Silchar is the headquarters of Cachar district in the state of Assam in India. It is the economic gateway to the state of Mizoram and part of Manipur. The town of Silchar has tremendous commercial importance. It consequently, witnesses the settlement of a sizeable population of traders from distant parts of India.Being a peaceful place in the North-East earned it the bon mot of "Island of Peace" from India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The majority of natives in Silchar are Sylhethi, earlier a part of district under the erstwhile Sylhet district of undivided india. A sizeable fraction of the citizens also consist of people originally living here before the partition of Bengal. Silchar is situated by the banks of the Barak River in what is popularly known as Barak Valley.Rice is the staple cereal. Fish is also available. Shuţki t�rkari, shidal chutney, "chungar peetha" are some of the local delicacies.