Guwahati
The gateway city of the Northeast
Guwahati is the largest city in North-East India and the region's undisputed commercial, educational and transport capital — the gateway through which almost every visitor and most goods enter the eight states. Spread along the south bank of the Brahmaputra, with the seat of the Assam government at Dispur within its limits, it is a fast-growing metropolis of around a million people that fuses ancient temple-town roots with a modern trading city.
The city grew from the ancient Pragjyotishpura of legend and is home to the Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, one of the holiest Shakti shrines in India. Today it is the headquarters of banks, tea auctioneers, oil and gas offices, hospitals, universities and the region's media, and its new Adani-run international airport terminal has made it a genuine gateway to South-East Asia and the Gulf.
What it's known for
- The region's biggest business, banking and wholesale hub, and its main tea-trading centre
- Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport — the Northeast's main air gateway, now with Gulf, Bangkok and Paro links
- Major hospitals, universities (Gauhati University, IIT Guwahati nearby), and the region's media capital
- A rising conference and events city, host of the Advantage Assam investment summits
What to see in & around Guwahati
See & do
- Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill
- Umananda, the river-island Shiva temple, and a Brahmaputra sunset cruise
- The Assam State Museum, Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra and Basistha ashram
- Fancy Bazar and Paltan Bazar for shopping, and Pobitora sanctuary (rhinos) for a day trip
Getting there
The Northeast's main airport and a major railhead; the base from which road, rail and air routes fan out across all eight states. Shillong is 3 hours away, Kaziranga 4–5.
Other cities & towns
Dibrugarh
The Tea City of India
The commercial heart of Upper Assam, ringed by tea and oil.
Jorhat
Cultural capital of Assam & gateway to Majuli
Tea, literature and the ferry to the world's largest river island.
Tezpur
The city of eternal romance
Ancient legend, sculpture and the gateway to Arunachal & Kaziranga.