of the devotees.
Brahma Mandir temple: According to legends told, the lord Brahma is supposedly the creator of the entire universe, or the whole ‘Brahma’ as it is said in Sanskrit. The temple allows devotees the opportunity of an in-depth connection with the lord Brahma, and the surrendering of themselves to his great divinity. The ambience in the temple is crisp, clean, and pure, and takes over one’s sense of awareness of any care or fear in the world. This allows devotes dig deeper into the power of prayer. The temples are open to all who care to behold their beauty and pray to the gods between the hours of 5:00am to 8:00pm every day, including both weekends and public holidays. No wonder the saying ‘the lord never rests’. No fee what so ever is required of anyone who wishes to submit to the blessings of the lord.
Kokrajhar, home of Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the most see tourists’ sites to behold when visiting Kokrajhar is the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary. The entire region spans an area of about 46 square kilometers and is also very well known for its large population of the exotic golden langur, which makes it the second most protected habitat of the golden langur in India. An abode to leopards, leopard cats, rhesus macaques, porcupines, Asiatic jackals and many more, this sanctuary aims at maintaining a healthy habitat for its vast creatures. This sanctuary is also an abode to over 250 endangered bird species, and a few of these endangered species include the night heron, open billed stork, lesser whistling teal, hornbill, and so on. An additional feature to the beauty and lush diversity of this sanctuary are the 23 different species of amphibians sheltered in the sanctuary. There are over 40 species of butterflies fluttering from flower to flower, and 60 different kinds of insects making faint sounds that replicates the rhythm of a cool song, a tour round the sanctuary soaking in nature can provide an escape from our regular faced paced lives. The two adjoining lakes of Dheer and Deeplai contribute extremely to the beauty and serenity of the environment which accommodates a variety of creatures. A truly admirable site is the fauna in the sanctuary. The sky-high trees stand tall and resembles a roof for its familial wildlife. This sanctuary provides a drastic change of environment from the usual hustle and bustle of one’s everyday life, with bird songs filling the air creating a vibe of peace, with just the tiniest hint of playfulness. This rhythm in the atmosphere almost feels as if the birds and insects are communicating with one another, with the air so pure and clean, a huge difference from the urban air. A surly long lasting memory is to witness these creatures unhindered in their natural habitat, enjoying the unhinged freedom it provides, no movie scene can ever beat or capture the true beauty of the scenery. The sanctuary creates the perfect set for wildlife photography and makes provision for trekking as well. With a distance of 7 kilometers away from Kokrajhar, the sanctuary attracts tourists all year round. Although the sea is is prone to erosion, its is best to avoid visiting during the monsoon period due to this. A pair of binoculars and your camera will come in handy for the thrilling experience.
When to Visit Kokrajhar
It is best to avoid visits to the district during the monsoons period, as Kokrajhar can get really humid during the rainy season, with a possibility of heavy rainfall as well which could create problems as well.
Navigating to Kokrajhar
The area is well networked and can be reached by trains, buses, and taxis, which are all easily available and accessible.