Guwahati city, www.TheForeignChallange.com Guwahati ,Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam, Gauhati in the modern era — is an ancient urban area, largest city of state, region, major metropolis of eastern India and one of the fastest developing cities of India. Pragjyotishpura along with Durjaya (North Guwahati) were the capitals of the ancient state of Kamarupa under the Varman and Pala dynasties.Many ancient Hindu temples are in the city, so also known as the "The City of Temples". Dispur, 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 from Guwahati. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the city's local government, administers an area of 216 square kilometres, while the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, the planning and development body administers an area of 254 square kilometres. 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. Epigraphic sources place the capitals of many ancient kingdoms in Guwahati. It was the capital of the kings Narakasura and Bhagadatta according to the Mahabharata.Located within Guwahati is the ancient sakti temple of Goddess Kamakhya in Nilachal hill (an important seat of Tantric and Vajrayana Buddhism), the ancient and unique astrological temple Navagraha in Chitrachal Hill, and archaeological remains in Basista and other archaeological locations of mythological importance. A view of Kamakhya Temple The Ambari excavations trace the city to the 4th century AD. During earlier periods of the city's history it was known as Pragjyotishpura, and was the capital of Assam under the Varman Dynasty dynasty of the Kamarupa kingdom. Descriptions by Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) reveal that during the reign of the Varman king Bhaskar Varman (7th century AD) the city stretched for about 30 li (15 km) and according to Xuanzang was a principal base for a strong naval force of 30,000 war-boats, with officers who were experts in sea-routes from the Indian Ocean to China.The city remained as the capital of Assam until the 10th-11th century AD under the rule of the Pala dynasty. Archaeological evidence by excavations in Ambari, and excavated brick walls and houses discovered furing construction of the present Cotton College's auditorium suggest the city was of economic and strategic importance until the 9th-11th century AD. Pan Bazaar: A lively part of the city center on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. Cotton College, Digholy Pukhury (Dighalipukhuri), The State Museum, RBI, District Court (Kamrup District), etc. are all major landmarks. Moreover, the area also possesses many libraries, major government offices, and a shopping district. Restaurants and bookshops in the area provide a unique environment. It also contains a major wholesale market for drugs and pharmaceutical products, and a hub for printing and publication. Close to Digholy Pukhury, there are many stores with traditional arts and crafts from Assam and other parts of the NER. Kachari Ghat, next to the district court is an important local river port. It is also known for its sports market. Fancy Bazaar: In the western part of the city-center is a busy commercial district for wholesale and retail. Originally called Fansi Bazaar after the district jail that executed criminals/freedom fighters by British by hanging (fansi, in the local language), the name has slowly transformed to Fancy Bazaar to denote the retail stores for clothes and garments. The place is also the hub for wholesale products ranging from food and beverages, garments, to hardware and building materials. Paltan Bazaar: (Pron: ˈpʌltən bəˌzɑ:) In the central part of the city-center is the hub for transportation and hotels. With Guwahati railway station, the regional bus stand (ASTC),

• published: 14 Dec 2014
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