Assam Gets Its First Pocket Travel Guide

Guwahati, Feb 2 : Assam can now boast of its own official pocket travel guide book. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, along with state forest and tourism minister Rockybul Hussain, unveiled the pocket travel guide at a function in Guwahati. Assam Travel Guide', edited by Swati Mitra, has been published by Eicher Good Earth Private Limited ( New Delhi) and is supported by the state tourism department. Eicher Good Earth has also published travel guides on Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Himachal Pradesh earlier.

Gogoi and Hussain applauded the effort of the Assam tourism department in bringing this book to the public. "The state has seen more than 15,000 foreign tourists recently and this travel guide book is going to boost the number further," said the tourism minister.

The guide, which has tried to touch upon almost all the tourist hotspots of Assam, has a unique design and features attractive images reflective of the diversity of the land. "The state has much to offer to the world.

From wildlife to food, we have tried to assemble the varied aspects of Assam in a nutshell. We have included all the travel destinations, district-wise.

The guide is comprehensive and takes in some brilliant photographs of the scenic beauty of Assam. This book is sure to attract the attention of one and all. It is a much-touted project for the state tourism department and is expected to increase tourist flow," said Monalisa Goswami, director, Assam Tourism. The travel guide also includes information on the cuisines and cultural variety of the state, along with various other important details.

Assam Tourism is going to distribute the travel guide to all the major public places in the country for sale. "We will distribute the guide book to all the state tourist information centres across India and are thinking of sending it abroad as well.

Recently, Jet Airways has tied up with us, and we will also ask them to showcase the book on board," she added. The tourist guide will also be available on stands at railway platforms and bus terminuses across the nation for sale.

Roman Sarma, an advocate at Gauhati High Court who contributed inputs for the Assamese cuisines section in the travel guide, stressed on the need to distribute the book well. "This book should reach more people to enhance tourism in the state.

Everyone from corporate houses to educational institutes should be on the distribution list so that we can tap all sections of society. Though this book should have been published long ago, it's good that it's finally been done and is surely going to help the tourism industry of Assam," said Sarma.