Abstract
Terrain plays an important role in determining the landscape of an area. Terrain Analysis can be efficiently carried out using Geographic Information System. Terrain features basically include slope, aspect, viewshed, elevation, relief, flow, upslope flowlines and downslope flowlines. Terrain exhibits the present land cover and also how the existing land cover and land use is managed within the area. One of the important intentions of terrain analysis is to understand the relationship between the landscape and its characteristics and how the entire demographic and agricultural settings are designed and patterned in the region. Using GIS based study; an attempt has been made to establish the relationship between the terrain and the land use pattern in the foothill zone located in Kamrup Metropolitan district of Assam bordering Meghalaya state. The Assam-Meghalaya foothills have also undergone massive changes due to growth of human habitat and activities, which have significant impact upon the natural landscape of the study area. The unique landscape emerging in the area holds great significance in terms of physiographical set-up. Thus, by evaluating the terrain characteristics and proper land cover change detection empirical method for land cover change can be analysed which have been constantly influencing the ecological as well as geographical regime of the area.
The present study with an attempt to analyse the terrain characteristics of the study area, provides the basis for proper planning of the diverse terrain of the foothills which are very sensitive to land cover dynamics and associated environmental changes. The environmental challenges faced by the study area can also be well be addressed through this study.

Key words: Land use, Foothills, Land cover, Environment, Terrain.