The name of this rapidly-growing city that is also the largest in the North-East, is apparently derived from "Guwa" (or betel-nut) and "Hatt" (meaning market). Apparently, the place was a bustling, prosperous market which attracted traders from the surrounding hills and from nearby valleys to its environs. And it was not just betel-nut that the market was famed for, though these graceful trees, which look like "arrows shot down from heaven' in the words of a visitor here, are still very much in evidence in the suburbs of the city. Guwahati is the gateway to places of beauty and interest such as Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Kaziranga, Manas and so on. However, it is much more than merely a gateway : in its own right, it is a place of interest, with varied offerings for the tourist to the city. The first aspect of the city that strikes the visitor is the natural beauty of the place. It is ringed around on three sides by a chain of hills that stretches to the horizon. The northern side is bounded by the awesome Brahmaputra. A sight of this turbulent river at the height of the monsoons is a wonderful sight. There is lush green vegetation everywhere. Indeed, the luxuriance of the plant-life here is uniquely rich and verdant. One of the greatest plus-points of the city is that it has not yet become 'touristy". What it lacks in tourist infrastructure is therefore more than made up for by the fact that there no cheats to fleece the unwary traveller, no importuning touts to bother him.

Air : Guwahati is connected by Indian Airlines and Private Airlines- East West, Jet, -Sahara & NEPC. NEPC airlines now-a-days connects almost all the important towns in North East. Guwahati Airport is 25 km from the city centre.

Rail: Guwahati is an important terminus on the North East Frontier Railway and is connected with all parts of the country by Express trains. Rajdhani Express, North East Express, Brahmaputra Mail, Avadh Assam Express from New Delhi, Kamrup Express and Kanchanjunga Express & Saraighat Express ply between Guwahati and Calcutta. Direct Express and Super-fast trains also link Guwahati with Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Jammu.

Road : Guwahati can be called the Central terminus of road communication In North East. Being the, confluence of a number of National -Highways; there are very extensive bus services operated by Assam State Transport Corporation to almost all the important places within the state and two other neighbouring states. 

Local transport : Taxis are available but are without meters and fairs have to be negotiated. Same procedure applies to auto-rickshaws. There is an extensive network of city bus services.