Sivasagar

Sivasagar, also spelled Sibsagar, is a district in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. The district headquarters is the town of Sivasagar, located in upper Assam.

Historically, Sivasagar was the heart of the Ahom kingdom, which ruled the region from the 16th to the early 19th century. The Ahoms established the capital at Rangpur, near present-day Sivasagar, and built a number of monuments that survive as major historical sites. Notable structures include Rang Ghar, an early example of an amphitheatre-style palace; Talatal Ghar, with its underground passages; and brick temples around the Joysagar Tank. The Joysagar Tank itself, created by King Rudra Singha in the late 17th century to commemorate a victory, is one of Asia's largest artificial lakes and is fringed by temples and shrines.

Geographically, the district lies in the Brahmaputra valley in upper Assam and is traversed by rivers such as the Dikhow and Burhi Dihing. It is also known for Vaishnavite monasteries called satras, including the Sivasagar Satra, and religious monuments surrounding the tank area, such as Sivadol (Shiva temple), Vishnu Dol, and Devidol.

Economy centers on agriculture, with tea and horticulture playing important roles; tourism draws visitors to its monuments and lakes. The population includes Assamese-speaking communities and several other ethnic and linguistic groups, reflecting Assam's diversity.