Dima Hasao is an autonomous district located in the southern part of the Indian state of Assam. The district forms part of the hill region of Assam and is administered by the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Its administrative headquarters is at Haflong, the only hill station in Assam.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| State | Assam |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Haflong |
| Region | Barak Valley / Hill districts of Assam |
| Administration | Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (Sixth Schedule) |
| Earlier name | North Cachar Hills district |
The district was historically known as the North Cachar Hills district. It was renamed Dima Hasao in 2010, the new name reflecting the heritage of the Dimasa community, for whom "Dima Hasao" translates approximately to "Dimasa hills". The region has long been associated with the Dimasa Kachari kingdom, which once held sway over parts of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys with capitals at sites such as Dimapur and later Maibang, located within the present district.
Dima Hasao is characterised by hilly terrain, dense forests, and rivers cutting through narrow valleys. It shares borders with the districts of Karbi Anglong to the north, Cachar to the south, Hojai and Nagaon to the west, and the state of Nagaland to the east, with Manipur lying to the south-east. The district contains parts of the Barail Range and is drained by rivers including the Kopili, Diyung, and Mahur.
Owing to its elevation, Haflong and surrounding areas enjoy a comparatively cooler climate than the plains of Assam. The district is rich in biodiversity and includes wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forest areas.
The district is administered through a dual structure: the office of the Deputy Commissioner under the Government of Assam handles regulatory functions, while the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council exercises legislative and executive powers over specified subjects under the Sixth Schedule. The Council's headquarters is at Haflong, and it is composed of elected members from constituencies across the district along with nominated members.
The district has a diverse ethnic composition. Communities resident in Dima Hasao include the Dimasa, Zeme Naga, Hmar, Kuki, Biate, Khelma, Hrangkhol, Karbi, Jaintia, and Bengali populations, alongside speakers of Assamese and Nepali. This diversity is reflected in the district's languages, festivals, and traditional attire. Major festivals observed include Bushu Dima of the Dimasas, Hangseu Manlainum and other community celebrations.
The economy is largely agrarian, with jhum (shifting) cultivation practised in many areas alongside settled cultivation of rice, ginger, oranges, pineapple, and other horticultural produce. Forestry, small-scale trade, and tourism centred on Haflong contribute additionally to local livelihoods.
The district is connected to the rest of Assam by National Highway 27 and by the Lumding–Badarpur railway line, a section originally built as a metre-gauge line and later converted to broad gauge. Lumding–Silchar trains pass through Haflong, including the well-known Hill Section that traverses tunnels and bridges across the Barail hills.