Biswanath is an administrative district in the northern part of the Indian state of Assam. It lies on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River and forms part of the wider Sonitpur region. The district headquarters is located at Biswanath Chariali.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Assam |
| Region | North Bank, Brahmaputra Valley |
| Headquarters | Biswanath Chariali |
| Parent district | Sonitpur (until 2015) |
| Formed | 2015 |
| Type | District |
Biswanath district was carved out of the larger Sonitpur district in 2015 as part of an administrative reorganisation by the Government of Assam intended to bring governance closer to the people in the north bank areas. The new district took its name from the historic town of Biswanath, long associated with the temple complex at Biswanath Ghat, sometimes referred to as Gupta Kashi for its cluster of Shiva shrines on the Brahmaputra.
The district is bounded broadly by the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh to the north and the Brahmaputra to the south. The terrain is largely alluvial plain, drained by tributaries of the Brahmaputra, and supports paddy cultivation along with extensive tea gardens that are characteristic of upper Assam's north bank belt. Parts of the district lie close to the Kaziranga National Park landscape across the river and to forest reserves on the north bank.
Biswanath is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is divided into revenue circles and development blocks for civil administration and rural development. Biswanath Chariali serves as the principal urban centre and the seat of district offices, courts, and the police superintendence. The district falls within the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court.
The district's economy is predominantly agrarian. Tea is a major commercial crop, with several established tea estates operating in the area. Paddy, mustard, and horticultural produce are also significant. Small-scale trade and services are concentrated in Biswanath Chariali and adjacent townships.
Biswanath Ghat, on the bank of the Brahmaputra, is the most prominent religious and heritage site in the district. The site features ruins and active temples linked to Shaivite worship, and draws pilgrims particularly during Shivaratri. The district shares the broader Assamese cultural fabric of the north bank, including Bihu festivities and Vaishnavite traditions associated with the legacy of Srimanta Sankardev.
Biswanath Chariali lies on National Highway 15 (the north bank trunk route), connecting it with Tezpur to the west and North Lakhimpur to the east. The town is served by a railway station on the Northeast Frontier Railway network.