UDALGURI DISTRICT

Udalguri district is one of the 27 districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. Udalguri town is the headquarters of the district. This district is bounded by Bhutan and West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh state in the north, Sonitpur district in the east, Darrang district in the south and Baksa district in the west. Area of the district is 1852.16 sq.km. Population of the district is 8,32,769 (2011 census). Earlier, it was a civil sub-division under the erstwhile Darrang district prior to the formation of BTC. But after signing of the Tripartite Peace Agreement on 10th February, 2003 through a Memorandum of Settlement between the Bodo Liberation Tigers, Government of India and the Government of Assam, the Bodoland Territorial Council came into being after amending the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. As a part of the settlement an Autonomous Council called BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District) was created and  Udalguri is now one of Four Districts under BTAD. It was notified as a district, vide Govt Notification No. GAG (B)-137/2002/Pt/117 dated 30-10-2003 and was formally inaugurated as a district on 14-06-2004.

UDALGURI a name itself originated from flora origin. ODAL, a tree, +suffix GOOR>GURI means roots, surrounding etc., i.e., a place surrounding the Udal tree. Some want to say that the name came to be known with a place centred round a 'ODAL tree', while the others are in opinion that the name of the place became Udalguri because there was a hermitage of a sage named Uddalak Muni. But, perhaps it is more appropriate to believe that after the Bodo words 'ORDLA' + 'GUNDRI' the name became ORDLAGUNDRI > ORDLAGUNDI > ODALGURI > UDALGURI. Bodo people still pronounce the name as Odalguri. In bodo language 'ORDLA' means wide and spacious and 'GUNDRI' means powdered object.

Attractions

Bhairabkunda : It is a place of unique natural beauty situated on the Border of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, near the bhutanese town Daifam. t is located at the northern bed, some 22 km from the district headquarter of Udalguri town. Also prominently known as important tourist place of Shiva’ for  the pilgrims. Devotees visit the temple frequently and offer pujas to   achieve success in their life. Marriageable couples prefer the place for their romantic intimacy. The   Shiva temple   geographically lies into the Bhutanese  territory  but it is an   important pilgrimage for the Indian visitors. The Bhairabkunda is not only the meeting place of geographical borders but it is also for the river Jia Dhansiri, Bhairavi and Daifam. A Bhutanese small sub-divisional administrative town called ‘Daifam’ is here known for the wine trades. It was a fastly growing town area in Bhutan but lost its pace after the violent democracy support movement started in the late eighties in Bhutan. Although, a very development faces a halt in the area a new dawn is expected after the creation of BTAD. The BTAD authority has taken interest to develop this area. The people prominently considered it as a suitable picnic spot for the new year. Best time to Travel : November To March

Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary : Situated near Udalguri and Sonitpur, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra. The nearest town is Udalguri at a distance of 32 km from the park and. Guwahati is about 140 km from the park. It covers an area of 78.81 square kilometres (30.43 sq mi). It was established as a sanctuary in 1985 and declared a National Park on 13 April 1999. It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park (IUCN site) since the two parks have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams and grasslands and are inhabited by the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. The park has a rich flora and fauna, including Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, pigmy hog, elephants, wild buffalo and tigers. It is the only stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river. Orang National Park in Assam is the most important  habitat of the Bengal florican. The estimated population is  about 30-40. Other important birds are Spot-billed Pelican  (Pelicanus philippensis), Black-necked Stork  (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), Greater Adjutant Stork  (Leptoptilos dubius), Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos   javanicus), Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus),  Rudy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Gadwall (Anas   strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Pintail (Anas   acuta), Pallas's Fishing Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and a number of others including forest and grassland birds. Best time to Travel : November To March

The park is well connected by road, rail and air links with near by towns in Assam. The nearest town is Tezpur at a distance of 32 kilometres (20 mi) from the park. Guwahati is about 140 kilometres (87 mi) from the park. It is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) off the National Highway NH 52 near Orang town (Dhansirimukh), which is the nearest village that is a further 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) away. Dhansirimukh is 127 kilometres (79 mi) away from Guwahati. The nearest railhead is Saloni (41 kilometres (25 mi)) & Rangapara. Both Tezpur and Guwahati are connected very well by the rail network of India. The nearest airport is at Saloni, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Tezpur (80 km from the park) in Sonitpur district around 140 kilometres (87 mi)from Guwahati. October to April is the best season to visit the park. However, advance authorization of the Divisional Forest Officer, Mangaldoi is essential to visit the park.

Bornadi Sanctuary : Situated on the highland alluvial area on the foothills of Himalayas bordering Bhutan in the north, this sanctuary covers an area of 20 sq km. The sanctuary was constituted especially for the protection and conservation of Hispid Hare and pigmy Hog. Declared as a sanctuary in 1980, administratively it comes under Mangaldoi Wildlife Division. Bornadi WLS is mostly known for its population of Pigmy Hog and Hispid Hare. Apart from this two endangered species, other fauna found in the sanctuary includes – Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Gaur, Barking Deer, Small Indian Civet,Jungle Cat, Chinese Pangolin, Porcupine, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Wild Pig etc. Best time to visit :- November to April. Divisional Forest Officer
Mongoldai Wildlife Division, Mongoldai, Phone: 03713 - 230022

Education

1) Udalguri College, Kharupetia, Udalguri Road,Udalguri, Phone : 03711-224428
2) Tangla College, P.O. Tangla, Udalguri, Phone: +91-3711-255490

Banks

1) Central Bank Of India, MAZBAT, Phone : (03711) 246335
2) Central Bank Of India, DIMAKUCHI, Phone : (03711) 232101
3) State Bank Of India (SBI), TANGLA, Phone : 03711/255551
4) State Bank Of India (SBI), UDALGURI, Phone : 03711-224495
5) UCO Bank, UDALGURI, Phone : 03711-224443