Silchar

Silchar (Xilsôr) is the headquarters of Cachar district in the state of Assam in India. It is the economic gateway to the state of Mizoram and part of Manipur. This makes it commercially important and has led to settlement of a considerable population of traders from distant parts of India.

It is also relatively peaceful amidst ethnic violence in the Northeast. A large number of people originally from East Bengal, (now Bangladesh) mostly from Sylhet and Barisal, have also settled here. A large part of Bangla-speaking professionals from the northeastern states also have settled here. Silchar is situated by the banks of the Barak River in what is popularly known as Barak Valley.

Rice is the staple cereal. Fish is also available. Shuţki (the local name for dried fish) tôrkari and shidal chutney are local delicacies.

It has a well-known undergraduate college named Guru Charan College, National Institutes of Technology (formerly Regional Engineering College, Silchar), Silchar Medical College, Law College, Silchar Polytechnic and the reputed Assam University, besides it has other prominent educational institutions that have provided better opportunities for the students. It is well connected by rail, road and air. Regular flights from Kolkata to Silchar connect the town to the country.

In recent years a large number of Silchar people, mostly students, software proffessionals, engineers and technologists have migrated to other parts of India and also US and Canada.

In the 1850’s British tea planters discovered the game Polo in Manipur on the Burmese border with India. The first polo club in the world was formed by them at Silchar, west of Manipur. Other clubs followed and, today, the oldest in the world is the Calcutta Club, founded in 1862.

Recently the town became famous when the whole of North East and Silchar rallied to vote a local contestant to win a popular talent contest ( Saregamapa Challenege 2005 ) and emerge as India's voice.

Silchar on the web Silchar online 24°49′N 92°48′E