Jorhat City is a major urban centre of the state of Assam in India. Guwahati and Jorhat are underway to become two sunshine cities of Assam as declared by the central government. It was the last capital of the Ahom Kingdom and home to many historical monuments of Assamese culture. In the north of the district, the Brahmaputra River forms the second largest riverine island of the world, Majuli, which spreads over 924.6 square kilometres with a population of about 150,000. The island, threatened with constant erosion by the mighty and unstable Brahmaputra River, had been the principal place of pilgrimage of Vaishnavites since the age of the Ahom rulers. Several Sattras (monasteries) resembling those of medieval times are headed by Satradhikars teaching Vaishnavism, which was introduced by Srimanta Sankardeva (1449–1568). Each Sattra has an unknown wealth of Vaishnavite scriptures and extensive revenue-free lands cultivated by the Bhakats (celebated monks) of the Sattras. The cultural diversities which prevailed in Jorhat nearly a century ago has inspired the people to participate in cultural activities through the decades and as a result Jorhat has been able to produce many creative writers, musician, actors, historians and journalists, terming Jorhat "The Cultural Capital of Assam". Jorhat was the first town of the Upper and central Assam installing electricity supply in 1923. The first aeroplane on north-eastern soil was landed in Jorhat in 1928. Jorhat Gymkhana Club is the oldest golf course in Asia and third oldest in the world. The first stadium of Assam was built in Jorhat. The world's oldest and largest Tea Experimental Station is located in Jorhat. The first non-government college of Assam J B College was established in Jorhat. The city has many research institutes, including the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, NEIST, Rain Forest Research Institute, Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute and universities like Assam Agricultural University, Assam Women's University & Kaziranga University. Today Jorhat is a rapidly developing city and one of the major business & commercial hubs of North-east India. The recent urban development of Jorhat has seen the rise of several high cost apartments and flats with people flocking in from all parts of the state, making it truly a cosmopolitan City. The city today has evolved to be one of the major commercial and business hubs of the state with growing numbers of shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, residential apartments and educational institutions. The city also serves as the base for tourism to famous places such as the Kaziranga National Park and the World's largest river island Majuli. Centrally located within the state, the city depicts a vibrant Assamese township and culture, making it one of the most preferred places for local people to conglomerate. Jorhat ("jor" means join and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis- "Macharhat" and "Chowkihat" which existed on the two different banks of the river Bhogdoi. During the 18th century, Jorhat was the last capital of the Ahom Kingdom, as a planned town under royal patronage. It is often spelt as "Jorehaut" during the British reign. In the year 1794, the Ahom King Gaurinath Singha shifted the capital from Sibsagar, erstwhile Rangpur to Jorhat. Many tanks were built around the capital city by the Ahom royalty such as Rajmao Pukhuri or Borpukhuri, Buragohain Pukhuri, Bolia Gohain Pukhuri, Kotoki Pukhuri and Mitha Pukhuri. This town was a flourishing and commercial metropolis but completely destroyed by a series of Burmese invasions of Assam between 1817 and the arrival of the British force in the year 1824 under the stewardship of David Scott and Captain Richard. The British Rule, though not free from rebellions and revolutions, contributed to the reemergence of this historical town. From the very first decade of the British rule, revolutionaries like Gomdhar Konwar, Jeuram Medhi, and Piyali Phukan emerged. The British system of administration came into vogue in the year 1839 with an established Police Thana. During the great Sepoy Mutiny, Maniram Dewan and Piyali Barua were hanged in public at this very place in 1858. In 1885, a narrow gauge railway, Jorhat Provincial Railway, became operational. In time, this contributed to the rapid growth of the tea industry. Although, the Civil Sub-division under Sibsagar district at Jorhat was formed in 1869, it was declared the administrative headquarters of the undivided Sibsagar district in 1911. The undivided Sibsagar District comprised the present Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat district and parts of Karbi Anglong district. Major A. Playfair served as the first Deputy Commissioner. Presently, Jorhat is being modernized with many new commercial and non-commercial establishments. The old families of this ever prosperous city have transformed the city into a bustling and a well organised entity. During the Second World War, Jorhat was one of the main supply depots in support of allied forces fighting in China. 'Flying the Hump' of the Eastern Himalayas out of Jorhat with C-37 cargo planes and P-51 fighter support (Flying Tigers) was a regular occurrence. Jorhat is and has been a vibrant place and is a perfect mixture of tradition and modernity. It was the hub of anti-British struggle of Assam. Before that it was the last capital of the Ahoms, the dynasty which ruled over Assam for six centuries. The cultural environment which prevails in Jorhat is the result of untiring effort of people trying to preserve its culture. In the year 1915, Jorhat Sahitya Shabha was established in Jorhat followed by Asam Sahitya Sabha was established on 27 December 1917 in Sibasagar. The Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, donated by late Radhakanta Handique, is the Headquarters of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in Jorhat. Jorhat has been able to produce many creative writers, historians, journalists, et cetera. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, the first Assamese to win India's highest literature award, the Jnanpith Award, was from Jorhat.[9] Jorhat is the home of internationally reputed ideologists and educationalists like Krishna Kanta Handique, founder Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University. The sizable section of Assamese intelligentsia who reside in Jorhat have played an important role in the building of modern Assam. Jorhat Town Hall is the administrative building located in the centre of the City. The Elyee Talkies, presently known as Elyee Cinema, was the first cinema theatre in Gar Ali, the heart of the city. Jorhat Airport, commonly known as Rowriah Airport, is located at Rowriah which is within the city itself, approximately seven kilometres from the city centre. The airport has flights to Kolkata and Guwahati by Jet Airways. The airport is controlled by the Airports Authority of India. Jorhat falls under the Tinsukia railway division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone. The Jorhat Town Railway Station lies on the Furkating-Jorhat-Mariani branch line, has train services like Guwahati Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express, Guwahati - Jorhat Mariani Inter-City Express, Kamakhya - Dibrugarh Intercity Express, Mariani Jorhat - Furkating Passenger and Jorhat - Tinsukia Passenger. While the Mariani Junction railway station situated on the Lumding-Dibrugarh section is the main railway junction of Jorhat district, which is about 18 km from Jorhat City. Notable trains include Rajdhani Express, Kamrup Express, Brahmaputra Mail etc. connecting the Mariani junction with major cities of the country. Jorhat is well connected with all major cities of Northeast India. The Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) of Jorhat is located at Tarajan, Kotokipukhuri, on the western part of the city, provides connectivity to other parts of the state as well as Northeast with regular buses from ASTC and private operators. Rickshaws and auto rickshaws are the main mode of public transport within the city while the city bus (City Ride bus), microvan (Tata Magic and Mahindra Maxximo) are the other mode of urban transport which provide services from Jorhat city to neighbouring towns like Mariani, Titabor, Teok, Mohbondha and Dergaon. National Highway 37 (India) connects Jorhat with all major cities of Assam. Jorhat also has radio taxi services namely Jorhat City Cab. Jorhat city is only fourteen kilometers to Neemati Ghat, the river port through which daily ferries are plies to the river island Majuli. There are at least two ferry rides to Majuli every day, one around 10 a.m., the other around 2 p.m. Jorhat is a central location to reach many places of international importance. Local People assist in Assam tourism Majuli, is the largest freshwater river island in The world contesting for a position in the "World Heritage list". It is located 20 kilometers from the heartland of the City of Jorhat, Assam. It is an environment friendly, pollution free fresh water island nestled in the mighty River Brahmaputra. Total area of the island is 1250 km2. Majuli is a geographical landscape of natural and cultural heritage site, with water bodies covering most of the areas which attracts plenty of local and migratory birds. About twenty six Satras or the cultural house of power are in Majuli of which the Kamalabari, Auniati and Garmur are worth mentioning. These Satras are propagating the religious ideology of great Assamese medieval Vaisnavite saint Sankardav and Madhavdav, preaching satria culture. Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar is a noted Bor namghar (place of worship) in Assam, established by saint-reformer Madhabdev in 1461. It is located at Dhekiakhowa village of Jorhat, 3.5 km away from National Highway 37. From the time of saint-reformer Sri Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev, this namghar (prayer hall) has been continuing as an important centre for Baisnav religion. Now this Bor namghar has 13 bighas of land, an auditorium of its own. The devotees of Assam donate freely to this namghar and due to their helping hand, the managing committee of Namghar conducts a lot of social and cultural welfare programs. Almost 461 years old, this namghar has been playing an important role in the exercise of Baisnav religion and unity for the people of Assam. It is said that the main pillar of the namghar is made of a Xaal tree (Shorea robusta). One night one of the bhakat (monks) of the namgahr saw in a dream that the river near the Bor namghar (known as dhekiyakhua jaan) was flowing in opposite direction and was carrying a Haal tree meant to be for the construction of the Bor namghar. Next day, when people saw that dream to be true, they made the main pillar of the Bor namghar from the tree. This is the maidam of great Lachit Borphukan. He was the greatest ever Ahom General who defeated the mighty Mughals at Saraighat in 1672. He died a year later and his remains were laid under this maidam by Swargadeo Udayaditya Singha. It is located at Gohain gaon of Meleng-Hulungapar. It is 8 km from the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. The existing maidam (vault) which lies on the south bank of River Tocklai on the northern side of Jorhat town is of the last Ahom king, Purandar Sinha, who expired on 1 October 1848. The present maidam was constructed to preserve the ashes of the last Ahom King Purandar Singha. Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium: It is located near the Rajmao Pukhuri opened to the public from March 2013 onwards. A dominant feature of the digital planetarium is the large dome-shaped projection screen onto which scenes of stars, planets and other celestial objects can be made to appear and move realistically to simulate the complex 'motions of the heavens'. This will have enhanced data mapping, data logging and astronomical planetary motion. The digital planetarium reduces the maintenance costs and increases the reliability for such systems: they employ few moving parts and do not generally require synchronisation of movement across the dome between several separate systems. Jorhat Gymkhana Club: Established by British, the Jorhat Gymkhana Club was built in 1876 by D. Slimmon, then Secretary of the club in Seconidhara village. The club has been a venue for horse races ever since its inauguration. The Governor's Cup is the major trophy awarded here every year. It has a lush green 9-hole golf course circuit vying for a position in the "World Heritage list" as the oldest golf course in Asia and the third oldest in the world The club offers facilities in lawn tennis grass courts, swimming pool, billiards, polo, gentleman's bar and cinema theatre. The cricket ground here is known as 'Jorhat Gymkhana Ground'. It had the grace of hosting the CK Naidu Under-19 Indian Cricket tournament matches.[35] Khelmati sports club uses this ground for practising cricket. The Club road was the first asphalt road laid by the Britishers to connect the City Centre with the Jorhat Gymkhana Club. The Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, built in 1926, was donated by late Radhakanta Handique. It is the headquarters of Asam Sahitya Sabha. Personalities like late Chandradhar Baruah, late Dimbeswar Neog, late Mitradev Mahanta and other writers from Jorhat have adorned the presidency of Asom Sahitya Sabha. Ayur Sanjeeva is a health resort situated inside the Tilikiam tea garden. Amidst the greenery of the tea garden and having the vast open land Malow Pathar behind it and with the perpetual cool breeze coming from the nearby Brahmaputra, this resort is to be the dreamland for nature lovers. This mini museum comprises the metal icons and stone sculpture, sins of Sashi bark and man made paper, weapons of Ahom dynasty. It is situated in the complex of P.G. Training College in M.G. Road. Thengal Bhawan was built in 1880 by Rai Bahadur Siva Prasad Barooah. In 1929, he published a weekly Assamese newspaper. Later, he established his printing press and office at Thengal Bhawan and managed to publish a daily newspaper, Dainik Batori. Siva Prasad Barooah was the owner and Bagmibar Nilamani Phukan was the editor of this daily newspaper. This newspaper was published from such a place, Thengal Bhawan, where there was no post office. It was the first daily newspaper in Assamese and also the first daily newspaper in any language, published from a village in entire India. Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife sanctuary, more popularly known as Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary named after hoolock gibbon covers an area of 20.98 square kilometers (including the area under Military Engineering Services of Indian Army) at Jorhat district of Assam. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary was earlier known as Hoollongapar Forest during British period in 1881. This sanctuary is approximately 19 km from Jorhat's town centre and 5 km from Mariani. Kaziranga Golf Resort is a very picturesque golf resort located at Sangsua and Gatoonga Tea Estates near Mohbondha in west Jorhat. Laid in the fond memory of the first Ahom king of Assam, Sukapha at Mohbandha near Dergaon and Jorhat. The State administration has pledged Rs 20 crore for the mega project in recognition of the six hundred years of Ahom rule in the region. Shanti Ashram is an ashram along with a Hindu temple located at Kokilamukh, near the bank of river Brahmaputra. It is almost 30 km from the heart of Jorhat town. The surrounding area is very scenic and the river Brahmaputra flows beside it. The Jorhat Buddhist Temple situated at Tocklai Rajabari was established in 1952.The original Temple was built in 1949-1952. The Temple is managed by Jorhat Buddha Behar Society established in 1949 which was registered under the Societies Registration Act in 1958.The members of the Temple belong to the Theravada Buddhist Sect.New Building of the Temple is under construction. In the Temple complex there are multipurpose projects viz.Buddhist Education & Cultural Centre of Assam which has a 'Sunday School' for children, a mini library,a Community Hall (Tri-Ratna Santhagara)and a Pali Vidyalaya. Mulai Kathoni or Mulai Forest, a man made forest located at Kokilamukh, a village of Jorhat. Jadav Payeng, "the forest man of India", who is behind this exceptional work, upgraded a chapori of the river Brahmaputra to this forest.