barpeta

One of the largest cities in Western Assam, 98 kilometers northwest of Guwahati, Barpeta is the administrative headquarters of the Barpeta region known as the 'Land of Satras'. The village in the local language is called 'Satra Nagari' or 'city of temples' because it is home to many Vaishnavite Satras. The name Barpeta is derived from 'Bar' which means big and 'Peta' meaning pool. Thus, as the name implies, Barpeta translates into a land with large lakes. Many Satras in Barpeta have evidence of the teachings and work of Assamese scholar Srimanta Sankardeva and his student Shri Madhavdeva. These Satras have established themselves as centers of education and culture that influence the way of life of the people who live near them. During the Hindu festival of Holi, many devotees flocked to the region, especially to the city of Barpeta itself, to see Doul Mahotsav and celebrate the teachings of Srimanta Sankardeva. Barpeta is also the gateway to the rich natural habitat of Manas National Park. One of the largest national parks in Assam and in central India, it gets its name from the river Manasseh, the canal. The park is primarily considered a leopard reserve but is also home to animals such as Hispid Hare, and Asian Elephants among others.