Tinsukia, May 20: The inauguration of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26 is set to give a shot in the arm to cultural and religious tourism in Sadiya in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district.
The rich history of Sadiya dates back to the 12th century and finds a mention in the Mahabharat.
"The one and only reason why Sadiya has been deprived of tourists is the communication hurdle. There is no doubt that Sadiya has the potential of being a cultural tourist hub in Assam," said Rana Changmai, a teacher of Tinsukia College. The distance between the two ends of the bridge will reduce travel time by four fours.
Sadiya is mentioned in Indian mythology. It is believed to be the ancient Vidarbha kingdom of the Mahabharat, ruled by King Bhishmaka. Krishna fell in love with his daughter Rukmini and whisked her away in his chariot on the day of her marriage ," said Changmai. "Today, this place of great mythological importance is known as Bhismak Nagar, around 45km from Sadiya, in Roing district. It was once a part of Sadiya before Independence where one can still find relics dating back to ancient history."
Changmai said importance of Sadiya in Assam also lies in the fact the three great Baptist missionaries - Nathan Brown, Oliver Cutter and Miles Bronson - popularised Assamese language in Sadiya. "The first printing press of Assam was established by Bronson in Sadiya, The trio established schools and taught local people during their stay," Changmai said, adding: "Even trade in Assam has its roots in Sadiya."
Social activist Surender Gogoi said Sadiya is surrounded by famous places like Mayodia in Arunachal Pradesh and the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
"A proper tourism roadmap, keeping Sadiya at the centre, is the need of the hour. Arrangements can be made for tourists to go to Mayodia, the Switzerland of the Northeast. You can see rare birds and animals at Dibru-Saikhowa National Park on a water safari or go to the Sino-Indian border near Anini," he added. Mayodia is 70km from Sadiya.
Budheswar Phukan, a boat owner said, "The region is filled with all that is needed to attract tourists but I fail to understand why tourists ignore the region."
