Rain Forest Research Institute is located at Jorhat. Jorhat was selected for establishment of the Institute because of its proximity to the evergreen forests of the region, communication facilities and location of various research laboratories namely National Bureau of Soil Survey (ICAR), Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Tocklai Experimental Station (Tea Research Association), Central Muga and Eri Research and Training Institute (Central Silk Board), and educational centers viz. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat Engineering College, etc. In fact, Jorhat has been the historical, cultural and educational capital of the northeast and celebrated its second centenary during 1997.