Jorhat or Jorehaut means two hats or markets 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. In the year 1794 the Ahom king Gaurinath shifted the capital from Sibsagar (erstwhile Rangpur) to Jorhat. This town was a flourishing and commercial metropolis but completely destroyed after a series of the Burmese invasions since 1817 till the arrival of the British force in the year 1824 under the Stewardship of David Scott and Captain Richard.
Jorhat can be considered as the gateway to north Assam and Tribal country of the North East India.