Golaghat has a number of heritage buildings and sites[1] – the Golaghat British Cemetery, constructed in 1876,[22] the Bezbaruah Higher Secondary School, set up in the late 19th century in the year 1886[23] by the educationalist Dinanath Bezbarua, the Baptist Church founded by the American missionaries in 1898, the Christian High (Mission) School built by the American Women Foreign Mission Society in 1919,[24] Assam's first department store – Doss & Co., constructed in 1930 and incorporated under the Registrar of Companies (RoC) – Shillong in the year 1955[25] to name a few.

[36] The stone inscription of Nagajari-khanikar village of Sarupathar, dating back to the 5th century, reveals that there was an independent kingdom in Doyang – Dhansiri valley and the relics of ramparts, brick structures, temples and tanks etc.

According to the Brief History of Mengguo Zhanbi, in 1318, Si Kefa after conquering southeast states till Lancang river from the Yuan dynasty, appointed his brother Sanlongfa as the general and led an army of 90,000 to attack the king of Mengwei Sari (Upper Assam) in the northwest.

In the end, he designed a plan to make Mengwei Sari surrender and agreed to pay tribute every three years.

[39] The Ming court sent Zhou Rang, a Supervising Secretary to bestow Imperial orders, patent, seals, paper money, silks etc.

[46] In a 1442 inscription from Pagan of Burma mentions Timmasala (Hill Kacharis) to be one of the 21 principalities under Mong Mao ruler Thonganbwa (1413–1445/6),[47] who was later captured by the Governor of Taungdwin and presented to King Narapati I of Ava.

During this time, Purandar Singha continued to rule with Jorhat as the capital of his territory, Upper – Assam, but with the formation of two other subdivisions, one at Jaipur and the other at Golaghat.

The lines were stretched to connect Golaghat with Kohima, Shillong with Goahati, Sibsagar with Nazerah and Debrughur with Makum.

In British Assam, Golaghat derived its importance chiefly because of having advanced communication systems during that time and on account of its connection by road with Kohima.

mi) on 5 October 1987 and is known for its notable contribution in India's independence movement, arts and culture, literature and sports in the region.

The Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat is the executive head and is responsible for law and order, implementation of government schemes, besides being also authorised to hear revenue cases pertaining to the district.

In political or administrative usage contemporary areas of Golaghat are informal, often being based on or adapted from historic contexts.

[72] Like most of the hill areas of Northeast India, Golaghat has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) characterised by pleasant, dry and sunny winters and warm, humid and very wet summers.

In 2011 Census, Golaghat registered the lowest child sex ratio[note 7] of 884 females per 1000 males,[79] and the highest percentage of household-industry workers in the district at 4.98 percent.

[note 12] Small-scale tea growers that are based here have also provided considerable traction to the economy because of large incomes.

[87] The Numaligarh Refinery is the major heavy industry in the region processing three million tonnes of crude oil per year.

[100] The present–day club, open to all, is equipped with a lounge bar along with a billiard table, a gymnasium and a swimming pool, besides a restaurant.

Golaghat's heritage Gymkhana Club, then the centre of entertainment and merry-making for military personnels, much like Jorhat, was destroyed during the Quit India Movement.

Full of artefacts, mementoes, movies and other personal collections of Banerjee's lifetime, the museum showcases 587 dolls and 262 other showpieces which had been presented by admirers and children during his trips to abroad and in the country.

Golaghat British Cemetery, established in 1876, is located on the premises opposite to Cally Coomar Doss & Co., adjacent to the circle office of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited.

Ltd. under the Registrar of Companies (RoC) – Shillong in the year 1955,[105] located at Krishna Building,[106] the Golaghat Doss & Co. is the oldest Department Store,[107] and the largest during that time, that was established before India's independence from Britain.

The general merchants' store belonging to entity of company with limited shareholders and an authorised capital of ₹500,000 and paid–up capital of ₹210,000,[108][106] still stands to this day, trading in the same building at the heart of the city centre, having many divisions comprising home appliances, electronics, and additionally select other lines of products such as paint, hardware, toiletries, cosmetics, photographic equipment, jewellery, toys, and sporting goods, among others.

[111][112] The two stores with an age difference of two years, and with the assigned registration numbers of 1063[113] and 1086[114] respectively, laid the first foundations of department stores in the region, establishing Doss & Co. – Golaghat as the thousand sixty–third and Doss & Co. – Jorhat, the thousand eighty–sixth, limited companies in Assam to be listed under the category of Trading as the principal business activity based on the classification of registered companies by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

[116] An important archaeological site in the state, located on the hills amidst the tropical forests, consisting the ruins of an ancient temple, and a vast range of sculptured stone blocks of pre-Cambrian rocks – the architectural style is of the later Gupta-era.

Spread over ~ 10 acres of land, it includes an air-conditioned auditorium, a tourist lodge, boating facility, an amusement park and restaurants.

Designed and developed by Government of Assam, the cultural complex is set up with the specific mission to create, preserve, promote and educate about the passion and dedication of Sati Sadhani.

The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hot-spot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.

The lake is about 30 minutes drive from central Golaghat and is a scenic spot with lush tea gardens lining the borders of the vast expanses of water.

The leaders of the Assam Agitation formed the AGP on 14 October 1985, in Golaghat[140] and the party later that year overthrew the Indian National Congress led by late Hiteswar Saikia.