Situated
on the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra, Guwahati is Assam's sleepy
capital. It was once known as "Pragiyotishpura" or Light of
the East. The name Guwahati is a combination of two words:
Guwa meaning
areca nut and Hat meaning market. Guwahati or Gurahati is the gateway
to one of the most exotic and fascinating regions of India - the north
east. Today, Guwahati is the business hub of the region and also Assam's
largest city. It is the service centre for the oil industry and tea plantations;
the world's largest tea auctions are held here. There are many ancient
Hindu temples in and around Guwahati. Notable among them is the Umananda
temple on Peacock Island dedicated to Lord Shiva.