Situated on the banks of mighty Brahmaputra, this fast growing metropolis is the gateway to the North Eastern India. The city of Guwahati is the nucleus not only of Asom but also of the entire North East. This city is the main commercial, political, cultural and educational hub of entire North East. Guwahati is the biggest and the most populous city in the North East, with a population of around 20 lakh. The city also serves as the district headquarter of the Kamrup district of Asom. The capital of Asom , Dispur then built in the outskirts of Guwahati, has now merged into Guwahati as the city is continuously expanding. The part of the city that is growing on the northern side of river Brahmaputra river is called North Guwahati. This city is the main centre of commerce in the entire North East having offices of many MNCs and large govt. as well private companies. The first SEZ of North east is coming up in Guwahati. There is a software Technology Park too in the city. North Guwahati has many Industrial estates. The Guwahati Tea Auction centre is the biggest tea auction centre in Asia. There is a major boom in the infrastructure industry as more and more shopping malls, multiplexes, apartments and integrated townships are being built in the city.
In the health sector Srimanta Sankardev Nethralaya, Guwahati Neurological Research Centre, Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute are worth mentioning hospitals and research centre and are the only of its kind. The city has proved to be a centre of higher education in the region too. The Guwahati University is the biggest and the oldest university in the region. The Cotton College is the oldest and the best college for higher secondary education and graduation in science and arts. Other big players in the educational field are- the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Assam Engineering College, Guwahati Medical College, Regional Dental College, Gauhati Commerce College, Agricultural College, Veterinary College, Regional Science Centre etc. There are hundreds of schools and junior colleges too.
The city also servers as the centre of transport and communication. The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport of Guwahati is directly connected to New Delhi, Kolkata, Patna and other cities of North East . Direct flights to Bangkok is also available from the city. The Air India is also planning to operate flights to Beijing and Tokyo too from here. The city acts as a multiplexer for the North East and rest of India by its railway network. Trains to most of the states including Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir are available. 6 trains connect Guwahati and New Delhi, 5 of which are daily trains. The National Highways connect the city with all the state capitals of other North Eastern States. Frequent and luxury buses (including Volvo buses) to all these places and other towns of Asom are run by state transport corporation and private roadways.