Sonitpur district facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Sonitpur district
District of Assam
Kameng River in Nameri National Park with Himalayas in background
Location in Assam
Country	India
State	Assam
Division	North Assam
Headquarters	Tezpur
Area
• Total	2,076.70 km² (801.82 sq mi)
Elevation	48-560 m (−1,789.3 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	1,311,619
• Density	631.5881/km² (1,635.806/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Assamese
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	IN-AS
Vehicle registration	AS12

Sonitpur district is a district in the state of Assam in India. Its main city and headquarters is Tezpur. This area is known for its beautiful nature and interesting history.

The Name of Sonitpur

The name "Sonitpur" comes from old Hindu stories, especially the Bhagavata Purana and the Kalika Purana. In these stories, a powerful king named Banasura built a city here. He was a great follower of Lord Shiva, who promised to protect the city.

The word Śōṇita in Sanskrit means "blood." The name of the district's headquarters, Tezpur, also comes from this story. It means "city of blood," likely referring to a big battle that happened there in the old tales.

A Look at Sonitpur's History

Sonitpur district has a very long and exciting history. It was once part of a big kingdom called Kamarupa.

Early Kingdoms and Rulers

Around the 11th century, the Pala dynasty ruled this area. They were powerful kings with a well-organized government.
Later, in the 14th century, the region was controlled by feudal lords called the Baro-Bhuyan. These were local chiefs who ruled their own lands but were loyal to a bigger king.

Ahom and Mughal Times

In the 16th century, the Ahoms took over the eastern part of the district. They were a strong kingdom in Assam.
The Ahoms even fought against the Mughals, a very powerful empire in India, and won battles near the Kameng River.
The Koch kingdom also grew very large around this time. The Koch king, Nara Narayan, even made the Ahoms pay him tribute (a payment to show loyalty).
Over time, different parts of Sonitpur were controlled by the Koch kingdom and the Ahom kingdom. The Kameng River often marked the border between them.
Many wars happened between the Ahoms and the Mughals. In 1637, the entire Sonitpur area came under Ahom control.

British Rule and Changes

In the late 1700s, there was a big rebellion called the Moamoria rebellion that caused a lot of chaos.
The British, who were gaining power in India, sent forces to help the Ahom kings.
Later, in 1818, the Burmese invaded Assam, causing much destruction.
Finally, in 1826, the British defeated the Burmese in the first Anglo-Burmese War. Sonitpur, along with the rest of Assam, then came under British control.
In 1833, Sonitpur became part of the Darrang district, and Tezpur became its capital in 1835.
The British started growing tea in the district. They brought many workers from other parts of India, especially the Chota Nagpur plateau, to work on these tea plantations.

The Dooars Region

Sonitpur district is part of an area known as the Dooars. This region is located between the Bornadi River and Dhansiri River.

Trade with Tibet

Long ago, the rulers of this area, then called Darrang, used to pay tribute to a ruler in Thembang (now in Arunachal Pradesh).
The Koriapar Dooar, which is in Sonitpur district, was an important trading spot between Assam and Tibet.
Tibetan officials would oversee the local chiefs, and goods were traded between the two regions.

How Sonitpur is Managed

Sonitpur district is managed from its headquarters in Tezpur. Here are some facts about its administration:

It has 26 smaller areas called Mouzas.
There are 17 Community Development Blocks.
The district has 11 Police Stations.
There are 158 local village councils called Gaon Panchayats.
Sonitpur has 1615 villages.
It has 6 towns, including Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, Rangapara, and Jamugurihat.

Sonitpur's Geography

Sonitpur district is located in the plains, with the Himalayas foothills to its north and the Brahmaputra river forming its southern border. It used to be the second-largest district in Assam.

Rivers and Waterways

Besides the mighty Brahmaputra river, other important rivers in the district include the Jiabharali, Gabharu, Borgang, and Buroi. These rivers flow from the north into the Brahmaputra.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Sonitpur District is a wonderful place for nature and wildlife!

Nameri National Park: This park was created in 1998 and covers about 200 square kilometers. It's in the northern part of the district.
Orang National Park: Sonitpur shares this park with Darrang district. It was established in 1999 and is about 79 square kilometers.
The district is also home to two wildlife sanctuaries: Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
There are also large registered forests like Behali RF, Naduar RF, and Charduar RF.

Climate of Sonitpur

Sonitpur district has a hot and wet climate, like a tropical rainforest.

Summers are hot and humid, with an average temperature of about 27°C.
The district gets a lot of rain, often more than 3,000 millimeters (about 9 feet) between January and June.
This heavy rainfall is both good and bad: it helps water the fields for farming, but it can also cause rivers to overflow and lead to floods.

Flora and Fauna: Plants and Animals

The forests in Sonitpur district are mostly semi-evergreen and moist deciduous, meaning many trees stay green all year or lose their leaves in the dry season. There are also bamboo forests and water plants in wet areas.

Some of the trees and plants you might find here include:

Aegle marmelos
Albizia procera
Alstonia scholaris
Bambusa balcooa (a type of bamboo)
Dipterocarpus macrocarpus
Shorea robusta (Sal tree)

People of Sonitpur

Sonitpur district is home to many different groups of people, making it a very diverse place. In 2011, the population was about 1,924,110 people.

Population Facts

The district is the third most populated in Assam.
About 10.86% of the people live in towns (urban areas).
For every 1000 males, there are about 950 females.
Around 69.96% of the people can read and write, which is called the literacy rate.

Religions in Sonitpur

Religions in Sonitpur district (2011)
Religion			Percent
Hinduism			69.27%
Islam			22.75%
Christianity			7.30%
Other or not stated			0.68%

The main religions in Sonitpur district are Hinduism and Islam.

About 69.27% of the people are Hindus.
About 22.75% are Muslims.
Around 7.30% are Christians.
Smaller numbers of people follow Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Languages Spoken in Sonitpur

Languages in Sonitpur district (2011) Assamese (37.01%) Bengali (19.27%) Sadri (12.52%) Boro (8.93%) Nepali (6.63%) Hindi (3.79%) Odia (2.54%) Mundari (1.98%) Others (7.33%)

Many different languages are spoken in Sonitpur, showing its rich mix of cultures.

About 37% of the people speak Assamese.
About 19% speak Bengali.
About 12.5% speak Sadri.
Other languages include Boro, Nepali, Hindi, Odia, and Mundari.

Different Communities

Many communities have lived in Assam for a very long time, like the Assamese Brahmins, Koch Rajbongshis, Ahoms, Karbis, Misings, and Bodos. They make up about 46% of the population.
Bengali Speakers: Many Bengali-speaking Hindus came from Bangladesh during the British rule and after India's partition. They often work in government or the tea industry. Most of them also speak Assamese. There are also many Bengali-speaking Muslims who have lived in the district for a long time.
Tea Garden Communities (Adivasis): These communities are the third largest group. Their ancestors were brought from central India to work on tea plantations. They mostly speak Sadri, which is a dialect of Hindi, and also speak Assamese. Some still speak their original languages like Mundari.

Famous People from Sonitpur

Sonitpur district has been the home of many talented and important people:

Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (1903-1951): A famous writer, poet, songwriter, and filmmaker.
Kamalakanta Bhattacharya: An Assamese writer and poet.
Ankushita Boro: A well-known boxer.
Jamuna Boro: Another famous boxer.
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika: A very popular singer, poet, and filmmaker.
Bishnu Prasad Rabha (1909–69): Someone who worked hard to promote Assamese culture.
Phani Sarma (1909–70): A famous actor, playwright, and director in theatre and film.

Getting Around Sonitpur

Major Railway Stations: You can find railway stations at Dekargaon, Rangapara, and Biswanath Chariali.
Nearest Airport: The closest airport is Salonibari Airport in Tezpur.
Bus Stand: The main bus stand for the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) is in the middle of Tezpur town.