Guwahati in ancient Assam, and Gauhati in the modern era — is an ancient urban area, the largest city of Assam, the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India, one of the fastest developing cities in India and often referred as "gateway" of the North East Region.
Guwahati, formerly Prāgjyotishpura meaning "city of eastern light,", "city of eastern astrology", and Durjaya meaning "impregnable" were the capitals of the ancient state of Kamarupa under Varman's and Pala's respectively. Many ancient Hindu temples are in the city, Kamakhya, Umananda, Navagraha, Sukreswar, Basistha, Lankeshwar, Doul Govinda, Dirgheshwari, Ugro Tara, Rudreswar etc., are but a few. It is also known as the "The City of Temples." Dispur, the capital of the Indian state of Assam is in the city and is the seat of the Government of Assam.
The city is between the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river and the foothills of the Shillong plateau, with LGB International Airport to the west and the town of Narengi to the east. It is gradually being expanded as North Guwahati to the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the city's local government, administers an area of 216 km², while the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, the planning and development administers an area of 340 km².
Guwahati is the major commercial and educational hub of North-East India and is home to world class institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and other premier institutions like Gauhati University and Cotton College. The city is a major center for cultural activities and sports in the North Eastern region and for the administrative and political activities of Assam. The city is an important regional hub for transportation.
Guwahati and its environs are rich in wildlife with several rare mammals such as Asian elephants, gaur, tiger and primates.The birdlife in and around the city is also rich and diverse
