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The capital city of Assam is Dispur, which is a suburban locality in Guwahati. Nestled in northeastern India, south of the Himalayas, lies Assam, the second-largest state in the region by area and the most populous. Assam’s Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys hug the state, with Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh bordering to the north, Nagaland and Manipur to the east, and Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and Bangladesh to the south. A narrow strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor connects Assam to West Bengal on the west. In this blog, we will cover the capital city of Assam and everything you should know about it.
Overview of Dispur
It is obvious that Dispur holds significant importance because it is the capital city of Assam.
| Feature | Description |
| Significance | Capital of Assam |
| Location | Outskirts of Guwahati |
| Background | Became capital in 1973 after Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya |
| Administrative Role | The seat of the Assam government, which houses the Assam Secretariat |
| Cultural Significance | Basistha Ashram (Lord Shiva temple) |
| Economic Importance | Guwahati Tea Auction Center, a major global tea trading facility |
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Overview of Assam
The state of Assam has 35 districts and 5 divisions. Since, the state capital in Guwahati, therefore, it is the largest district of all.
| Feature | Description |
| Location | Northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas |
| Area | 78,438 km² (30,285 sq mi) |
| Rank (by Area) | Second largest in northeastern India |
| Rank (by Population) | Largest in northeastern India |
| Borders (North) | Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh |
| Borders (East) | Nagaland, Manipur |
| Borders (South) | Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Bangladesh |
| Borders (West) | West Bengal (connected via Siliguri Corridor) |
| Official Languages | Assamese, Boro |
| Additional Official Languages | MeiteiBengali |
History of Dispur
Dispur, a suburb of Guwahati and the capital city of Assam held these tags in 1973. It was when Shillong, the former capital, became the capital of the newly formed state of Meghalaya, carved out of Assam. Dispur serves as the heart of Assam’s government, housing the Assam Secretariat, Legislative Assembly, MLA Hostels, and the State Emergency Operations Centre.
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Demographic of Dispur
Assam in total has 33 districts with people from both tribal ethnicities, such as Bodo, Karbi, Rabha, Mishing, Dimasa, and Deori, and linguistic groups. These linguistic groups encompass speakers of Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, and Odia languages.
Below are the demographics of Dispur.
| Category | Percentage of Total Population |
| Schedule Caste (SC) | 4.8% |
| Schedule Tribe (ST) | 5.3% |
| Literacy Rate | Total | Male | Female |
| Dispur Circle (2011) | 91.73% | 94.45% | 88.81% |
| Total Literate | Male | Female |
| Dispur Circle | 442,675 | 236,341 |
| Sex Ratio | 929 (For every 1000 men, there are 929 females) |
| Child Sex Ratio (2011) | 935 (Greater than the average sex ratio of 929) |
Geography of Dispur
Flowing through Dispur’s heart is the Bharalu River.
The city shares Guwahati’s climate, from warm summers to cool winters with occasional rain, they both have similar kinds of climate situations.
For the capital city of Assam, Monsoons arrive in June, bringing heavy downpours and occasional thunderstorms.
Economy of Dispur
Assam’s total income (State Income) has grown steadily, but its share of national income hasn’t changed much.
Moreover, the income per person in Assam (per capita income) has consistently lagged behind the national average, and the gap has widened over time. This gap was especially large in the 1980s, but it narrowed somewhat in the following decade. After economic reforms in the 1990s, the gap between Assam’s per capita income and the national average widened again.
One of the key contributions to the growth of the capital city of Assam is tourism and another one is plantations.
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Culture of Dispur
People of the capital city of the Assam is bombarded with cultural diversity. So here is a table formed for you.
| Category | Description |
| Festivals | Dispur joins Assam in the joyous Bihu celebrations (traditional dances, feasts) marking the New Year, alongside other festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali, and Eid. |
| Music and Dance | Dispur’s vibrant culture brims with Assamese folk music (Borgeet, Bihu geet, Zikir) and dance (Bihu, Sattriya, Ojapali). |
| Art and Crafts | Dispur boasts skilled artisans creating beautiful crafts, including famed Muga and Eri silks, all celebrated in city fairs and exhibitions |
| Cuisine | Dispur’s Assamese cuisine delights in local flavours, featuring rice, fish, meats, vegetables, and sweet treats like pithas. |
Facts About Dispur
With the facts about Dispur, we come to the end of this article. Let’s learn more about it.
- Dispur, Assam’s capital since 1973, is a center of government, rich in Assamese cuisine, crafts, and Bihu celebrations.
- The Bharalu River cuts through the heart of Dispur, adding a natural touch to the city.
- Dispur’s skilled artisans continue the tradition of weaving exquisite Muga and Eri silks, Assam’s famed textiles.
- Dispur showcases a vibrant mix of cultures, celebrating Assamese Bihu alongside festivals like Durga Puja and Eid.
- Dispur became Assam’s capital in the 1970s after Shillong became the capital of Meghalaya.
FAQ
Dispur is the capital city of Assam; however, some say it is Guwahati now, but it is not official.
Guwahati is not the state, rather unofficially, it is the capital city in Assam.
The capital of Assam was Shillong before it became the capital of Meghalaya.
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