Oil Town Of Assam, India- DIGBOI

Before relocating to Kuwait, we resided at Duliajan, a famous oil town of Assam,India. It is the headquarters of Oil India Limited. Once we planned to spend the weekend in our neighboring town Digboi which is regarded as the oil town of Assam. I waited with anticipation and excitedness for the weekend and finally the day arrived. It was a Friday and we had decided to drive in the evening from our Duliajan to Digboi. It’s approximately 28 km from Duliajan and took us one hour. I was lost in the scenic beauty as my husband maneuvered our little car through the tea gardens, coal fields and the refinery. Finally we arrived at the old town of Digboi. It was my first visit and so I was totally spell bound by the natural beauty and the history of the town.

As we drove, my husband informs me that Digboi has the oldest operating and second oldest oil field in the world. Oil was struck long before it was found in Middle East. Along with the coal mines and tea estates it is richest area in entire North East. According to stories it was an elephant with oil on its feet that led men engaged in laying railway tracks near Digboi to where the oil was. That coupled with endeavor from Mr Goodenough of Mckillop Stewart and Co. culminated in the first successful mechanically drilled oil well in Asia at Nahorpung near Digboi in 1867.According to legend it was Goodenough’s excited and inspiring urge to his men to “dig boy,dig” that gave this picturesque town its name.

Built by the British it has the same colonial look. Its clean, tree lined streets, spacious bungalows surrounded by fragrant gardens, lawns and playgrounds make it unique. Life here is aristocracy as oil executives spend time in the Digboi Club and plays golf in its world class golf course with 18 holes. It would not be wrong to call Digboi a Golfing Resort with nearly eight golf courses within its vicinity ,each with its individual character and challenges.

Next day after breakfast at AOD guest house we visited the Digboi oil field which houses an oil museum . The trip to the oil field was stimulating and informative. Then we visited the museum which was another unforgettable experience. The history of the town with the development in the oil sector was nicely displayed. Also cars, railway engines used during that period were displayed.

We then proceeded to the War Cemetery where hundreds of Japanese soldiers of Second World War period, remained buried in a far strange land, far away from home. We spent the rest of the day amidst verdigris green tea plantations. With a landscape and climate of a hill station and brimming with flowers of all types, this town is paradise on earth.

Next day early morning we had a panoramic and breathtaking view of the town from the famous Ridge Hill Point. If lucky enough, on clear days one can see the snow covered mountains of the eastern Himalayas.

Before driving back home, we took a drive down the historic Stillwell Road, formerly known as Ledo Road, connecting Ledo near Digboi to Kunming in China. This legendary road built by British general Stillwell used to be the lifeline of the Allied Forces during Second World War lies unused now.

Digboi is now headquarter of Assam Oil Division of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. The nearest airport of Dibrugarh is 65km and Tinsukia is its nearest rail head. Delux buses ply regularly from Digboi to different places of Assam.

India is really unique and matchless as even small towns in remote areas of the country have a uniqueness, identity, history and beauty that are beyond compare.