Current Time in Guwahati, India

Guwahati is the largest city in the northeastern Indian state of Assam and the gateway to the entire northeastern region of India. Situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, one of the world's largest rivers, Guwahati has a population of approximately 1.2 million and serves as the commercial, educational, and cultural hub of the Northeast. The city is sometimes called the gateway to the seven sister states — the seven northeastern states of India that are connected to the rest of the country through the narrow Siliguri Corridor.

The history of Guwahati stretches back thousands of years. Known in ancient times as Pragjyotishpura (City of Eastern Light) and later as Kamrupa, the area was the center of the ancient Kamarupa Kingdom, which controlled much of the Brahmaputra Valley and neighboring hill territories. The region has been associated with the Tantric tradition of Shakti worship since antiquity, and the Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill above the city is one of the most important Shakti temples in the entire world. The Ambubachi Mela, an annual fertility festival held at Kamakhya during the monsoon season when the goddess is believed to menstruate, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across India and is one of the largest religious gatherings in the country.

The city sits at a dramatic bend in the Brahmaputra River, and the river provides a spectacular backdrop to the urban landscape. Peacock Island (Umananda Island), a small river island housing an ancient Shiva temple, is accessible by ferry and is a popular destination for pilgrims and visitors. The Guwahati Planetarium and the Assam State Museum offer cultural and scientific experiences for visitors. The Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, a cultural complex dedicated to the great Vaishnavite saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardev, celebrates the art, culture, and heritage of Assam.

Guwahati is the commercial and financial capital of northeastern India, with a concentration of banks, retail establishments, hotels, and entertainment facilities serving the wider region. The city is an important transit hub, with the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport connecting it to major Indian cities and some international destinations. The railway station is one of the major railheads for the Northeast, connecting the region to the rest of India.

The city is surrounded by extraordinary natural environments. Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses, is just a few hours drive away. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, even closer, offers rhinoceros sightings from within the city's outskirts. Tea gardens carpet the countryside around Guwahati, and Assam tea is one of the world's most recognized tea types.

With its religious significance, natural surroundings, strategic commercial position, and role as the gateway to one of India's most ecologically diverse and culturally rich regions, Guwahati is an essential and captivating city in the Indian Northeast.