Digboi is a historical location in Assam having the earliest traces of the British settlement and located in the Eastern district of Tinsukia. The town is known as the Oil City of Assam famous for crude oil. Digboi has a British influence in its culture and life since the Post-Independence period. Crude Oil was attained at this place in the early 1900s and since then the place has been famous for its oil refineries. The town had its oil refinery from 1901 and it was a unique thing then. The refinery is in operation even today and is providing a source of livelihood to the people of Digboi even today.
But oil is not the only thing found in Digboi. Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is another of the main attractions only 45 km from Digboi. The 18- Hole Digboi Golf Field is great for spending some quality time and exercising. Digboi War Cemetery is a famous place in Digboi bringing back memories of the II World War with the Japanese Army. It is an unconventional tourist destination with a queer blend of wildlife, nature, and natural resources.
With the busy markets, a bustling crowd, and endless traffic, Digboi is a small quaint town like any other in India. The only noticeable thing is the high boundary wall in the road from Digboi to Margherita. The wall boundary is an important highlight and milestone for the Oil Industry in India. The old memories of the British Raj come back to mind Digboi’s quest for oil started accidentally around 1900. Wood was abundant in Digboi during earlier times. The Story of Digboi started with the story of wood. While lying railway lines in a nearby forest from Digboi, the railway workers used Elephants for doing the same. One day they noticed oil spilling from the elephant's feet. That was the earlier trace of Oil in Digboi.
Soon after that, Mr. Goodenough of Mckillop started boring a well near Jeypore. It was bored up to 102 feet but the results were not fruitful and were left abandoned. In 1867, he again bore the well this time up to 108 feet and the rest is not known to the people. From that time on, the quest for liquid gold started in Digboi. In the year 1888, Assam Railways got a license to extract oil from the dense forests. The oil was bored after making 178 feet deep well. The English officer was demanding the boys to work faster by saying “Dig – Boy- Dig”, hence the name of Digboi. The history of the making of oil is still preserved in the museum of Digboi. In 1899, the oilfields came under the separate name of Assam Oil Company in Digboi with its headquarters in the same place, coming out as India’s first refinery in the city.
There was a small oil unit set up in Margherita which was merged with Assam Oil company in 1901. The newly formed Oil Company did not have the required expertise and skills for running the refinery. The Burma Oil Company took over the Digboi Refinery charge in 1921 and they recreated it with a completely different look in 1923. The refinery ran for quite some time with major discoveries in Moran and Naharkatiya regions. In 1959, Oil India Ltd took over the partnership of running the oil refinery in Digboi.
The tea plantations started gaining popularity in the Eastern part of Assam in the 19th century. The Tea plantations grew in demand then. The Makum coal fields were very close to Digboi. The coal fields and tea estates created a good transportation link to Digboi.
Digboi is pleasant all through the year and one can visit at any time of the year. But January to April is considered to be the best time because of the mild climate. There is less rainfall during this time of the year.
The cheapest route is from Tinsukia which just costs Rs. 78 in a trekker to reach Digboi. Or you can take a bus ride to reach Digboi which would cost around Rs. 700. If you plan for a private car, then the maximum would be Rs. 2,000. Travelers can roam around Digboi in about Rs. 5,000 in total.
Digboi has a lot of history related to it so one will need around 3-4 days to know the history of Digboi and let them loose in the greenery of the surroundings.