Tezpur, situated on the banks of river Brahmaputra, is an ancient city known for its mythology, folklore and legends. The place derives its name from the Sanskrit words, 'Teza' meaning blood and 'Pura' meaning city or town. It is believed that a battle between Lord Krishna and the Asura king Banasura, known as the Sonitpur, was fought in Tezpur only. Since thousands of people were killed in the battle and the whole city was flooded with human blood, the place came to be known as Tezpur. The place is known for its splendid natural beauty and archeological ruins, is an absolute delight for every tourist as well as nature lover. It provides mind boggling views of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and the hills of Arunachal Pradesh.
The name Tezpur is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Teza' (meaning blood) and 'Pura' (meaning town or city). Legend has it that the original name of this place was 'Sonitpur' ("sonit" in Sanskrit also means blood!) but when the battle between Krishna's army and Banasura's army fought for the rescue of Aniruddha (who was the grandson of Lord Krishna, according to legend) there was so much bloodshed that the whole place was stained in red. This led to the name of the place becoming Tezpur.
Historical ruins from the 8th and 9th centuries dot the surrounding areas of the city. The ruins of Bamuni Hills are the most famous. They bear resemblance to the Gupta period art. Accordingly there are plenty of myths as well. The ruins of Da Parbatia is a shining example of the architecture around the 4th Century AD.
Modern Tezpur was founded by the British colonial administration in 1835 as the headquarters of Darrang district. During World War 2, Tezpur received large numbers of refugees fleeing from Burma, particularly the corps of Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian nurses. After independence of India in 1947, it remained the headquarters of Darrang district. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962 the Chinese army came close to the town and the town had to be evacuated. In 1983 a part of the district was carved out to form a separate district, named Darrang. Tezpur was made the headquarters of the new district of Sonitpur.
Air
Tezpur has a small airport that receives flights from Jorhat, Kolkata and Guwahati. There are regular flights from Guwahati everyday and there are three flight every week to Kolkata and Jorhat. Indian Airlines is the main flight operator to Tezpur.
Rail
Tezpur is an important railhead in Assam. You will get many trains from Guwahati which is the nearest station. The distance between the two cities is nearly 180 Km and it takes slightly less than 4 hrs to reach.
Road
Tezpur is around 180 km from the capital city of Guwahati and there is frequent to and fro bus service from Guwahati. Both state run and private buses ply on the route. Good network connects it to other cities and towns as well.
Of course, Tezpur does not have big shopping centres of shopping malls, but shopping in small markets of the town is altogether nice experience. Here you can buy traditional handicrafts and a variety of locally made items. So, do not forget to enjoy shopping in the markets of Tezpur. Buy some traditional handcrafts for your family members or friend or to keep them as a memoir forever.
In Tezpur you may not find a luxury category accommodation, but the available options in the town are excellent and you will feel yourself at home. Equipped with all the necessary amenities the hotels of Tezpur provide a comfortable stay to guests.