Sonitpur District is a land of natural beauty, ancient monuments, and rich cultural heritage. It is spread over an area of 5,225 sq km on the north bank of the
Brahmaputra. The name 'Sonitpur' literally means 'the city of blood.' It is bounded by
Arunachal Pradesh in the north,
Lakhimpur District in the east and
Darrang District in the west. Sonitpur, located between the mighty Brahmaputra and the
Himalayan foothills of Arunachal Pradesh, is largely plain with some hills.
Brahmaputra forms the southern boundary of Sonitpur. A number of rivers originating from the Himalayan foothills flow southwards and ultimately fall in the river Brahmaputra. There are many river islands in Brahmaputra, known as 'chars' in local parlance. They are generally sandy and large enough for habitation and cultivation. Rowmari, Dighali, Borsola, Rongapani, and Dhandi are the main lakes in Sonitpur. The plains of the central and southern are dotted with hills and hillocks, especially near the Brahmaputra River.
The economy is based on agriculture - approximately 80 percent of the population depend on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Paddy, jute, sugarcane, tea, pulses and mustard are the major crops. Tobacco, potato, vegetables, and fruits such as banana, pineapples, oranges, and mangoes are the minor crops grown. Sonitpur has a favorable soil and climate for the cultivation of various horticultural crops. There are also a large number of tea gardens.
Sonitpur District has a population of about 1.6 million. The majority of the people follow Hindu religion. There are also followers of Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism.
Tezpur is an important tourist destination with beautiful parks, temples and ancient monuments. It is a serene town, famous for its beautiful parks, ancient Hindu temples and archaeological ruins steeped in mythology, legend and folklore. Cole Park, Agnigarh,
Padum Pukhuri,
Ouguri hill,
Trimurty Udyan,
Bamuni Hills,
Mahabhairab Temple, and
Nameri National Park are the main tourist destinations.
