Guwahati is an ancient urban city and was in fact known as Pragjyotishpur and Durjaya in the state of Kamrup now known as Assam. Situated on the banks of river Brahmaputra and foothills of the Shillong plateau, Assam is known for its rich heritage. Guwahati is also a major educational and commercial hub.
Blessed with scenic beauty with scenic views of the brahmaputra and the mountain ranges alongside it, Guwahati is also rich in flora and fauna. The pobitora wildlife sanctuary which is situated 48 kms from Guwahati is home to the famous one-horned rhinoceros, leopards, wild boar and barking deer.
Some of the key attractions for tourists in Guwahati include a river cruise on the Brahmaputra that provides an excellent view of sunrise and sunset, a trip to the Umananda temple, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra and Assam State Museum. The most popular tourist spot in Guwahati is the Kamakhya Devi temple. The temple is situated on the Nilachal Hill which is located at a distance of 5kms from the city. The Kamakhya Temple is considered to one of the holiest temples of India. Every year in June, the Ambubachi Mela is held in the temple which attracts numerous tourists from all over the country.
Guwahati serves an important transit centre for travel within the North Eastern states. The Guwahati airport connects the city to many other cities within the North East. When travelling by train, the city can be reached through the North East Frontier Railway. The nearest railheads are the Kamakhya Junction and the New Guwahati stations. The city is well connected by roads too. The National Highway 31 connects the city with Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
