Picturesque Guwahati on the banks of mighty river Brahmaputra is the capital of north-eastern state of Assam. It is also called the 'gateway to the north-east'. Guwahati was formerly known as Pragjyotishpur (the City of Eastern Light). The diverse landscape of this beautiful city includes mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, forests, traditional buildings of older period and modern structures. Furthermore, it is a place having many beautiful temples. Guwahati houses the political capital of the state- Dispur. Many other tourist attractions of north-east can be reached only from Guwahati.

Traditionally, Guwahati has been an important administrative and trading center and a river port. The name Guwahati is derived from two Assamese words: 'guwa' (areca nut) and 'haat' (market place). The name used to be spelled as Gowhatty (pre-colonial and colonial), standardized to Gauhati (colonial-British), which was then changed to the present form in the late 1980s to conform to the local pronunciation.

Kamakhya temple : The Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal hills attracts tourists in large numbers. The temple is one of the most sacred among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the whole world. The temple was built in the 10th century AD by the Koch king Naranarayan. The Ambubachi Mela(Fair) held during the monsoon season in the temple premises also attracts devotees in large numbers.

Umananda Temple : Umananda is regarded as the smallest river island in the world. At the very centre of the tiny island is Umananda Shiva temple. The beautiful temple built during the Ahom period can be reached only through motor boats and public ferries.The temple is visited in large numbers.

Guwahati Zoo and Zoological Gardens : The zoo at Guwahati is the largest natural zoo in India. Different animal and bird species including Assam's famed one -horned rhino could be seen in the zoo. There is also a museum and a beautiful zoological garden within the zoo premises.

Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra : The Kalakshetra is the newest addition to the many attractions of Guwahati. Built in the 1990's, the artistic excellence of Assam and rest of the north-eastern region is displayed here. There are eateries, places of worship, emporiums and open air theatres within the sprawling Kalakshetra premises.

Kaziranga National Park - 200 km east, famous for one horned rhinoceros
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary - 60 km east
Shillong - 100 km south, a beautiful hill station and the capital city of Meghalaya surrounded by pine forests
Tawang - 200 km north, a famous Buddhist monastery in the snow-clad Arunachal-Himalayas
Manah / Manas National Park - 150 km west, a beautiful wildlife sanctuary in the foot hills of Himalaya
Moreover, there are several wonderful picnic spots (e.g. Candubi) in and around the city.

Hundreds of traditional Oxomeeya (Assamese), Bodo, Karbi, Tiwa, Garo, Khasi villages and traditional way of life in 200 km radius of the city can be of great interests to tourist. Bamboo and fruit orchards, handloom and handicraft, wet paddy fields, fishing, etc. are typical characteristics of local traditional way of life. Xorthebary and Xualkuchi are two places near the city with tradition of bronze-crafts and silk weaving for thousands of years.

Madan Kamdev, at 35 km from the city is an important archeological site with ancient ruins of temples and other structures.

Hajo and the sacred place of Hayagriba Madhava are two important religious places both for the Hindus and the Buddhists. One of the temples, which is known as the Haygriba Madhava temple is a Bishnu temple for the Hindus and at the same time an important shrine for the Tibetan Buddhists.