Backpacking to Find Thai People in Tinsukia, Assam, India

Backpacking to Find Thai People in Tinsukia, Assam, India

Hello, I ammr.hotsiaToday I would like to share my backpacking experience searching for Thai people in Tinsukia, Assam, India, where Thai identity still remains and blends impressively with the lifestyle of the Assamese people.

Tinsukia is a city located 480 kilometers from Guwahati, Assam, and about 84 kilometers from Arunachal Pradesh. My journey to this city started by taking a bus from Margherita, a small town I previously explored and wrote about (read atBackpacking to Find Thai People in Margherita, Assam, India)

Tinsukia looks much more modern compared to other cities in Assam, with shopping malls and new buildings continuously emerging. However, what remains prominent is the tea town lifestyle, with extensive tea plantations, and agricultural products like oranges, ginger, various fruits, and rice that locals still proudly cultivate.

Accommodation and Transportation in Tinsukia

For accommodation, I did not book in advance but used Google Maps to check hotel names in the city center and chose Hotel Center Point because of its excellent location next to the central market, convenient transportation, safety, and a variety of nearby restaurants. The hotel is also adjacent to a shopping mall, allowing me to relax and stroll comfortably after a long day.

I stayed here for three nights, which was enough to get to know Tinsukia deeply and to search for the Tai Phake Thai community living in Assam.

Experience the Assamese Lifestyle and Local Markets

While in the city, I spent evenings walking along pedestrian streets and local markets. The city center was full of vibrant people speaking both Hindi and the local Assamese language, which is commonly used in the state.

The markets here offered fresh produce, native fruits, and local dishes worth trying, such as spicy curry, herb-infused rice, and sweets made from local fruits. I tried food at a small roadside stall, which was delicious and rich in flavor—an experience unlike anywhere else in India.

Searching for Thai People in the Tai Phake Village

After gathering information and talking with locals in Tinsukia, I arranged through the hotel to hire a car to Tai Phake Village (Lower Tai Phake), a Thai community in India that still strongly preserves its culture and language.

The village is located in Chaipura subdistrict, not far from Tinsukia. The trip took about an hour, and the car arranged through the hotel made the journey much more convenient and safe.

Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the Tai Phake people. I stayed overnight and had the opportunity to share meals with a Thai family in India. Impressively, their kitchen was filled with the aroma of herbs and spices blending Thai and Indian cultures perfectly.

Women in the village still wear traditional Thai patterned sinh skirts, while men wear sarongs or Burmese-style loincloths. This rare and impressive sight accompanied stories of the Tai Phake migration, with a long history deeply connected to Assam (read more about the Tai Phake people atBackpacking to Find Tai Phake, Assam, India)

Connections with Other Cities in Assam

Tinsukia is located in Assam, a region I have traveled to many times. Along the route from Guwahati, the largest capital city of the state (read about Guwahati atBackpacking in Guwahati, Assam, India) to Margherita and Dibrugarh, the industrial center and major tea city of Assam (follow the story atBackpacking in Dibrugarh, Assam, India)

), each city has its unique charm. Tinsukia itself is an important hub that helped me understand the lifestyle of Assamese people and various ethnic groups in the region deeply.

Summary of Experience and Recommendations

This trip bymr.hotsiato Tinsukia was one of the most memorable. Finding Thai people in India and living with them in the Tai Phake village was an unforgettable achievement.

For travelers interested, I recommend staying in central Tinsukia at a good location like Hotel Center Point for convenience and safety. Don’t forget to explore the local markets to experience the real atmosphere of Assamese life.

Arranging a hired car through the hotel makes traveling to Tai Phake village much safer and more convenient, as some routes in this region are still challenging for general tourists.

Finally, for those wanting to know Assam more deeply, I recommend reading my other articles aboutBackpacking in Assam, Indiaand surrounding cities to plan a more complete and exciting trip.

This journey in Northeast India helped me understand cultural diversity and the strength of the Thai community that still proudly preserves its roots. All these are memories thatmr.hotsiawants to share so everyone can know and experience for themselves.