Kamrup district

Kamrup district occupies an area of 4,345 square kilometres (1,678 sq mi),[1] comparatively equivalent to Australia's Kangaroo Island.[2] Kamrup district has some territorial disputes with neighbouring West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, including that over the village of Langpih.[3]

In the immediate neighborhood of the Brahmaputra, the land is low and exposed to annual inundation. In this marshy tract reeds and canes flourish luxuriantly, and the only cultivation is that of rice. At a comparatively short distance from the river banks the ground begins to rise in undulating knolls towards the mountains of Bhutan on the north, and towards the Khasi hills on the south. The hills south of the Brahmaputra in some parts reach the height of 800 feet (240 m). The Brahmaputra, which divides the district into two nearly equal portions, is navigable by river steamers throughout the year, and receives several tributaries navigable by large native boats in the rainy season. The chief of these are the Manas, Chaul Khoya and Barnadi on the north, and the Kulsi and Dibru on the south bank.[4]

In 1989 Kamrup district became home to the Dipor Bil Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 4.1 km² (1.6 sq mi).[5] There is also a plantation where seedlings of teak, sal, sissu, sum, and nahor are reared, and experiments are being made with the caoutchouc tree.[4]

Kamrup is home to one of the few large colonies of greater adjutant storks still in existence. The villagers previously regarded the birds as pests, but outreach efforts including cultural and religious programming, especially aimed at local women, have rallied Kamrup residents to be proud of and protect the storks.[6]

According to the 2011 census Kamrup district has a population of 1,517,542,[7] roughly equal to the West African country of Gabon[8] or the US state of Hawaii.[9] This gives it a ranking of 327th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of 436 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,130/sq mi) .[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 15.67%.[7] Kamrup has a sex ratio of 946 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 72.81%.[7]

The religious composition of the district includes Hinduism (877,495) 57.82% majority, second most popular is Islam numbering (601,784) constituting 39.66% of the region and rest 2.52% include others religions like Sikhism , Christianity , Buddhism, Jainism and indigenous tribal religions according to census 2011 report. The district has people belonging to various indigenous Assamese communities like Keots/Kaibarta, Bodo, Rabha, Tiwa/Lalung, Amri Karbi, Dom/Nadiyal, Koch-Rajbongshi etc.

Hayagriha Madhava Temple

The district has followers of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Animism. The ancient temples of Kamakhya and Hajo attracts many pilgrims from all quarters.[4] The people of Kamrup also donated a sacred Arya Avalokiteśvara statue to Stakna Monastery in Ladakh.[11]

Major language spoken natively is Kamrupi dialect of Assamese with pockets of Amri, a language related with Karbi, with 1,25,000 speakers;[12] Tiwa (Lalung) and A'Tong, also spoken by 10,000 people, found mostly in southern parts bordering Meghalaya. All the indigenous Assamese communities use the Assamese language to communicate with other indigenous Assamese communities.[13] According to the 2011 census, 74.43% of the population spoke Assamese, 19.92% Bengali, 1.86% Garo, 1.41% Boro and 1.17% Hindi as their first language.[7]