Guwahati - The Gateway of the North-East

, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. The city lies between the banks 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 noted Madan Kamdev is situated 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Guwahati. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the city's local government, administers an area of 216 square kilometres (83 sq mi), while the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, the planning and development body administers an area of 254 square kilometres (98 sq mi).[8]

Guwahati is a major commercial and educational hub of Assam and the north-eastern region of India, and is home to premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Gauhati University, and Cotton College. The city is a major center for cultural activities and sporting events, as well as a center for administrative and political activities of Assam, and important regional hub for transportation. The Guwahati region hosts diverse wildlife including rare animals such as Asian elephants, pythons, tigers, rhinoceros, gaurs, primate species, and endangered birds. The name Guwahati is two Assamese words: 'guwa' (areca nut) and 'haat' (market place). Prior to colonial rule, the name was spelled Gowhatty, then anglicized to Gauhati during British colonial rule. The name was changed to its present form in the late 1980s to conform to the local pronunciation. Guwahati is one of the most rapidly growing cities in India. The city's population grew from just 200,000 in 1971 to more than 500,000 in 1991. In the census of 2001 the city's population was found to be 808,021. By 2012, it is estimated that Guwahati will boast more than 1.6 million residents.[citation needed]

In 2001, males constituted 55 percent and females at 45 percent of Guwahati's residents. It was found that 10 percent of the population is under 6 years of age. Guwahati has an average literacy rate of 78 percent, with male literacy at 81 and female literacy at 74 percent. The Major religion followed is Hinduism.