It is an important Administrative district of Assam located in the central part of the Brahmaputra Valley It was the last capital of the Ahoms during 18th century. It was a flourishing town but completely destroyed after a series of Burmese invasion since 1817 till the advent of the British Force in the year 1824. Jorhat as the name signifies was just a couple (Jor) of markets (Hat). Two parallel markets namely Chowkihut and Macharhut, lay on the eastern and the western banks of the river Bhogdoi. Jorhat has been able to produce many creative writers, historians, journalists etc. The first Assamese to win India's highest literature award, is from Jorhat. On the North of the district the River Brahmaputra forms the largest riverine island of the world Majuli. 

The town of Jorhat is located 314 km from Guwahati astride NH 37. It is a good link between lower Assam with upper Assam as also North Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. It has a connection by road, railway and air to other parts of Assam and major cities of the country. 

There are Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) as well as private buses which operate in this sector. Jorhat is connected to Guwahati by a direct rail line. There are direct flights from Guwahati to Jorhat and other parts of the country.