North Cachar Hills district General information
North Cachar Hills is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located at Haflong. The district occupies an area of 4888 km² and has a population of 186,189 (as of 2001).
History
N.C.Hills district was a part of Kachari Kingdom before 1832. The kingdom was extended from Jamuna in the North to the foot-hills of Lushai Hills in the south & from the Kopili in the west to the Angami & Katcha Naga hills beyond the Dhansiri in the east. The Dimasa Kachari kings had their Capitals successively at Dimapur, Maibang, Kashpur & lastly at Horitikor ( Karimganj district near Badarpur ). In 1830, the Dimasa king Gobinda Chandra was assasinated by his own general Gambhir Singh, after that the British annexed the southern part of the kingdom on 14th August 1832 under the doctrine of Lapsi. The rest was ruled by last Dimasa General Tularam. In 1837 a portion of Tularam’s kingdom was further annexed to the British Empire & constituted into a sub-division of Nagaon district in 1837 with Head quarter at Asalu. In 1854, on the death of Tularam, the remaining portion of his kingdom was finally annexed to the British Empire & added to the Asalu sub-division.
In 1867 this sub-division was abolished & apportioned into three parts among the districts Cachar, Khasi & Jaintia Hills & Nagaon. The present North Cachar Hills district was included in the old Cachar district with Asalu being only police outpost. In 1880, this portion was constituted into a sub-division with Head quarters at Gunjung under Cachar district.
This head quarter was shifted to Haflong in 1895. Since then Haflong continues to be the Head quarter. In 1951, after commencement of the constitution of India, North Cachar Hills as specified under paragraph 20 of the sixth schedule to the constitution, ceased to be a part of Cachar district. This part along with Mikir Hills constituted a new civil district namely “ United district of North Cachar & Mikir Hills” with effect from 17th November, 1951. According to the provision of sixth schedule, two different councils were constituted later on, viz., North Cachar Hills District Council & Mikir Hills District Council within the geographical boundary of that district. N.C.Hills District Council was inaugurated on 19th April, 1952. In 2nd February, 1970, Government declared an independent administrative district, viz., North Cachar Hills District with the geographical boundary of autonomous North Cachar Hills district council. It may be mentioned here that at present this autonomous council possesses administrative control over almost all departments of the district except Law & order, Administration & Treasury Deptt.
Physical
The North Cachar Hills district is situated at southern part of Assam & is bounded by Nagaland & Manipur state in the east, Cachar district of Assam in the south, Meghalaya state & the part of Karbi-Anglong district in the west & another part of karbi-Anglong & Nagaon district in the north.
Latitude : Between 25o 3/ N and 25o 47/ N.
Longitude : Between 92o 37/ E and 93o 17/ E.
Altitude : (a) Eastern Region :- 600-900 metres
(b) Northern Region :- 1000-1866 metres.
Geographical Area : 4890 Sq. k.m..
Railway Area : 133.25 k.m.
Hills
The major portion of the district is covered by hills. The main range is Borail of which " Thumjang" is the highest peak at 1866 metres & Hempeupet is the 2nd highest peak at 1748 metre. The other main range is Khartheng range from Dittokcherra to Garampani .
Rivers
The main rivers are Kapili, Dehangi, Diyung, Jatinga, Jenam, Mahur, Langting etc, of these Diyung river is the longest river having the length of 240 k.m. Almost all rivers originate from Borail.
Climate
Rainfall is heavy during the months from May to September, but it is not evenly distributed throughout the district. Climate condition is also not uniform. rainfall in Borail range is heaviest. Annual average in this range varies from 2200 mm to 2700 mm while in the Langting- Manderdisa-Diyungmukh area it receives much less rain( i.e., from 1200 mm. to 1800 mm.).
The average mean maximum temperature varies from 24o C to 30o C. The average mean minimum temperature varies from 10o C to 14o C .
The average relative humidity varies from 73% to 84%.
Types of Forest & its area : The areas covered by forest in the District is as shown below :
1. Langting Mupa Reserve Forest : 497.55 Sq. k.m.
2. Krungming Reserve Forest : 124.42 Sq. k.m.
3. Barail Reserve Forest : 89.93 Sq. k.m.
4.Unclassed State Forest : 3854.00 Sq. k.m.
5. Hatikhali Proposed Reserve Forest : 18.06 Sq. k.m.
6. Panimur Proposed Reserve Forest : 28.70 Sq. k.m.
7. Barail Proposed Reserve Forest : 17.60 Sq. k.m.
Wild life
Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Barking Deer, Screw Hollock, Gibbons, Black Bear, Wild dog, Wild Buffalo, Mithun etc are the main inhabitants of the hill ecosystem. The varieties of birds, snakes, tortoise & other reptiles, etc too, enrich the hills biodiversities.
Minerals
Lime stone & coal in small quantity are found in the neighbourhood of garampani . Carbonaceous shale is available in Baga area. Good quality of lime stone low in magnesea & suitable for cement manufacturing is also available.
Tourist Places
HAFLONG: Up in the rugged terrains stands Assam’s only hill station Haflong, where one can see the rainbow down below. It is the Dist. Head Qr. of N.C.Hills District. The hills emerge from the heart of Assam like chorus of silent hymns & rise up to the sky like the crescendo. The sportive clouds play around the cliffs like gleeful children. The limitless green rolls away to distant horizon in a beautiful rhythm. Hilly Assam is a land of sensuousness. A heaven to the senses where one touches the sweetest dream with one’s finger. The mountains float in the distant sky. The clouds descend & snugly lie below one’s feet.
JATINGA: Just 9 kms from Haflong. World wide famous for bird mystery (Birds Harakiri). The migratory birds come during the months August to November & it becomes the ornithologist's attraction. From the elevated watch tower one can see them yielding to their death wish & their little plumage dropping down.
MAIBANG: of the river Mahur and 53 kms from Haflong. Maibang once flourished as the capital of Dimasa, kachari Kingdom. Stone house & temple of Kachari king & other ruins of the kingdom are the main attractions of the place.
UMRANGSO: 112 km from Haflong & 224 kms from Guwahati .The huge Hydel plant has come up under North East electric Power Corporation(NEEPCO) with dams in the Kopili river. Near Umrangso, there is a Hot spring( GARAMPANI),the water of which is believed to have medicinal value.
PANIMOOR: 120 kms away from Haflong, & 8-10 kms from Haflong Tiniali,The Kopili River turns into a thrilling waterfall, rolling over the rocks of Panimoor.