Sivasagar

Sivasagar lies in the eastern part of Assam and serves as an administrative and commercial center with several historical monuments, including temple complexes along the shore of the artificial Sibsagar tank. The town spreads on both sides of the tank and includes residential neighborhoods, markets, and open parks and public squares.

The town was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788 and was then called Rangpur. Destruction by Burmese forces in the early 19th century ended its role as a political center.

The name Sivasagar means "ocean of Shiva" and refers to the large tank at the heart of town, along whose shores temples and buildings from the Ahom period still stand. The town retains traces of Ahom rule in the form of old palaces, fortifications, and stone steps leading down to the water.

Jorhat Airport is about 55 km (34 miles) away and connects the town with larger cities in Assam. Simaluguri railway station is the nearest rail link and lies around 16 km (10 miles) from the town center.

The Joysagar tank covers more than 318 acres (129 hectares) and is the largest human-made water body of its kind in India. It was built in the 18th century to secure the water supply for the town and irrigate the surrounding land.