Guwahati is a major city in the eastern part of India. It is situated on the left bank of the
Brahmaputra River. The town is located in the district of Kamrupa. Guwahati is among the fastest growing cities of India and in the recent years it has experienced development as well expansion. In terms of education and commercial activities the city is an important centre. Rather it can be said that the city is an important hub of the north-eastern region of the country. Guwahati has derived its name from two Assamese words namely "guwa" meaning "areca nut" and "haat" meaning a "market place".
History of Guwahati
The history of the city dates back to old days. Sometimes it is assumed that Guwahati is one of the ancient cities of Asia. The Ambari excavations which are found in the city trace the origin of the city to 6th century AD. The city has witnessed control of several historical dynasties including the
Pala Dynasty, the Mughals and a lot more. In fact it can be said that Guwahati an important city of
Assam has a long history which is cherished even in the present age.
Demography of Guwahati
Guwahati is a rapidly growing city. In the last few years the population of the city has grown in leaps and bounds. According to the census of 2001, the population of the city was 808,021. It is expected that by 2011 the population of the city will reach to a million. In 2001 the city constituted 55 percent males and 45 percent females whereas the city had only 10 percent of the population below 6 years of age. The literacy rate of the city was 78 percent and the percentages of male and female literacy were 81 and 74 percent respectively.
Economy of Guwahati

The economy of Guwahati contributes largely to the economy of Assam. The chief economic activities of the region are trade and commerce and transportation and services. Guwahati is considered an important hub of entire north-eastern region. It is an important whole sale and retail zone of the country. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre is one of the largest in the world and gradually with passing time mall culture is slowly growing in Guwahati. A small part of Guwahati`s economy also comes from manufacturing industries and an important manufacturing industry of the region is the petroleum refinery of IOCL. Lot of business is also generated from the print and electronic media of Guwahati and in the recent year`s business related to finance and real estate have grown to a large extent.
At the same time it should be mentioned that tourism industry is a major economic source for the city of Guwahati.
Education of Guwahati
As per as education is concerned Guwahati is largely developed. There are many institutes of repute which caters to the need of city`s higher education. The Guwahati University, the century old Cottons College, the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati ranks the sixth in the entire country. Besides all these institutes there are several other educational institutes which serves the educational need of the city.
Facilities of health in Guwahati are well improved. There are several government as well private hospitals which cater to the various speciality as well as emergency cases.
Tourism in Guwahati

With regard to tourism Guwahati is a haven for the tourists. There are several ancient temples, natural beauties, wild life sanctuaries, hill stations and Guwahati stands amidst a colourful landscape. In fact it can be said that there are several interesting and lively places in the city.
Some of the notable places of tourist interest in the city are the
Kamakhya Temple, Umananda Temple, Navagraha Temple, Janardan Temple, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalashetra, Assam State Zoo, Temple of Pandunath, Madan Kamdev. Besides the temples in the city there are several market places and altogether the natural beauty of the city adds to the satisfaction of the tourists.
The standard of living in the city of Guwahati is comparatively higher. The city provides a competitive working environment with a pleasant and luxurious living with all modern facilities and amenities. There are numerous malls and shopping complexes. It is also an important trading hub in Assam.
(Last Updated on : 17/05/2010)