The history of this city would probably be of more interest to industrialists, US policymakers, and the car-owning Indian faced with the almost weekly bumps in fuel rates that are making public transport seem positively attractive. Digboi incidentally, was the first Indian city with an oil refinery, way back in 1901. While the powers that be of the current superpower may gnash their teeth in disappointment at their lack of imperial status and laidback lifestyle that eschewed invasions and the land of black gold turns green with envy at what they may have been spared had another target been so deliciously available, Digboi continues its existence unperturbed, no doubt secretly glad for having had and now lost all that oil.
Digboi can be traced to the early 18th century, when oil was first discovered here. It can proudly boast of two unique features – a 100-year-old extant oilfield and the world’s oldest operating oil refinery.
The city though has moved on and become a popular tourist sight, its oil refinery glory days of yore now relived through those repositories of culture and places of history: museums. With its British ambience, several clubs and golf courses nearby, its beautiful sights and of course, the Oil Refinery Museum, today Digboi is much more than an oil town – and all the better for it.
Sights to See
Saikhowa National Park, located 60km from Digboi, covers an area of 340 sq km. The park have seven parts, one of which is a wetland; the rest are mainly grassland and dense forest. Apart from the usual suspects of wildlife fauna – leopards, elephants, sambars, the Asiatic buffalos, capped langurs and Indian Wild dogs, some of the rare species found here are semi-wild (feral) horses, the clouded Leopard, white-winged wood ducks and the Gangetic Dolphin. More than 250 varieties of local and migratory birds are also found here.
National Oil Park, or the Digboi oil-field is not just an oil-field, but an oil museum and a wildlife sanctuary of unparalleled beauty. Here, you get to stand right next to the continent’s oldest oil well, the Discovery Well completed in 1889 AD. If you visit in the evening, you may bump into the four-legged visitors who frequent the spot – a herd of elephants or a royal Bengal Tiger, besides some rare winged wonders.
A town that largely minded its own business, Digboi too was not immune to some World War II drama: an incident related to this bloodiest of wars accounts for the most dramatic event in Digboi’s history. During this war, the belligerent Japanese got so close to then colonial India that they were within three days’ marching distance of Digboi. The War Cemetery here is to commemorate the lives that were lost in the battle fought while holding off the Japanese.
The Digboi Golf Course is an 18-hole course considered the best in the entire upper Assam, where all important tournaments are held. Additionally, there are eight other 9-hole courses interspersed with tea estates between Dibrugarh and Doom Dooma.
Excursions outside the city
Margherita, 14 km east of Digboi, is exactly not what it sounds like, a beautiful little town rife with scenic beauty, verdant greenery, whistling brooks and no tourism to speak of; makes for an ideal visit. Surrounded by hills, tea gardens, forest and the Dihing River, the town has a beautiful golf course at the foot of the hills and a small stream running through and it is a centre of tea gardens, plywood factories and coal mines. Be careful though; the lack of tourism is due to terrorism activities around the area. Check with security forces before visiting.
Namdapha National Park 100 km east of Digboi in Arunachal Pradesh beyond Margherita is a true wilderness – not widely known and is a vast stretch of enchanting beauty of lush green vegetation.
Getting There
By air
The nearest airport of Dibrugarh is 65 km from Digboi, with flights from Guwahati and other domestic airports in Assam flying in here. Hiring a taxi is the most convenient way to reach Digboi from the airport.
By rail
Tinsukia is nearest railhead, around 40 km from Digboi. It is connected by regular trains from Guwahati. From the station, you can catch a bus or hire a taxi to Digboi.
By road
The NH-38 runs through Digboi and connects the city to the capital. A/C and non A/C deluxe coaches ply regularly from Guwahati to Digboi both day and night.
Getting Around
Digboi has good commuting options inside the city. You will find taxis for hire along with regular bus service and auto rickshaws. There are both, state run and privately run buses in Digboi.