Kamrup

Kamrup is a historical region in the western part of the Indian state of Assam, situated along the Brahmaputra river valley. In historical and cultural usage, Kamrup denotes a broader geographic area that includes the western banks near present-day Guwahati and surrounding parts; in modern administration the term is associated with the Kamrup region and its districts, including Kamrup Metropolitan and Kamrup Rural.

Historically, Kamrup, also known as Kamrupa, was the center of the ancient Kamarupa kingdom that flourished roughly from the 4th to the 12th century CE. Its capital was Pragjyotishpura, commonly identified with present-day Guwahati. The kingdom played a major role in the early history of Assam and figures in Sanskrit and local literature, inscriptions, and the Kalika Purana. The region interacted with neighboring polities in the Brahmaputra valley and in the broader eastern Indian subcontinent.

After the medieval period, Kamrup came under various powers, including the Sena and Pala empires, and later the Ahom kingdom established control over much of the region. Under British rule, Kamrup was reorganized into administrative districts; in the post-independence era the name Kamrup continues to be used in modern Assam to denote both the historic region and contemporary districts (namely Kamrup Metropolitan and Kamrup Rural) that include the city of Guwahati, the largest urban center in the region.

Language and culture: The region is a core part of the Assamese-speaking heartland. Kamrupi dialects of Assamese are traditional to the area, with distinct cultural traditions, crafts, music, and festivals that echo the historic heritage of Kamrup.