Biswanath Ghat in Assam has been selected as the Best Tourism Village of India 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism. This was announced by the state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today on September 22 on X (formerly known as Twitter).
As per the post by the chief minister , Biswanath Ghat has been selected from amongst the 791 applications from 31 states and union territories.
“Biswanath Ghat’s selection reflects the huge efforts that our Government has taken in promoting rural tourism in Assam,” he said.
What’s So Special About Biswanath Ghat?
Biswanath Ghat is also known as ‘Gupta Kashi’. The town is situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra river and is located south from Biswanath Chariali town. It is at a distance of around 241 kilometres from the state capital Dispur.
The town is named after the ancient Biswanath mandir. It is called Gupta Kashi because it was made in comparison with Kashi (Varanasi or Banaras in Uttar Pradesh) during the golden rule of the Guptas. The ghat has numerous temples of different gods. A Shiva temple is also located at the convergence of Bridhaganga (Burigonga) river with the Brahmaputra.
The tradition is that the idol of Lord Shiva is carried to a nearby village, Bhiragaon, on a dola covering a distance of five kilometres, and is worshipped in the temple there for a day. It is returned to the original site in the evening. People offer pooja-archana to the deity along the road. It is believed that the tradition was started by Ahom King Gadadhar Singha in 1684.
Also Read: The ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’ is Here — Has Your Village Participated?
Although Biswanath Ghat is a religious place it does make for a perfect tourist destination during the winters. In winters, the water level of the Brahmaputra recedes and gives way to lush golden riverine, sand, beaches for tourists to explore.
The lowered water level makes a splendid view and brings most of the rocks in the small riverine bay out from below the water.
There is also an island that is present nearer this Biswanath Ghat which is known as island of Umatumuni. This island is a tourist spot as it houses a tourist lodge and also some remnants of an old temple. Just on the opposite bank of the Brahmaputra lies the majestic Kaziranga National Park.
A number of people visit Biswanath Ghat during the festival of Rongali Bihu. The third day of the festival, known as Goxai Bihu, becomes a big affair here as devotees gather in large numbers to join in the festivities and take out a religious procession in the area.
To reach Biswanath Ghat, you need to first reach Biswanath Chariali town, from where you can either take a taxi or an autorickshaw to the place which is about 30 minutes away from the town. There are also several options of hotels and lodges in the town as well.
Also Read: A village in the LoC becomes tourist-friendly
About ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’
Rural tourism is picking up fast with a large number of visitors wanting to explore the hinterlands, rural culture and village life. The Government of India has launched an initiative to showcase the villages of the country and encourage tourists to take a dip into their elaborate culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
Rural tourism is picking up fast with a large number of visitors wanting to explore the hinterlands, rural culture and village life. The Government of India has launched an initiative to showcase the villages of the country and encourage tourists to take a dip into their elaborate culture, cuisine and lifestyle.
In March this year, the Ministry of Tourism had announced a competition to recognise and award the best tourism village in the country based on a set of parameters. The competition seeks to honour a village that best exemplifies a tourism destination with renowned cultural and natural assets, preserves and promotes community-based values, goods, and lifestyles, and has a clear commitment to sustainability. Additionally, it focuses on villages with the overarching goal of making tourism one of the drivers of positive change, development, and community well-being.
The tourism ministry had invited applications from all States and Union Territories of India. As per the criteria, the village must have a low population density, not exceeding 25,000 inhabitants. It also must be located in a radius of attractive tourist destinations.
The areas of evaluation included:
Cultural and Natural Resources; Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources; Economic Sustainability; Social Sustainability; Environmental Sustainability; Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration; Governance and Prioritization of Tourism; Infrastructure and Connectivity; Health, Safety and Security.
