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Assam is home to a plethora of exquisite temples that will fill you with a sense of divinity. Aside from its rich biodiversity and world-famous tea, Assam is also renowned as a location of historical significance, with several ancient myths and stories concealed throughout the region. If you are looking for a peaceful, spiritual, or religious journey, Assam is without a doubt a great place to visit because it is a place where you can visit famous Hindu temples that will not only give you a sense of spiritualism but will also give you the opportunity to have a whole new perspective on yourself. Assam is filled with temples, stone carvings, religious shrines, people who celebrate numerous traditional festivals and rituals, and much more.
Below are the lists of prominent Hindu Temples spread across the state of Assam
It is located in Hajo, Assam. The state of Assam houses a number of spiritual places for the Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims. One such sacred space for the Hindus is the Kedareswara temple in Hajo. This temple is a significant one that is devoted to the deity Shiva. Rajeswar Singha, who was one of the rulers of the Ahom dynasty, had built this temple during the year 1753. The location of the temple lies in Hazo at the roof of Madanchala Hillock. The distance between Guwahati and the temple is around 32 km. The distinctive aspect of the temple is rare and unique Syambhu- "self-worth" linga. It is in the structure of Ardhnareswar, which means a male and female form of the deity Shiva. Preachers keep the 'linga' covered with the help of a metal bowl.
Assam is popular for a substantial temple that lies in the midst of the river Brahmaputra. This is Umananda Temple which is built on the Umananda Temple. It is also popularly referred to as Peacock Island. The deity worshipped in this temple is Lord Shiva. Gadadhar Singha, a ruler of the Ahom Dynasty had erected the temple in 1694. Lord Umananda is the primary deity of the Umananda Temple. Moreover, Lord Umananda is another incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is believed locally that the deity Shiva inhabited in this region where he was once involved in deep meditation when he was interrupted by the Lord of Love, Kamadeva. Such an act angered the deity Shiva who, with his one glance, turned Kamadeva into ashes. This incident made the location of the temple known as Bhasmachala. The prime festivity observed in this temple is Shivaratri. This festivity enthralls a huge number of visitors and devotees which creates a magnificent ambiance around the temple. The temple comprises numerous statues and figures carved out of rocks. It also gained prestige due to its archaeological greatness. Along with its archaeological as well as religious prominence, it is also known and famous for its natural magnificence. The views from the island are captivating which also entices a lot of visitors.
How to Reach Umananda Temple: The option of ferries is available to reach the temple. These ferries are operated by the government. It can be availed at a specific timing.
Best Time to Visit: One can visit this significant temple during the winter period starting from October to February.
The Shiva Dol temple is built in Sivasagar. It lies near the bank of Borpukhuri. The temple comprises numerous structures devoting to three Hindu shrines, namely Vishnu Dol, Devi Dol, and Siva Dol. The deity worshipped on Siva Dol is Lord Shiva. The deity worshipped in Vishnu Dol is Lord Vishnu, and in Devi Dol, the deity Durga is worshipped.
The dimension of the Siva Dol is approximately 104 feet in height. The measurement of the base of the temple is around 195 feet in perimeter. It is capped with a golden crown-like dome which is 8-feet high.
An enormous fair is arranged in the temple of Shiva during the period of Mahashivaratri. The entire scene entices plenty of pilgrims from different sections of the world to pay their homage and offer their praying. Another prime aspect of the temple is being observed during the Sawan period which starts from August to September. The enticing element of it is the chanting of prayers, chanting of kirtan, and mantra of Hare Krishna which continues the entire night.
The names of few festivals which are observed annually Vishnu Dol includes the Rath Yatra and the Dol Yatra. In addition, Durga Puja is magnificently observed at Devi Dol during the period of September to October.
The location of Dhekiakhowa Bornaamghor lies in Jorhat district. Madhavdeva is credible for the establishment of this temple. He is a well-known saint and reformer. In the temple, he ignited an earthen lamp which, till today, has not stopped burning and has been maintained by the preachers of the temple. The exact site of the temple is Dhekiakhowa village which is in the Jorhat district. It is 3.5 km further from the National Highway 37, and 15 km further from Jorhat city. Due to its historical significance and larger area, it gained the name of Bornaamghor.
Dhekiakhowa Naamghar also has a famous tale which gives it a more substantial aspect. Once the responsibility of spreading the Eksarana Nam Dharma and reforming people was taken by Guru Madhavdeva. While carrying out his duty, he visited this small and impoverished village. He stayed at an old lady's hut for a night and was served rice along with dhekia saak. This saak is a wild vegetable that has a delicious and savory taste. However, providing such a trivial dish to such a saint embarrassed the old lady. On the contrary, the saint was extremely pleased with the dinner provided to him. This made him visit a namghar in that locality. Also, he made the old lady responsible to lighten the earthen lamp. This incident gave the place its current name which is Dhekiakhowa Naamghar. Hence, it got its name from the Naamghar itself.
This naamghar is frequently visited by quite a number of devotees and pilgrims, especially, during Bhado month which is considered to be holy. This period starts from August till September. This period also carries significance as it is the death anniversary of Madhavdeva as well as Srimanta Sankardeva, prominent gurus.
The location of the Navagraha temple is Chitrachal hill. It is
established in the eastern section of the city of Guwahati. The deity worshipped
in the temple is Navagraha which implies the nine prime celestial bodies, i.e.,
Grahas of the astronomy of the Hindu. These celestial bodies comprise of Sun
"Surya", Moon "Chandra", Mars "Mangala", Mercury "Budha", Jupiter "Brihaspati", Venus
"Shukra", Saturn "Shani", North Lunar Node "Rahu", and South Lunar Node "Ketu".
The temple also serves the purpose of analysis center of astronomy and also of astrology. Due to an earthquake, it suffered huge destruction by losing its tower and a vast portion of it. However, it was later restored. The ruler Rajesvar Singha had built such an incredible temple during the period of 1752 A.D. The destructive earthquake was unable to demolish the garbhagriha which is the internal quarter of the temple. The construction of the upper section of the temple was made of iron sheets.
The Mahamaya temple is also referred to as Mahamaya Dham of Bagribari. It is a holy place for the Hindus to offer their praying. The site of this temple lies in Kokrajhar district of the state Assam. The town Dhubri is around 30 kms away from the temple, and the town Bilasipara is 10 kms away. The routes to the temple, both the railway and road routes, are extremely well developed and maintained. A varied number of buses and taxis are constantly available to reach the temple from the city. It receives a lot of fame due to its sacred and religious prominence. It also possesses a rich cultural as well as historical lineage. Each and every year, many pilgrims are enticed to this temple as it is one of the incredible Shakti Perthas.
It has also gained popularity due to its age-old ritual of animal sacrifice which dates back to 400 years ago. It mostly takes place during the period of Durga Puja. In the temple, one can find majestic idols of deities, such as Lord Hanuman and Goddess Kali, within the premises of the temple. It is also another captivating element for the visitors.
The Mahamaya Snaanghat Shrine is another area for praying Goddess Mahamaya. It is merely a few miles from the prime Mahamaya shrine. According to the locally held beliefs of ancient times, the deity Mahamaya took bath there. This is how it came to be known as Mahamaya Snaanghat. The preachers of the shrine perform a ritual known as Shakti Yagya, specifically in the month of January each year.
The Asvakranta Temple Is devoted as the shrine for the deity Vishnu. The prayers are for the deity known as Anantasay in Vishnu which implies the sitting posture of Lord Vishnu on a snake. The site of the shrine exists on the rocky bed of the North of Guwahati. It is close to the river Brahmaputra. People visit this shrine because it is commonly believed that it cleanses all the evils and sins of an individual and attain the ultimate which is salvation known as "moksha".
It is believed, based on an ancient legend, that the divinity Sri Krishna made a stop in this area along with his army and horses. It was the time when Lord Krishna was approaching to kill Narakasur, the ruler of this land. By the term "Asvakranta" it implies 'ascended by horses', and this is how it achieved its name. Another attractive element of the temple is its extravagant natural beauty.
Da Parbatia Temple exists in the village of Da Parbatia. It is a few kilometers away from Tezpur, in the west direction. It gains a lot of significance due to its primitive origin as it an age-old Hindu shrine in the state of Assam. The enticing factor of the shrine is its architectural magnificence.
A remarkable milestone of the shrine is that antiquity belonging to the 6 TH century was discovered during an archaeological excavation. It took place in the year 1924. The antiquity was in the structure of a door frame made of stone with enormous carvings. The impressions on the door frame resemble the conventional structure of the early Gupta School of Sculpture. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 has the record of its significance and magnificence.
The Sukreswar Temple is devoted to worshipping the deity Shiva. The construction of the shrine took place in 1744. The Ahom ruler Pramatta Singha. The Saiva cult was facilitated by the ruler Raheswar Singha. He provided monetary assistance to the Sukreswar shrine during the year 1759. The shrine has the direct passage of stairs to the river Brahmaputra. The passage starts from the very compound of the shrine. From there, the magnificent view of the Umananda island can be admired. This island is very well known as it is the smallest island present in the world. Along with the view of Umananda, the scenic beauty when the sun sets and appears to be hiding behind the river is extremely mesmerizing. The other enticing views comprise of the movement of the boats on the river, individuals paying homage to their dear ones whose souls have departed the world, kids along with adults taking bath on the bank of the river. Also, it creates a serene ambiance far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
It is established on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river, specifically, it lies on the Itakhuli hill or Sukreswar which is in Panbazar, Guwahati.
This temple is found in the southeastern section of the city, Guwahati. It is devoted to worshipping the deity Shiva. Rajeswar Singha, the ruler of the Ahom dynasty, had built this shrine during the year 1764. This temple lies in the Basistha Ashram which goes before the Vedic age.
This shrine has gained a lot of significance because, according to the religious beliefs, the saint Basistha, who is also referred to as Vasistha, inhabited here. The site of this shrine is on the suburbs of the reserve forest in Guwahati, which is known as the Garbhanga reserve forest. The distinctive feature of it is the presence of a huge number of elephants. Visitors and preachers pray in the temple. The shelter where saint Basistha meditated is in the inner part of the shrine which is about 5 km inside of the shrine.
It is located on the bank of the streams flowing from the hilly section of the Meghalaya hills. These streams later turn out to the Basistha and Bharalu rivers. Bharalu river is also known as the Bahini river which flows throughout the entire Guwahati city.
The site of the Tilinga Mandir lies in Bordubi. This tiny town is 7 km away from the district of Tinsukia in Assam. In this shrine, the preachers worship the deity Shiva, and it is a well-known Shiva temple in Upper Assam. In the Assamese language, the term 'tilinga' implies bell and 'mandir' implies temple. This is why it referred to as the Tilinga Mandir or the Temple of Bells. It comprises bells in huge abundance. It created a place in the Limca Book of World Records due to its ample amount of variety of bells present in the temple. The variety consists of bronze, copper, aluminum, and brass bells. Also, it posses bells of different sizes that weighs 50 grams to 55 kilograms
The year 1965 marks a significant incident which is the discovery of the Shiva Linga that arose from the underground close to the banyan tree. It is at this location where the Tilinga Mandir exists. It is believed, based on Hindu mythology, that the banyan trees are divine trees that fulfill wishes. Kalpavriksha is another name to refer to the tree. The commonly believed ritual is to attach bells on the branches of the banyan tree which, in turn, fulfills one's wishes. When one's wishes become fulfilled, he or she has to return to the shrine and hang a bell.
This shrine is visited by people during all the seasons of the year. The most common day to visit the shrine is Monday.
The Bhairab Temple lies in the suburbs of Tezpur which is located in Assam. More specifically, it exists in Kolibari. In the temple, the goddess Bhairabi is worshipped. People visit this temple to pray and with desires to fulfill their wishes by the grace of God. According to the legend of Hindu beliefs, the daughter of Banasura, a king of the Asuras, frequently visited the shrine to worship Goddess Bhairabi. The observance of the Durga puja is quite magnificent in this shrine. The ritual of sacrificing animals, such as goats, pigeons, ducks, etc., is also performed in the temple
The Maha Bhairav Hindu Temple lies in
Tezpur, Assam. More specifically, at the foothill of its northern section. It is
assumed that the king, named Bana, had built this shrine during the
pre-historic period. Earlier, the construction of the shrine was done only with
stone. However, the current temple was refurbished with the help of adhesive.
People witness the grand celebration of Maha Shivaratri in the temple. The entire festivity is filled with great passion. People arrive at this temple from far distant places for this occasion. Along with prayers, a delicious offering is made which is an exceptional laddu mixed with Bhang. It is an edible form of cannabis combined together with milk, spices, and sugar. These are served as prasad, an offering, to the deity Shiva. A varied number of rituals take place in the shrine. One such ritual is to let the pigeons be free which implies that the souls of predecessors are freed.
The site of this temple is in the district of Lakhimpur, Assam. It is exactly in the northern section of the district. The condition of the shrine is quite ragged. It is located within the forest. It possesses a very rare and uncommon character. The entire construction is of a single stone-carved building. It did not include any cement in the building. The only element that holds the stone together is the iron pin and also without including any clamps. A very enticing feature of the temple is its internal designs which are magnificently carved like the impressions of animals, birds, geometrical designs, and flowers.
The Doul Govind Temple lies in the state of Assam. It is at Gaurisagar
which is close to Suvasagar. This shrine is a prominent one in Assam. The deity
worshipped in this shrine is Goddess Durga. It is an embodiment of the power of
women and their glorification. The temple consists of great religious
significance as well as virtuous enrichment. Along with these, the shrine has
gained fame because of its remarkable architectural layouts and wonderful
sculptural aspects. This temple comes in the list of the ancient shrines of the
state, yet, it has several layers to unfold to reveal its splendor.
The observance of Shakti Puja in the shrine is filled with great fervor and excitement. This ceremony has been taking place here for over three hundred years. Such a celebration gives the onlookers a magnificent view.
The Bhageswari Hindu Temple has a lot of significance due to its mythological relevance. According to legend, the Trishul which was used to cut Goddess Durga into halves is discovered here. This fact has tremendously increased its prominence. This shrine has also turned out to be a popular traveler's destination. This is due to the abundance of natural scenic beauty it possesses along with the pure and lucid ambiance. One can also visit a shrine dedicated to the deity Shiva. This shrine is a stone cave and is known as Baba Taraknath Temple.
The site of this temple lies on the foothills of Shukleshwar. It is on the ghats of Shukhleswar of the river The Brahmaputra. The deity worshipped in this shrine is Vishnu. It catches a lot of attention because of its captivating and lush green surroundings. It also possesses a picturesque view in the midst of such greenery. However, it is still unknown the origin of the shrine. The renovation of the temple took place during the 17th century.
The shrine is a beautiful combination of both Hindu and Buddhist architectural patterns, including designs from both cultures. Wonderful impressions of deities are carved on the walls of the temple, and the color of the walls is milky white.
In addition, the serene and peaceful ambiance in the temple is one major factor in attracting visitors.
Madan Kamdev exists in Baihata Chariali district of Assam. It is almost 40 kms away from the city of Guwahati. The entire land coverage of the shrine is 500 m. The shrine has many statues of Madan Kamdev reflecting its beautiful architecture. It lies at the hilltop which serves as a captivating spot for visitors in Guwahati.
The location of this temple lies in Guwahati. Here, the preachers offer their prayers to Lord Venkateshwar. The architectural style of the shrine has a south Indian pattern. The shrine also consists of a Ganesh temple which is at the opening of the temple. Hence, people, first, offer their prayers to Lord Ganesh and then offer prayer at the Balaji temple. The primary deity worshipped here is Lord Balaji. The temple also comprises several other deities, such as Padmavati, Garuda, etc. People also worship Lord Shiva in the shrine. The idol of the deity Shiva is 40+ years old. The ambiance within the shrine is calming and peaceful because of the spotless white walls.
The pattern of the South Indian style is extremely evident in the entire structure of the temple. Visitors, after offering their prayers to the deities, can sit in the wonderful garden within the premises of the temple. In the shrine, prasad is also served in the form of laddoos. This prasadam is similar to the prasad offered in the Tirupati Balaji Shrine located in Tamil Nadu. The style and surroundings of the style are modern. Also, it is an extremely visited place of Guwahati.
How to Reach Tirupati Balaji: The temple exists at the suburbs of Guwahati, but the means of traveling to reach the location is easily accessible. A varied number of options, such as city buses, shared taxi, cab, etc. can be available by the visitors.
Best time to visit: The finest period to visit this shrine Temple-starts from October till February.
Kamakhya Temple is the most renowned temple in Assam. It is one of the Shakti Pithas which is devoted to the worship of the Goddess Kamakhya. The site of this shrine lies at the top of the Nilachal hill in Guwahati. It is well maintained and preserved by the government authorities. The shrine consists of three mandapas and four numbers of Garbhagrihas. The walls of the temple have several statues carved in them. The rarest feature of the shrine is that it does not possess any idol of Goddess Kamakhya. The prayers are offered to the sacred Yoni, which is the vagina of the goddess, in the inner reliquary of the temple.
Another enticing feature of the shrine is its majestic sight from the top of the hill. It gives a picturesque view of the entire city. The ambiance surrounding the shrine gives a calming effect. The evening aarti at the temple displays a captivating view during the evening time. Hence, the Kamakhya temple is a prominent temple of Assam.
One major celebration in Kamakhya temple is the Ambubachi Mela. It is observed every year for four consecutive days. During this period, it is believed that Goddess Kamakhya undergoes her yearly menstrual cycle. Visitors come from different parts of the world to visit this shrine during this festivity.
How to Reach Kamakhya:
There are several options to choose from to reach the Kamakhya temple. These options include city buses, private taxis, cabs, shared taxis, auto-rickshaws, etc. All these alternatives are easily available.
Best Time to Visit Kamakhya:
The finest period to visit Kamakhya Temple starts from October till February.
If you are looking to go away from the frantic, congested life of the city and into a location where you can enjoy peace and quiet, you have come to the perfect spot. Embrace the magnificent cultural legacy that has been passed down from generation to generation, revel in the richness of your heritage, and fill your heart with the miraculous heavenly beauty that the temples have in store for you.
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