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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
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{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Sadiya
| other_name              = 
| nickname                = Starting point of Assam
| settlement_type         = town
| image_skyline           = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| pushpin_map             = India Assam#India
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Assam, India
| coordinates             = {{coord|27.83|N|95.67|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Assam]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Tinsukia district|Tinsukia]]
| established_title       = <!-- Established -->
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
| government_type         = 
| governing_body          = 
| unit_pref               = Metric
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_rank               = 
| area_total_km2          = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 123
| population_total        = 
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| population_rank         = 
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = 
| population_footnotes    = 
| demographics_type1      = Languages
| demographics1_title1    = Official
| demographics1_info1     = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
| timezone1               = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1             = +5:30
| postal_code_type        = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code             = 786157
| registration_plate      =AS 23
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = 
}}
'''Sadiya''' is a town in  [[Tinsukia district]], [[Assam]], in [[India]].  It was the capital of the [[Chutia Kingdom]] but after the downfall of the kingdom, Prasengmung Borgohain was appointed as the Sadiya-khowa-Gohain of the [[Ahom kingdom]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Col Ved Prakash|p=912}}</ref>{{fcn|date=May 2025}} Extensive remains of buildings and fortifications built during the Chutia rule near Sadiya point to the importance of the region in the past. Historically Sadiya referred to the Chutiya kingdom which included at times the districts of [[Lakhimpur District|Lakhimpur]], [[Dhemaji district|Dhemaji]] and [[Tinsukia district|Tinsukia]]. It is claimed to be the center of development of the eastern Assamese dialects, the inscription here are written in a [[Tai languages|Tai]] script.{{sfn|Saikia|2004|p=6}} Its stands on a grassy plain, almost surrounded by forested [[Himalaya]]n [[mountain]]s, on the right bank of [[Lohit River]] which is locally (but erroneously) considered the main stream of the [[Brahmaputra river|Brahmaputra River]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=Sadiya |volume=23 |page=993 |inline=y}}</ref> The deepest point of the Brahmaputra River is located near this village. It is famous for a flower named ''satphul'' (the word means "blessing" or a "desert flower"), which is much like [[Jasmine]].

There are three possible routes from Sadiya to [[Tibet]].<ref>"From Sadiya there are three possible routes through the mountains into Tibet"{{harv|Kaulback|1934|p=177}}</ref> The first route is through the valley of [[Siang district|Dihang]] or Tsang Po. The second one through the  [[Dibang Valley district|Dibang]] valley and the third route through the [[Lohit district|Lohit]] valley which leads to [[Zayü County|Zayul]] province, the extreme south-eastern province of Tibet.{{sfn|Kaulback|1934|p=177}} It acted as a trade route which passed through the [[Shan people|Shan]] state of [[Mongkawng]] and then finally reaches to [[Yunnan]].<ref>{{harvcol|Laichen|2000|p=189}}</ref>

== Etymology ==

Historically, the region between the [[Lohit River]] and the [[Dibang River]] was known as ''Sadhayapura'' as per copper inscriptions. It is believed that ''Sadiya'' is a corrupted form of ''Sadhayapura''.<ref>"Furthermore, it is fairly certain from the dates available in the inscriptions that Nandin and Satyanārāyaṇa ruled Sadhayāpurī in the latter half of the fourteenth century, while Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa belonged to the beginning, and Dharmanārāyaṇa to the middle of the fifteenth century. It is also nearly clear that Sadhayāpurī (or Svadhayāpurī) mentioned in the inscriptions is the same as Sadhiyā or Sadiya of later times." {{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=52}}</ref>

== History ==
===Early history===
{{See also|Kingdom of Pong}}
According to the Tai chronicles Sam Long Hpa, the first [[Chao Pha|Sawbwa]] of [[Mongkawng]]  also called Mogaung with the capital in [[Mogaung]] conquered  Upper Assam (also known as ''[[Mueang|Mong]] Wehsali Long'') in 1220 then under the rule of the Chutia kings.<ref>{{harvcol|Gogoi|1956|pp=132–133}}</ref> The king agreed to pay tribute and Sam Long Hpa  marched back.

[[File:Mong Mao-the detail map.svg|thumb|left|Sadiya under  [[Mong Mao]] (yellow) ruler [[Si Kefa]] in 1360 CE]]

Some sources identify Sam Long Hpa to be the younger brother of [[Sukaphaa]] (Sao Hkan Hpa)<ref>{{harvcol|Gogoi|1956|pp=132–133}}</ref> or [[Si Kefa]].<ref>{{cite book |author=杨永生 主编 |chapter=思汉法王——思可法 |title=勐卯弄傣文史籍译注 |location=芒市 |publisher=德宏民族出版社 |year=2009 |isbn=978-7-80750-186-2 |ref=杨永生 }}</ref>
 
Based on inscription, it is assumed to be the capital of Chutiya king ''Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa'' of the early 15th-century.<ref>Based on an inscribed brick with the name of Śrīśrī-Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa, discovered from the ruins of the forts in Bhismaknagar, it is assumed that Chutiya king Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa of the early fifteenth century had his capital in the area. The paleographical analysis of the inscription supports this dating {{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=56}}</ref>

In 1524, the [[Mongkawng]] or Nora  king Phukloimung attacked Sadiya from what is today [[Myitkyina District]] of [[Myanmar]]  but was defeated and pushed back.<ref>"According to some Ahom buranjis, in 1524, the Nara king Phukloimung attacked Sadiya and was defeated. Thus, Mohnyin probably sent troops to invade Assam"{{harvcol|Laichen|2000|p=239}}</ref>

=== Under Ahoms ===
After annexing the Chutia kingdom by [[Suhungmung]] Dihingia Roja in 1524, this place came under the domain of the Ahoms and Prasengmung Borgohain was appointed as the governor of the territory or Sadiya Khowa Gohain in 1524. Domains of Sadiya Khowa Gohain included the rivers of [[Lohit River|Lohit]], Kundil, [[Dibang River|Dibang]], Dikhari and the places of Kankham, Bardeoliyagoan, Nangkoa and the hills of Doidam and Chandangiri. The Sadiya Khowa Gohain had to maintained relations with the [[Adi people|Adi]], [[Mishmi people|Mishmis]] and other hill tribes of the Sadiya frontier.

[[File:Serpent pillar, A commemorative pillar of Swarganarayan Suhunmung.jpg|100px|thumb|[[Sadiya Serpent Pillar]], an ancient octagonal stone pillar on which    Suhunmung (1497–1539) inscribed a few lines in [[Tai language]] of an agreement with the Mishmis to pay annual tribute]]

The headquarters of the Sadiya Khowa Gohain was at Kaicheng Goan where he constructed tanks and buildings, whose authority was extended to the river of Dihang on the west and river Tingrai in the east.

During the reign of [[Jayadhwaj Singha]], [[Mishing people|Miri]] villages who indulged in lawless activities were suppressed in 1665. Also a number of Miri villages were reduced by [[Gadadhar Singha]] in 1683. In 1697, a great earthquake  devastated Sadiya in which many hills were crumbled down.

In 1799, the [[Khamtis]] in league with the Phakials, Miris, Mishmis, Muluks, Khanghak, Pani Naras and [[Adi people|Abor]]s, created disturbance in Sadiya but were suppressed with harsh measures by  [[Purnananda Burhagohain]] and were widely dispersed. Khamtis after their suppression in 1799 remained subdued for a time.<ref>{{harvcol|Devi|1968|pp=190–191}}</ref>

In 1799, the [[Khamtis]] in league with the Phakials, Miris, Mishmis, Muluks, Khanghak, Pani Naras and Abors, created disturbance in Sadiya but were suppressed with harsh measures by  [[Purnananda Burhagohain]] and were widely dispersed. Khamtis after their suppression in 1799 remained subdued for a time.<ref>{{harvcol|Devi|1968|pp=190–191}}</ref>

During the Burmese invasion the Phakials which included Tai Khamti, [[Khamyang people|Tai Khamyang]], Tai Phakial, [[Turung people|Tai Turung]], [[Tai Aiton people|Tai Aiton]] were asked by the [[Royal Burmese armed forces|Burmese army]] to return to [[Mogaung]] in Burma.<ref>{{harvcol|(India)|1976|p=134}}</ref>

The [[Khamti people|Khamtis]] in allegiance with [[Jingpho|Singphos]], ousted the last Sadiya Khowa Gohain, Govinda Gohain in 1810–11. From 1811, the Khamti chief Chao Salan Gohain became the new Sadiya-Khowa Gohain and later assisted in the Burmese invasion of Assam and in 1835 when Chao Salan Gohain died, Chao Rang Pha succeeded the Sadiya-Khowa Gohainship till its annexation by the British in 1839.<ref>{{harvcol|Gogoi|2016|p=295}}</ref> British after their occupation of Assam in 1825, found that the Sadiya tract was entirely under Khamti control.<ref>{{harvcol|Devi|1968|p=191}}</ref>

=== British period === 
{{Main article|Colonial Assam}}
[[File:Sadiya college.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Sadia College.]]
Sadiya was the extreme north-east frontier station of [[British Raj]], in the Lakhimpur district of Eastern Bengal and Assam regions. On the opposite bank is a railway station that used to connect with the Assam-Bengal line of that era. Sadiya had been garrisoned by detachments of native infantry and military police, and was the base of a chain of outposts. There had a bazaar, to which the hill-men beyond the frontier—[[Mishmi people|Mishmi]]s, [[Adi people|Abors]], and [[Khamti people|Khamtis]]—used to bring down [[rubber]], [[wax]], [[ivory]], and [[musk]], to barter for [[cotton cloth]], [[salt]] and metal goods.<ref name="EB1911" />
In 1943–44 there was a [[United States Army Air Force]] (USAAF) field at Sadiya which hosted the 89th Fighter Squadron of the 80th Group, headquartered at Nagaghuli, now [[Chabua]] Air Base of the [[Indian Air Force]]. 
Sadiya today serves as one of the district headquarters for [[Indian Red Cross Society]].

In 1882 Francis Jack Needham was appointed Assistant Political Agent for the British authorities after having served in the region as an assistant Superintendent of Police since 1876. He finally retired from service in 1905 after spending his life exploring above the [[Brahmaputra river]] and writing a treatise on the grammar of [[Mishing language|Miri]], [[Singpho dialect|Singpho]], and [[Khamti language|Khamti]] languages. He was awarded the Gill memorial medal in 1887 and made a fellow of The [[Royal Geographical Society]] in 1889. His main purpose in life was exploration partly in order to try and discover the source of the Brahmaputra river. His award of the Gill memorial Medal and F.R.G.S. was for penetrating into the Zayul Valley and into [[Tibet]] from Assam.

== Architecture and ruins ==

The entire area of Sadiya was a well developed city in the medieval times. The ruins like Bhismaknagar, Rukmininagar, Tamreswari temple, Pratima garh, Bura-buri temple built during the Chutia period.

===Tamreswari (Kechai-Khati) Temple===
{{Main|Tamreswari Temple}}
[[File:Elephant statue in Tamreswari Temple.png|thumb|Sketch of an Elephant statue in Tamreswari Temple.]]
This was the most notable among the temples built by Chutia kings. The temple was dedicated to [[Kechai-Khati|Kechaikhati]] (literal meaning: ''eater-of-raw-flesh''), a primordial female tribal deity commonly found among other groups.<ref>[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/66509/5/05_chapter%201.pdf Kechai Khati worshipped by Bodo-kacharis]</ref><ref>[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/67118/10/10_chapter%206.pdf Rabhas worship Kechai-khati and celebrate the Kechai-khati festival once every year]</ref><ref>[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/116438/10/10_chapter%203.pdf Kechai-khati festival of Rabhas]</ref><ref>The [[Tiwa (Lalung)|Tiwas]], as well as the [[Koch dynasty|Koch]], also worshipped Kechai Kati. The Koch general Gohain Kamal built temples dedicated to Kesai Khati in Khaspur for the Dehans who were Tiwa and [[Mech people|Mech]] soldiers from Gobha, Nellie and Kabi.</ref><ref>"There is at Sadiya a shrine of ''Kechai Khaiti'' the tutelar deity of the Kacharis, which the [[Dimasa kingdom|Dimasa]] rulers continued to worship even after the establishment of their rule in Cachar." {{Harvcol|Bhattacharjee|1992|p=393}}</ref><ref>"The most famous temple of the Chutiyas was that of Kechaikhati, their primordial female deity...latter Sankritised as Tamreswari.{{harvcol|Dutta|1985|pp=49}}</ref> The other name for Kechaikhaiti is Pishasi meaning "''The Elder Daughter''".<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2023|p=71}}</ref> Scholars assert that ''Kesaikhaiti'' is equivalent to the [[Khamti people|Tai-Khamti]] female deity ''Nang Hoo Toungh''.<ref>"Towards the north of the Lohit River is the Nang Hoo Toungh territory. The third phi muang is, as the prefix "nang" (lady) indicates, a female divinity. The territory it is said to protect is more easily identifiable than that of the two-previous phi muangs. Nang Hoo Toungh is known in Assamese as Kesakhati ("person who eats raw meat")."{{harvcol|Laine|2019|pp=17–18}}</ref> The deity Pishasi or Kechaikhaiti is considered to be the daughter of Gira-Girasi and the younger sister of Pishadema.<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2023|p=71}}</ref>    The temple was taken care of by the tribal priest known as the [[Deori people|Deoris]]<ref>"In the case of Tamresvari Temple, the goddess was served by the Deoris"{{harvcol|Shin|2023|p=70}}</ref> and was worshipped  by the [[Dibongia|Borgaya]] Khel of the Deoris.<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2023|p=71}}</ref> When the British visited the temple complex, the main temples has disappeared and only a small square structure remained. The wall and doors of the temple were well designed with beautiful works. There were two giant elephant sculptures with silver tusks at the main door of the complex. The walls were made without any mortar and instead used iron dowels and brackets. The whole temple was surrounded with brick walls and on the western wall there was a place for human sacrifice. Although the temple is now completely submerged under marshy lands due to silt deposition in 1959, previous studies show that the main statues of the temple were built of sandstone and granite.
The stone inscription found in the temple reads:<ref>{{harvcol|Sircar|1973|p=21}}</ref>
{{Quote
|text=“Shiv-Charan-Prasadat Vridharajatan<br/>Ya-Sri-srimata-Mukta Dharmanarayana<br/>Shri shrimati Digaravasini Ichtaka<br/>Di-Virchit-Prakara-Nivaddha<br/>Krit Agrahainike Saka 1364”
|author=Tamreswari Wall inscription
}}
 
The inscription describes that the walls of the temple have been built by the son ''Mukta Dharmanarayan'' of the old king (name not specified) in the Saka year 1364 (1442 AD).

[[File:Statue in Tamreswari Temple.png|thumb|Sketch of a statue in Tamreswari Temple]]
The roof of the Tamreswari temple was originally sheeted with copper as mentioned in the ''Changrung Phukan Buranji'' (1711 AD), from which the name is derived. In 1848, when Dalton visited the site, he found a stone structure, but the copper roof was already removed. As per T. Block who visited the site in 1905, this square structure in the corner cannot have been the main building inside the complex and the brick wall evidently enclosed some sort of a grand temple in the center which has disappeared with time. According to S.F. Hannay, the temple complex was as near as possible square with the doorway to the west. There was a substantial brick wall, about 4.5 feet thick rising to the height of 8 feet, on the foundation of rudely cut blocks of sandstone. The entrance of the complex was on the west face, where there had been a stone enclosure and door. The ruins of the gateway which remains include the lintel carved on the edge in a chain of lotus flowers, some ornamented small pillars and an elephant statue. The three blocks forming the doorway, each of 7.5 feet long and 2 feet by 18 inches in girth, along with the blocks of the projecting wall, were reddish porphyritic granite of an adamantine hardness. There was another stone gateway at the southeast corner leading to the stream, in the bed of which are several carved and plain blocks of granite and sandstone.<ref>{{harvcol|Prinsep|1838|p=468}}</ref> According to Debala Mitra(1956), the temple was originally Chaturayatana, i.e. having four shrines, built of sandstone and granite and located in the south-east section of the rectangular brick enclosure, prakara roughly measuring 208&nbsp;ft by 130&nbsp;ft. The compound wall was 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall and had a stone gateway on the eastern side.  In the floods of 1959, due to deposit of silt in the banks of Paya river the structure was completely submerged in the waters.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=58i0me3mj2YC&dq=tamreswari+temple+granite&pg=PA348 Religious history of Arunachal Pradesh by Byomkesh Tripathi]</ref>

===Bura-Buri (Gira-Girasi) Than===
[[File:Bura Buri Temple.jpg|thumb|Bura Buri Temple]]

The Bura-Buri Than is another important temple built by the Chutia kings. It was dedicated to Primordial parents ''Gira-Girasi'' or ''Bura Buri'' (literal meaning: ''the-old-ones''), which were later sanskritised as ''[[Shiva]]'' and ''[[Shakti|Sakti]]''.<ref>"The Chutiyas, for example worshipped the Primordial parents Gira-Girasi or Bura Buri, which were later Hinduised as Siva and Sakti"{{harvcol|Dutta|1985|p=49}}</ref> The two deities are also known as Kundil Mama. The temple was looked upon after by tribal priest called the [[Deori people|Deori]]s and was worshipped by the [[Dibongia]] khel of the Deoris.<ref>"(T)hey [Deoris] also served as priests at the other two temples. The first one was Girasi-gira or the Old Ones, called Bura-buri in Assamese, always spoken of as a wedded pair and worshipped by the Dibongia khel." {{harvcol|Shin|2023|pp=70–71}}</ref> Gira-Girasi or Bura-Buri are considered to be a wedded pair and are the parents of Pishasi or Kechaikhaiti and Pishadema.<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2023|p=71}}</ref> Although the structure has fallen due to natural calamities, the base still remains intact upon which a new temple has been built. The foundation is an octagonal shaped base made of stone with each edge spanning 3.4 meters in length. The temple was built using granite stone and fixed using iron dowels and brackets similar to the ones used in [[Malinithan]] and Tamreswari temple. The temple was surrounded by a wall built using bricks of 18–25&nbsp;cm length and 12–17&nbsp;cm breadth.<ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|2007|p=433}}</ref> 

[[File:Granite stones used in Bura-buri Temple.jpg|thumb|Granite stones used in Bura-buri Temple showing the holes for the iron brackets]]

===Bhismaknagar Fort===
{{Main|Bhismaknagar}}
[[File:Bhismanagar fort ruins.jpg|thumb|The three compartments of the central building]]
[[File:Bhismaknagar fort ruins.jpg|thumb|A section of the brick platform of Bhismaknagar]]
[[File:Ruins of a brick wall in Bhismaknagar.jpg|thumb|Ruins of a brick wall in Bhismaknagar]]
The Bhismaknagar Fort located in [[Roing]] is an important monument built by Chutia kings with the walls of the fort spread over 10 km<sup>2</sup>. The name is derived from [[Bhishmaka]] of [[Vidarbha]], the  Hindu lineage created for the [[Chutia people|Chutias]] in the 16th-century [[Sankardeva#Poetic works (kavya)|Rukmimi-harana]] by [[Srimanta Sankardeva]].<ref>"Among many works of Śankaradeva, the Rukmiṇiharaṇa, the poem of Rukmimi and Krishna, gained considerable popularity in the Sadiya area and influenced its regional identity construction. Rukmiṇī, in this poem, was a daughter of king Bhīṣmaka"{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=55}}</ref><ref>"The prominence of Bhismaka can be attributed to the Rukmini Harana, the well-known poem composed by Sankaradeva. He interwove the two versions of story of the abduction of Rukmini by Krishna, as given in the Harivamsa II, chapters 59–60 and the Bhagavatapurana, 10, chapters 52-4, and incorporated distinct regional features in the poem. To the original tale he added scenes of common domestic life, which transformed the Puranic story into a narrative of popular experience"{{harvcol|Shin|2023|pp=74–75}}</ref>  A brick with the name of the Chutiya king ''Lakshminarayan'' indicates that the fort was repaired during the early 15th-century.<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=56}}</ref> The Bhismaknagar central complex extended over an area of 1860 square meters and displays three halls, six ingresses and two extension rooms. There is also a 2 meters high stone wall inside the complex. The architecture of the fort displays medieval culture. While quarrying in the fort, enormous pieces of work of art like potteries, terracotta figurines, terracotta plaques and decorative tiles were recovered.

Fabricated from the burnt bricks gave this fort an impressive and remarkable top view and thus explores the dexterity of people of ancient era. This fort can still be signified as an astonishing work of art.

The city's area is 10 square km. It is surrounded by a wall 4.5 meters high and 6 meters wide made using granite stone (6–9 courses)<ref>{{harvcol|Gait|1906|p=16}}</ref> and bricks on the east, west and south directions. In the north, the Mishmi hills provided a natural barrier. Although very less excavation has been carried out by the Arunachal government, preliminary excavations have revealed three tanks and two gates in the eastern and western directions.<ref>{{harvcol|A. Raikar|1980|p=19}}</ref>

The Bhismaknagar central complex extended over an area of 1860 square meters and displays three halls, six ingresses and two extension rooms. There is also a 2 meters high stone wall inside the complex. The architecture of the fort displays the medieval culture. While quarrying the fort the enormous pieces of work of art like potteries, terracotta figurines, terracotta plaques and decorative tiles were preserved.

===Rukmini Nagar===
In the hills north of Roing lie scattered some old brick structures, mainly between the Chidu and Chimri villages situated at an altitude of about 305 m. The local people, the [[Mishmi people|Idu Mishmi]], were desirous of giving an Idu word to the name, and hence it came to be called Rukmini Nati (nati—the Idu word for bricks). An exploration-cum-excavation work, undertaken by the Research Department of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, to study the ruins, has thrown some light on the antiquities. In course of the progress of work, which continued from January 1973 to April 1974, excavation of two mounds at Chimri, II km from Roing, unearthed two rooms, 10x10 m and 10x12 m respectively built on a slope, at a distance of 14 m from each other. The contents dug out from inside the walls of the rooms were of river-borne materials, a fact which suggests that they were destroyed by floods. The potsherds resembling those of Bhismaknagar in shape, fabric and technique that were unearthed bear ample evidence to the extension to this area of the same culture as of Bhismaknagar.

The other archaeological sites in this area are located (I) near Chidu Inspection Bungalow, (2) at Cheko Nati between Chidu and Chimri and (3) in the hills north of Chimri. No relics, however, could be found at the first two sites, although potsherds at Chidu and brick walls, steps, etc. at Cheko Nati were reported to have been seen earlier. The third site north of Chimri is situated at a high altitude of about 610 m. Not a single brick found there was in alignment, and everything seemed destroyed. The situation of all the four sites on a hilly terrain suitable for defence indicate that they are parts of a single complex representing a fort which extended from Chidu to Chimri. It is probable that the main centre of this complex was at Cheko Nati. Another archaeological site called Duku Limbo is on the left bank of the Dibang at'the foot of Elopa hill. The brickbats found at this site suggest that the Brismaknagar culture had extended to this point.<ref>[http://www.arunachalpradesh.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Lohit.pdf  Lohit District]</ref>

===Tezu Fort===
An old Mud Fort in the Tindolong area, six km from [[Tezu]], was explored in 1972. It falls on the main road from Sadiya to Tezu. The area of the fort, enclosed by earthen ramparts—365.76 m X 350.52 m, is square in shape. The rampart is eight ft high, and equally broad at the top with sloping sides. On both the -inner and outer sides of the rampart run two ditches about 6 m wide. There is a prominent mound, circular in shape (diameter 30.48 m approximately) and about 3 m in height, almost at the centre of the enclosure. The mound appears to be a cavalier for lookout purposes. Some potsherds found at this site are too fragmentary to bear any conclusive evidence. It may, however, be assumed that the Mud Fort linked by the route from Bhismaknagar to [[Parshuram Kund]] was probably associated with the early culture that flourished in and around Sadiya and Bhismaknagar.<ref>[http://www.arunachalpradesh.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Lohit.pdf  Lohit District]</ref>

The complex seems to represent a defensive mud-fort or
redoubt of a modest dimension unlike the fortified city of
Bhismakanagara. It was suitable for a small band of soldiers to 
maintain vigilance against the enemies from their hide-outs inside
jungle especially in guerilla warfare, the normal practice in the
region. Scarp and counter-scarp provided by the rampart and
ditches immensely strengthened the defence in the topography of
the country. Strategic considerations are palpable from the situation of the fort on principal route from Sadiya and [[Bhismaknagar]] to Parshuram Kund facing the Lohit river, perhaps to keep watch on
the enemy from its left bank around [[Chowkham]] and hence the position
of the mound meant for this purpose nearer the river. The fort has
been assigned roughly to a period about the 14th–15th century.<ref>{{harvcol|Chattopadhyay|1984|p=71}}</ref>

== Geography ==

Sadiya is located at {{coord|27.83|N|95.67|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/3/Sadiya.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Sadiya]</ref> It has an average elevation of {{convert|123|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is the only area of Assam where the newly described subspecies of hoolock gibbon, which is known as Mishmi Hills hoolock ''H. h. mishmiensis'' occurs.<ref name="Choudhury2013">.{{cite book|author=A. U. Choudhury|title=Description of a new subspecies of hoolock gibbon ''Hoolock hoolock'' from North East India. The Newsletter & Journal of the Rhino Foundation for nat. in NE India 9: 49–59|year=2013}}</ref>

== Politics ==

Sadiya is part of [[Lakhimpur (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Name of the assembly constituency is [[Sadiya (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|126-Sadiya LAC]].

Sadiya is one of the three Sub-Divisions of [[Tinsukia District]]. [[Chapakhowa]] is the centre of Sadiya.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf
 |title       = List of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies
 |access-date  = 2008-10-06
 |work        = Assam
 |publisher   = Election Commission of India
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060504181808/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf
 |archive-date = 2006-05-04
}}</ref>
Sadiya is located under Tinsukia district of Assam and a legislative constituency contains 126 members of the legislative assembly. The only town under Sadiya assembly constituency is Chapakhowa town, with 10305 number of total population.
According to 2011 census, [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Schedule Caste]] (SC) living in Sadiya is 2974 of which 1516 are male and 1458 are female and [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Schedule Tribe]] (ST) residing in Sadiya is 25167 of which 12908 are male and 12259 are female.

== See also ==
*[[Sati Sadhani]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
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* {{cite journal|last=Nag|first=Sajal|title=Devour thy Neighbour: Foreign Invasions and the Decline of States in Eighteenth Century North East India|year=2018}}
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*{{citation|last=Laine|first=Nicolas|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02344765/document|title= Phi Muangs. Forces of the Place among the Khamti in Arunachal Pradesh|date=2019}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Prinsep|first=F.R.S James|title=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal|date=1838|volume=7|publisher=Asiatic Society (Calcutta, India)
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gjczAQAAMAAJ&q=Journal+of+the+asiatic+7|language=en}}
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*{{citation |last=Gait |first=Edward Albert|date=1906 |title=A history of Assam |publisher=Calcutta, Thacker, Spink & co.|isbn=9780404168193 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w-6kr1IyHJkC }} 
*{{cite book|last=Gogoi|first=Padmeswar|title=The political expansion of the Mao Shans|year=1956}}
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* {{cite journal|last1=Shin|first1=Jae-Eun|year=2020|title=Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas|journal=The Indian Economic and Social History Review|volume=57|issue=1|pages=49–75|doi=10.1177/0019464619894134|s2cid=213213265}}
* {{cite journal|last=Kaulback|first=Ronald|title=The Assam Border of Tibet|date=1934|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=83|number=3|pages=177–189 |jstor=1785520|issn=0016-7398|publisher=The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)|doi=10.2307/1785520 |bibcode=1934GeogJ..83..177K }}
* {{cite book|last1=Gogoi|first1=Nityananda|title=Historical Geography of Medieval Assam|publisher=EBH Publishers|place=India|year=2016}}
* {{Citation |last=Bhattacharjee |first=J. B. |contribution=The Kachari (Dimasa) state formation |editor-last=Barpujari |editor-first=H. K. |title=The Comprehensive History of Assam |volume=2 |pages=391–397 |publisher=Assam Publication Board |place=Guwahati |year=1992}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Tinsukia district]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society|Needham, Francis Jack]]
[[Category:Tinsukia]]
[[Category:Villages in Lower Dibang Valley district]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Arunachal Pradesh]]