CHANDUBI LAKE, ASSAM.

 Disaster Created A Mighty Natural Beauty:

                At the foot of "Garo Hills" surrounded by both the states of "Meghalaya" & "Assam", a beautiful natural lake is situated which was in turn is born from a massive "Earthquake". This place is located just "65 KM" from the metro - city of "Guwahati, Assam". 

                This place is blessed with rich "flora" & "fauna" surrounded by deep forests, small local villages & mesmerizing tea gardens. "Chandubi Lake"  as the name suggests, is considered an ideal spot for natural sight - seeing & picnics specially during the winter season.

                    Reportedly, this place came into being on 12th of June, 1897 as an outcome of a devastating & destructive earthquake. "Chandubi Lake" covers a total of "2000 hectors" of land. The lake is bestowed with scenic natural beauty.

                    The chief feature of this place is it's "natural lagoon" that has been formed. Opportunities of fishing is also allowed to some extent to the visitors. The administrators of the place have also provided provisions of boating or rowing within the lake premises. 

                The "Chandubi Lake" is home to a large number of aquatic plants & it also attracts sizable amount of migratory birds during the winter season every year. 

                In the first week of January, there is an auspicious festival named as "The Chandubi Festival" which is celebrated by many village people who perform their traditional cultural dance forms to entertain the tourists, also, stalls serving the best "traditional foods" of "Assam" are to be found here during this time. 

                    The banks of the "Chandubi Lake" was surrounded with "Sal Trees" many years ago but gradually these trees began disappearing as it has high demand in the market. The local villagers & forest dwellers are intimately concerned about the nature & have started protecting these quickly disappearing trees (remaining Sal trees).

                    It is very unfortunate to note that the tectonic "beel" (lake) is reportedly witnessing gradual decrease of water every year. The climate here is moderate & humid with rainfall mostly during the "monsoon season" (month of May - September) every year. 

HISTORY:

                    The "Khasis" of "Meghalaya" previously used to perform religious rituals in the honor of "Chan - Ubleis" (ubei gods) near a "Dubi" (water body) & the lake was formerly known as "Chan - Ubei - Dubi". Later, the local "Rabha - Kachari" tribes of Assam started to refer the lake as only "Chandubi".

                    There was also a very famous legendary merchant named "Chanda Sadagar". It is believed that he used this lake as a transit point & went up through the "Kulsi River" with his merchandise to the bordering "Meghalaya". The lake also at one point of time was famously known by the name he kept that is "Dubi".

                

                This place also was mesmerized by a "British Officer" who once came to the lake to enjoy sunset. Hence, he described the lake as "Dub - Joa" in the "Assamese" language. 

                Though there are many other stories associated with the origin of the name of this place. Yet, the first story mentioned above is believed to be more appropriate. 

How to reach -

The nearest airport to Chandubi Lake from any part of the country is Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar which is about 20 Km away from the lake. Also, Railway connectivity from many major cities of India are easily accessible to Guwahati. This place can also be reached through busses or private/public cars completing a distance of 65 KM from the city of Guwahati.

By: Dipanjana Deb (deb28.dipanjana@gmail.com)