Histrory:
Situated on the bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra, Guwahati is said to be the legendary Pragjyotishpur or City of Eastern Light. Guwahati is the gateway to northeastern India. The name is a combination of two words- Guwa meaning areca nut and Hat meaning market. Guwahati is the commercial nerve Centre of the Northeast.

Location:
Latitude: 26° 10' 45" North
Longitude: 91°45' 0" East
Altitude: 55m above mean sea level

Area and Population:
Area: 216.79 sq km. (as per the 1991 census)
Population Density: 5,84,342 (as per the 1991 census); 8,14,575 (as per census 2001)
Populatin Density: 2695.43 per sq km.(1991)
Percentage decedal growth: +191.62.

Administrative Division and Urban Local Bodies:
There is one Municipal Corporation in Guwahati city which is known as Guwahati Municipal Corporation or GMC. The city has been divided into 60 wards.

Other urban local bodies responsible for development of the city are-
- Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority or GMDA
- Guwahati Development Department or GDD
- Town & Country Planning or T & CP