Holy
Pilgrimage – Assam
State
Sukreswar Temple
The Sukreswar Temple is an important Shiva temple in the state of Assam in India and was constructed in 1744 by Ahom King Pramatta Singha (1744–1751). King Rajeswar Singha (1751–69) who also promoted cause of the Saiva cult made financial provisions for the Sukreswar Temple in 1759. The temple is located on the Sukreswar or Itakhuli hill on the south bank of river Brahmaputra in the Panbazar locality of Guwahati city. Leading down from the temple compound is a long flight of steps to the river. Sitting on the steps of Sukreswar ghat one can enjoy the scenery of sun setting on the river, boats moving across the river, people performing puja in honour of their relatives who have left this world, children and older people bathing, far removed from the din and noise of the city.
Umananda Temple
Umananda Devaloi is a Shiva Temple is located at the Peacock island in middle of river Brahmaputra just opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup or the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati. It was built by the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696) who was a devout Shaivaite.
The temple is located on the Pea cock Island (as named by some poetic British Administrator) in the middle of the river Brahmaputra at Guwahati. It is known as smallest inhabited Riverine Island in the world. Country boats that are available on the bank of Brahmaputra take the visitors to the island. The mountain on which the temple has been built is known as Bhasmacala.
Legend
Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to the Kalika Purana, in the beginning of the creation Siva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati (his consort). It is said that, when Siva was in meditation on this hillock, Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Siva’s anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala.This mountain is also called Bhasmakuta. The Kalika Purana states that Urvasikunda is situated here and here resides the goddess Urvasi who brings Amrit (nectar) for the enjoyment of Kamakhya and hence the island got the name Urvasi Island.
Presiding Deity
The presiding deity of the temple is Umananda (Tatrasti bhagavan sambhu- ruma- nandakarah Prabhu). It is believed that, worship here on the Amavasya day when it falls on Monday brings the highest bliss. The Siva Chaturdasi is the most colourful festival that is held here annually. Many devotees come to the temple on this occasion for the worship of the deity.History
The temple of Umananda was built in 1694 A.D. by the Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique by the order of King Gadadhar Singh (1681–1696), one of the ablest and strongest rulers of the Ahom dynasty. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devastating earthquake of 1897. Later, it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a Siva temple with Vaisnavite slogans.Structure
The temple has inherited some rock-cut figures, which speak passionately of the masterly skill of the Assamese craftsmen. The sculptures here show that the worshippers there followed all the principal Hindu gods. Representations of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as emblem) in addition to those of Visnu and his ten incarnations (avatar) are found here. The main shrine is reached by a flight of steep steps.Access
The Peacock Island can be accessed from Guwahati and North Guwahati by ferries and steamers. One can hire a
ferry from Sukleshwar ghat or Fancy Bazar Ghat. This is expensive[clarification needed] but one can get
the feel of the river and its surroundings without any interventions. This is
most ideal for couples and family trips. However, a much convenient and cheaper
transport[citation needed] has been
provided by Inland Water Transport, which connects the Peacock island to
Guwahati from Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat
Ugro Tara Temple
A temple dedicated to Tara (Devi) located in the western side of Jor Pukhury tanks in the heart of Guwahati city in the Lotaxil (Latasil) locality. The Ugratara Temple in Uzan Bazaar in the eastern part of Guwahati, Assam is an important Sakti shrine. Legend has it that the navel of Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, is related to this temple. Ugratara in Assam is generally identified with Tiksna-Kanta, Eka-Jata, etc., of the Buddhist pantheon.The present temple of Ugra Tara was built by Ahom King Siva Singha in 1725 AD who had excavated a tank three years before. The tank known as Jorepukhuri is situated to the east, of the temple. The tank still exists, though the upper section of the temple was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. This was however rebuilt by a private citizen. Kalika purana describes a Shakti peetha called Dikkara vasini. Dikkara vasini has two forms, Tikshna kantha and Lalitha kantha. Tikshna kantha is black and pot bellied, also called as Ugra tara or Eka jata. Lalitha kantha is gracefully attractive, also called as Tamreshwari.
In the Garbha griha of Ugra tara there is no image or idol of her. A small pit filled with water is considered as the Goddess. The temple of Ugra tara is small and beautiful to view. There is a Shivalaya beside Ugra tara temple and a pond behind both temples.
Sthala Purana: Once upon a time, Yama(Lord of the Hell) made a complaint to Brahma that nobody is coming to the Hell from Kama rupa because of the sacredness of the area, despite of doing sins. Brahma carried this complaint to Vishnu. Vishnu took them to Shiva. Lord Shiva ordered Goddess Ugra tara to drive away all the people who are living in Kamakhya. She sent her army.
In the course of this drive, they laid their hands on Rishi Vasishtha who was meditating on Shiva at Sandhyachal. Vasishtha became angry and cursed Ugra tara and Shiva. From then onwards all the Vedic(Shiva) sadhanas are given up in Kama rupa and Ugra tara became a Goddess of Vamachara sadhana. All her army became Mlechhas.
Sadhana
Ugra tara is worshiped in general like Kamakhya. She likes liquor, flesh, Modaka, coconuts and sugar cane.Lankeshwar Temple
Lankeshwar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple on top of a hillock in the
western part of the Guwahaticity
near Gauhati University campus. The Lankeshwar Temple of Assam is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva. The temple is placed atop a hill amidst a picturesque location.
Lankeshwar is one of the many forms of Lord Shiva. The followers of Lord Shiva
considered the temple as one of the most sacred one. Devotees all around the
year visit this temple and seek divine blessings.
The Lankeshwar
Temple in Guwahati is not only popular with the
religiously inclined people but with the general tourists also. Most common
visitors are amongst the couples of Guwahati city, students of Gauhati
University, and that of Assam Engineering College. The wonderful location of
the temple is a major reason for this. Since it is situated in a convenient
location in the city, it is very easily accessible. Guwahati City Bus Number 6
provides with direct public transportation. This is an added advantage for the
place and one of the reasons behind its popularity. Moreover the temple is
believed to be very sacred to the pilgrims who visit here.
There are around
452 steps of staircase, which is required to climb in order to access the
temple. A decade or two back, this was a dirt road amongst the moderately dense
jungle of this region. But today, a whole staircase of marble has been built,
and that too from money donated by pilgrims and tourist visiting to this place
Rudreswar Temple
The Rudreswar Devaloy (Temple) was built by Ahom King Pramatta Singha (reign 1744 to 1751) in honour of his father Rudra Singhawho died in August, 1714. It is located in North Guwahati in Mani Karneswar area on the northern bank of River Brahmaputra. The temple is located at the site where Rudra Singha was cremated as per Hindu last rites.
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मपुत्र; Assamese: ব্ৰহ্মপুত্ৰ নদ; Brôhmôputrô),[2] also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a transboundary river and one of the majorrivers of Asia.
With its origin in
the Angsi Glacier, located on the northern side of theHimalayas in Burang County of China's Tibet Autonomous Region as theYarlung Tsangpo River,[3] it flows across southern Tibet to
break through theHimalayas in
great gorges (including the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon) and into Arunachal Pradesh (India) where it is known as Dihang or Siang.[4] It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south
throughBangladesh as the Jamuna (not
to be mistaken with Yamuna of India). In the vast Ganges Delta it merges with the Padma,
the main distributary of theGanges,
then the Meghna,
before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.[5]
About 1,800 miles
(2,900 km) long, the Brahmaputra is an important river forirrigation and transportation. The average depth
of the river is 124 feet (38 m) and maximum depth is 380 feet
(120 m). The river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the
Himalayan snows melt. The average discharge of the river is about 19,300 cubic
metres per second (680,000 cu ft/s), and floods can reach over
100,000 cubic metres per second (3,500,000 cu ft/s).[6] It is a classic example of a braided river and is highly susceptible to channel migration and avulsion.[7] It is also one of the few rivers in
the world that exhibit a tidal bore.
It is navigable for most of its length.
The river drains
the Himalaya east of the Indo-Nepal border, southern-central portion of the
Tibetan plateau above the Ganges basin, south-eastern portion of Tibet,
the Patkai-Bum hills, the northern slopes of the Meghalaya hills, the Assam
plains and the northern portion of Bangladesh. The basin, especially south of
Tibet is characterized by high levels of rainfall. Kangchenjunga(8,586m)
is the only peak above 8,000m and the highest point within the Brahmaputra
basin.
The Brahmaputra's
upper course was long unknown, and its identity with the Yarlung Tsangpo was
only established by exploration in 1884–86. This river is often called
Tsangpo-Brahmaputra river.
The lower reaches
are sacred to Hindus.
While most rivers on the Indian subcontinent have female names, this river has
a rare male name, as it means "son of Brahma" in Sanskrit (putra means "son").
Course
Tibet
The Brahmaputra river
(also called as "Burlung-Buthur" by the Bodo people of Assam), called Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan
language, originates on the Angsi Glacier located on the northern side of the
Himalayas in Burang County of Tibet and not Chema-Yungdung glacier, which was
previously identified by geographer Swami Pranavananda in the 1930s.The river
is 3,848 km long, and its drainage area is 712,035 square km according to
the new findings, while previous documents showed its length varied from 2,900
to 3,350 km and its drainage area between 520,000 and 1.73 million square
kms. This finding has been given by Mr. Liu Shaochuang, a researcher with the
Institute of Remote Sensing Applications under the analysis using expeditions
and satellite imagery from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Assam and adjoining region
The Brahmaputra
enters India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh,
where it is called Siang.
It makes a very rapid descent from its original height in Tibet, and finally appears
in the plains, where it is calledDihang. It flows for about 35
kilometres (22 mi) and is joined by the Dibang River and the Lohit River at the head of the Assam Valley. Below
the Lohit the river is called Brahmaputra,
enters the state ofAssam and becomes very wide—as wide as 10
kilometres (6.2 mi) in parts of Assam. It is joined inSonitpur by the Kameng River (or Jia
Bhoreli).
Between Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts the river divides into two
channels—the northern Kherkutiachannel
and the southern Brahmaputra channel. The two channels join again about 100
kilometres (62 mi) downstream forming the Majuli island, which was, until some time
back,the largest river island in the world. At Guwahati,
near the ancient pilgrimage centre of Hajo,
the Brahmaputra cuts through the rocks of the Shillong Plateau,
and is at its narrowest at 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) bank-to-bank. Due to the
river's narrow width, the Battle of Saraighat was fought here in March 1671. The
first rail-cum-road bridge[clarification needed] across the Brahmaputra was opened to
traffic in April 1962 at Saraighat.
The environment of
the Brahmaputra floodplains in Assam have been described as the Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen
forests ecoregion.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the
Brahmaputra is joined by the Teesta River (or Tista),
one of its largest tributaries. Below the Teesta, the Brahmaputra splits into
two distributarybranches.
The western branch, which contains the majority of the river's flow, continues
due south as the Jamuna (Jomuna) to merge with the lower Ganges, called
the Padma River (Pôdda). The eastern branch,
formerly the larger but now much smaller, is called the lower or old
Brahmaputra (Bromhoputro). It curves southeast to join the Meghna Rivernear Dhaka. The Padma and
Meghna converge nearChandpur and
flow out into the Bay of Bengal. This final part of the river is called Meghna.
In the past the
course of the lower Brahmaputra was different and passed through the Jamalpur and Mymensingh districts. In a 7.5[8] magnitude earthquake on April 2, 1762,
the main channel of the Brahmaputra at Bhahadurabad point was switched
southwards and opened as Jamuna due to the result of tectonic uplift of the Madhupur tract.[9][10][11]
The Ganges Delta,
fed by the waters of numerous rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, is
59,570 square kilometres (23,000 sq mi) the largest river deltas in the world
Flooding
During the monsoon
season (June–October), floods are a common occurrence. Deforestation in the
Brahmaputra watershed has resulted in increased siltation levels, flash floods,
and soil erosion in critical downstream habitat, such as the Kaziranga
National Park in
middle Assam. Occasionally, massive flooding causes huge losses to crops, life
and property. Periodic flooding is a natural phenomenon which is ecologically
important because it helps maintain the lowland grasslands and associated
wildlife. Periodic floods also deposit fresh alluvium replenishing the fertile
soil of the Brahmaputra River Valley. Thus flooding, agriculture, and
agricultural practices are closely connected.[13][14][15] Flood control measures are taken by
water resource department & The Btahmaputra Board but till now the flood
problem is being remained unsolved . At least 1/3 rd land of Majuli island has
been eroded by the mighty river.Recently it is suggested that a highway
protected by concrete mat along the river & Excavation of the river bed can
curb this menace .
History
Early accounts give
its name as Dyardanes.[21]A
question in connection with the river system of Mymensingh is when and why the Brahmaputra
changed its main channel. It is not improbable that in prehistoric times it
flowed directly south more or less along its present main channel. From ancient
times up to the end of the eighteenth century it flowed past Jamalpur to
Mymensingh and Egarasindur. The river practically
stretched from Jamalpur to Sherour, 7 or 8 miles as the crow
flies, and the present river Shiri was a part of it. As to its course through
Dhaka from Egarasindur, there is some uncertainty.
It may be that the
old geographers made mistakes and the fact was that it did not join the Meghna
at Bhairab Blzar but struck off a mile below
Egarasindur at Aralia toLakhipur and
then flowed in a south-westerly direction past Nangalband andPanchamighat to Rampal, joining the
Meghna at Rajbari. The dried up bed between Aralia and Lakhiour is wrongly
shown as the Lakshya in the revenue maps. This river branches off from the
Brahmaputra at Lakhipur.
In the past the
course of the lower Brahmaputra was different and passed through theJamalpur and Mymensingh districts. In a 7.5[22] magnitude earthquake on April 2, 1762,
the main channel of the Brahmaputra at Bhahadurabad point was switched
southwards and opened as Jamuna due to the result of tectonic uplift of the Madhupur tract.[23][24][25]
It has usually been
assumed that the change in the course of the main waters of the Brahmaputra
took place suddenly in 1787, the year of the heavy flooding of the river Tista.
It is, however, well known that the Tista has always been a wandering river,
sometimes joining the Ganges, sometimes being shifted westwards by the superior
strength of that river and forced to join the Brahmaputra.
In the middle of
the eighteenth century there were at least three fair-sized streams flowing
between the Rajshahi and Dhaka Divisions, viz., the Daokoba, a branch
of the Tista, the Monash or Konai, and the Salangi. The Lahajang and the Elengjany
were also important rivers. In Renault's time, the Brahmaputra as a first step
towards securing a more direct course to the sea by leaving the MahdupurJungle to the east began to send a
considerable volume of water down the Jinai or Jabuna from Jamalpur into the Monash and Salangi. These rivers gradually coalesced
and kept shifting to the west till they met the Daokoba, which was showing an
equally rapid tendency to cut towards the east. The junction of these rivers
gave the Brahmaputra a course worthy of her immense power, and the rivers to
right and left silted up. In Renault's Altas they very much resemble the rivers
of Jessore, which dried up after the hundred mouthed Ganges had cut her new
channel to join the Meghna at the south of the Munshiganj subdivision.
In 1809, Buchanan Hamilton wrote that the new channel between
Bhawanipur and Dewanranj "was scarcely inferior to the
mighty river, and threatens to sweep away the intermediate country". By
1830, the old channel had been reduced to its present insignificance. It was
navigable by country boats throughout the year and by launches only during
rains, but at the point as low as Jamalpur it was formidable throughout the
cold weather. Similar was the position for two or three months just below
Mymenensingh also.
As early as in 1830 there were resumption proceedings for chars
which had formed in the new bed. Enquiries showed that many of the new
formations were on the site of permanently settled villages which had been
washed away by the changes in the course of the Jamuna and the Daokoba. The
process has gone on ever since, and Buchanan Hamilton's remarks on the villages
of Bengal are specially applicable to this area. He says that "a change in
the site of a village 4 or 5 miles causes little inconvenience and is
considered no more than a usual casualty, which produces on the people no
effect of consequence. Even the rich never put up buildings of a durable
nature."
Ketakeshwar Dewal
Ketakeshwar Dewal (shrine) is a holy site in the Ketakibari area of Tezpur inAssam. It is reputed to
have one of the largest Shiva lingas in the world.
The actual site has
two parts - one part where the actual linga is located and another part a few
metres away where the original base of the linga is located. Legend has it that
during a severe earthquake in the past the linga was uprooted from its base and
deposited where it currently stands.
This shrine is open
to visitors and there is a local committee which oversees the development of
the area around the site. Originally it was in the middle of bamboogroves with a
small pathway for people to approach on foot. Recently there is a full shelter
that has been built on the site for the protection of the holy area from the
natural elements as well as for the devotees to assemble and offer their
prayers
Transport
Tezpur is located 190 kilometres (120 mi) from Dispur, the capital of Assam, and is well connected by both air and road transport. There are direct flights from Kolkata three times a week to Saloni, 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the city centre, and there is a daily bus service fromGuwahati, 180 kilometres (110 mi) away, operated by both government and tourist buses.
Tezpur
Tezpur (Assamese: তেজপুৰ) is a city and the administrative headquarters and municipal board of Sonitpur district in the state of Assam in northeastern India. Tezpur is an ancient city on the banks of the river Brahmaputra and is the largest of the north bank towns with a population exceeding 100,000. It is situated 175 kilometres (109 mi) north east of Guwahati, the second largest city of Assam, considered to be the "Cultural Capital of Assam".
The rivers in and
around Tezpur are very fast flowing ones, especially towards the Himalayas
foothills. The town is situated beside the river Brahmaputra. Tezpur has a
number of small hillocks, so that flooding doesn't occur during the monsoons.
Origin of the name
The name Tezpur is
derived from the Sanskrit words 'Teza' (meaning blood) and
'Pura' (meaning town or city). Legend has it that the original name of this
place was 'Sonitpur' ("sonit" in Sanskrit also means blood!) but when the battle
between Krishna's
army and Banasura's
army fought for the rescue of Aniruddha (who was the grandson of Lord Krishna,
according to legend) there was so much bloodshed that the whole place was
stained in red. This led to the name of the place becoming Tezpur.It is the Fifth largest cityof Assam
after Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, and Jorhat
History
Historical ruins from
the 8th and 9th centuries dot the surrounding areas of the city. The ruins of Bamuni
Hills are
the most famous. They bear resemblance to the Gupta period art. Accordingly there are plenty of myths as
well. The ruins of Da Parbatia are an example of the architecture around the 4th
Century AD.
Edward Gait
discovered a copper inscription in Tezpur the deciphering of which provided
vital information regarding the Ahom rulers.
Modern Tezpur was
founded by the British colonial
administration in 1835
as the headquarters of Darrang district. During World War II,
Tezpur received large numbers of refugees fleeing from Burma, particularly the
corps of Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian nurses. After independence of India in
1947, it remained the headquarters of Darrang district. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962 the Chinese army came up to
the Tawang city, which is located atArunachal Pradesh and for that purpose the town had to
be evacuated. All jail gates were opened and prisoners were released. In 1983 a
part of the district was carved out to form a separate district, named Darrang.
Tezpur was made the headquarters of the new district of Sonitpur.
Tezpur Balipara
Light Railway : The existing MG rail line is
the oldest on the North Bank, descending from the Tezpur Balipara Light Railway
built in 1885 to carry tea from upcountry estates to the then riverport of
Tezpur.
Rock inscriptions
829 A.D.: Sir Edward A. Gait ( 1897) had made reference to the nine line
inscription of Harjjar Varma in his ‘’A History of Assam’’. The inscription,
dating to 829 A.D., is the first historical record of Assam. The inscription
was found engraved on a massive stone some two km away from Tezpur town situated
near a temple called Rudrapad.
Hazara
Pukhuri : A king of the dynasty Harjjar
Varma excavated a large pond in 70 acres (280,000 m2) of land,
later came to be known as Hajara Pukhuri (Harjjara Pukhuri).
Kanaklata: On 10 September 1942, at Gohpur a young girl named Kanaklata Barua
from the village of Barangabri led a procession of unarmed villagers under the
Congress flag. As soon as Kanaklata unfurled the flag she and her companion
Mukunda Kakati were gunned down by armed police. Their death is still remembered
with pride.[citation needed] On the same day at Dhekiajuli Police
Station eleven unarmed villagers were gunned down by armed police while trying
to hoist the tri-color at the police station. Three teenage girls, Tileswari,
Numali and Khahuli, were killed in this incident and are especially
commemorated by the locals.[citation needed]
Tourist Attractions
Local areas/sites of interest
·
Agnigarh - Also Usha-Aniruddha Udyan
·
Bhairabi Temple - Durga shrine also known as Maithan
or Bhairabi Devalaya
·
Cole Park - Also known as Chitralekha Udyan
·
Kolia Bhomora Setu - The 3.015 km long road bridge
across the Brahmaputra
·
Ketakeshwar Dewal - Shiva shrine
·
Mahabhairav Temple - Shiva shrine
·
Padum Pukhuri - Central lake with an
island in the middle
·
Rudrapath - Shiva shrine
·
Da Parbatia Gate of Gupta period
·
Hazara pukhuri- Pond of
gupta period
·
Nag Shankar- Temple of lord Shiva
Transport
Tezpur is located
190 kilometres (120 mi) from Dispur, the capital
of Assam, and is well connected by both air and road transport. There are
direct flights from Kolkata three times a week to Saloni,
8 kilometres (5 mi) from the city centre, and there is a daily bus service
fromGuwahati,
180 kilometres (110 mi) away, operated by both government and tourist
buses. From Tezpur, tourist vehicles are available for hire for the nearby
destinations of Bhalukpongand
the Kaziranga National Park.
In 1987 the Kolia Bhomora Setu, over the Brahmaputra,
was inaugurated connecting Tezpur to the southern district of Nagaon. The bridge
is the longest over the river, spans a total length of 3,015 metres (3,297 yd),
and has become a tourist attraction.
Mahabhairav Temple
Transport
Bhairabi Temple, Tezpur
The Goddess Durga is worshipped here. The backdrop of
the temple is a view looking towards the Kolia Bhomora Setu across the Brahmaputra River.
The temple site is also locally known as Maithan andBhairabi Devalaya. Legend
has it that Usha (daughter of mighty Asura King Banasura)
regularly came here for the worshipping of the Goddess.[1] About a couple of kilometres away lie
the Bamuni Hills where one can view the ruins of the
palace that stood many centuries ago. The art work on stone carvings that were
used within the structure are from the 9th century.
The temple is now
managed by the Government through the office of the District Deputy
Commissioner. There are sacrificial offerings of goats and bulls that still
occurs regularly here.
The entrance to the
temple is through a very long staircase that leads up from the approach road to
the temple itself. There are numerous facilities for the purchase of ghee
lamps, incense sticks,
sweets and fruits etc. that are offered during prayers for blessings.
Tezpur is located 190 kilometres (120 mi) from Dispur, the capital of Assam, and is well connected by both air and road transport. There are direct flights from Kolkata three times a week to Saloni, 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the city centre, and there is a daily bus service fromGuwahati, 180 kilometres (110 mi) away, operated by both government and tourist buses.
Da Parbatia
Da Parbatia is an ancient architectural site of a Hindu temple in the 4th Century AD. There is a door
well which has survived the exposure to the natural elements for all these
centuries. It is a protected site under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Location
It is located on the outskirts of Tezpur in Assam, India.
Transport
Tezpur is located 190 kilometres (120 mi) from Dispur, the capital of Assam, and is well connected by both air and road transport. There are direct flights from Kolkata three times a week to Saloni, 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the city centre, and there is a daily bus service fromGuwahati, 180 kilometres (110 mi) away, operated by both government and tourist buses.
Rangnath Dol
Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha dug the Joysagar tank, the world's largest man-made tank covering an area of 318 acres (1.29 km2) including its four banks in memory of his mother Sati Joymati. On its bank in 1703 he built the Rangnath Dol, a (Shiva) temple near the Borduar or main gateway on way from the Joysagar tank to the Talatal Ghar to offer prayer to Lord Shiva. Large numbers of devotees continue to visit and offer puja in this temple
Sibasagar Shiva Doul
he Sivadol (Assamese: শিৱদৌল) (Hindi: शिवडोल) stands on the bank of Borpukhuri tank in the heart ofSivasagar, Assam. It was built in 1734 by Bar Raja Ambika, queen of Ahom king Swargadeo Siba Singha. The Sivadol (dol means temple in Assamese) is believed to be the tallest Shiva temple in India. Its height is 104 feet (32 m) and the perimeter is 195 ft (59 m) at the base. It is capped by an eight feet high golden-dome. Each year during the Shivaratri, a huge mela (fair) is organised in the temple ground and pilgrims from all over India arrives here to offer puja.
Sibsagar
Sivasagar (previously spelled Sibsagar)
(Assamese: শিৱসাগৰ Xiwôxagôr), the ocean of Lord Shiva, is a town in the Sibsagar district in the state of Assam in India, about 360
kilometres (224 mi) north east of Guwahati.
It is the district headquarter of the Sivasagar district.
Apart from its
history, culture, and tanks, it is also famous for its Ahom Palaces and
Monuments. Now it is a multicultural town. Sivasagar today is also an important
center for oil and tea trading.
Sivasagar, formerly
known as Rangpur, was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. It fell into hands
of Mughal Governors in the late eighteenth
century and was granted by Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb to Prince Roop Singh Rathore,
son of Raja Raghunath Singh ofMaroth.[1] The Ahom ruled Assam, virtually
without interruption for 6 centuries, until their kingdom fell to the Burmese in 1819 and their ruling class was all
but wiped out.[2]
The province was
liberated by the British in 1825 but, owing to the state of anarchy which
prevailed, it was completely annexed in 1826. For administration purposes it
was divided into three sub-divisions.[3]
This town's main feature is the water body from which it gets its name. This is a 257-acre (1.04 km2) tank also called Borpukhuri, at a higher elevation than the rest of the town, with three temples("Doul"s in Assamese) on its banks. Of these temples, the most prominent is theSivadol, standing tall at 104 feet (32 m), drawing large crowds on Shiv Ratri. The other temples are the Vishnudoul and Devidoul. The temples were built by Kuwori Ambika, wife of Swargadeo Siba Singha, in 1734.
Transport
Road
Sivasagar is well
connected by road with rest of the state. State-run buses go to places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat very frequently from Assam State
Transport Corporation's (ASTC) bus station in Sivasagar town. Private buses are
also available. Taxis are also available for hire.
Auto-rickshaws and
other modes of transports are also available in and around the town. The
cheapest ones, like Tata Magic and Tempoes, are available through Nazira,
Mechagarh, Joysagar to Sivasagar.
Airport
The closest airport
is located at Jorhat (55 km) from away from the city
of Sibsagar. The airport is connected with many major cities such as Guwahati, Kolkata, Bangalore.
It is also connected with Dibrugarh and Shillong.
Another option is the Dibrugarh Airport that is located at a distance of
(80 km) from the city. There are frequent flights services to both the
places and one can opt for either choice. You can opt for taxis from the
airport.
Railway
Sivasagar Town is a
beautiful town & it also have a railway station. The Dibrugarh –
Yesvantpur Express connects this station. The nearest railway station on the
Tinsukia-Guwahati sector of North East Frontier Railways is Simaluguri, 16
kilometres (9.9 mi) from Sivasagar town. Buses ply regularly from
Simaluguri towards Sivasagar. It is approximately a half-hour bus ride from
Simaluguri town
Attractions
Tanks
Joysagar
Joysagar, said to
be the biggest man-made lake in the country, is spread over 318 acres
(1.29 km2) of water on the edge of the town in an area called Rangpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away from
the present Sivasagar Town. This lake was built by Swargadeo Rudra Singha in honor of his mother, Joymoti.
Gaurisagar
Bor Kuwori
Phuleshwari Devi, the queen, built this tank, which is spread over 150 acres
(0.61 km2). The three famous temples, namely the Vishundoul,
Devidoul and Shivdoul, were constructed on its bank.
Rudrasagar
Swargadeo Lakshmi
Singha built this tank, dedicated it to his father Swargadeo Rudra Singha,
in 1773. A Shiva Temple was also build on the bank of this beautifully
constructed tank. It is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away from the city of
Sivasagar.
Temples
Dedicated to the
Hindu god, Lord Shiva, one the most sacred temple. This is at a height of 104
feet (32 m). It is thronged by all the devotees during the festival of
Shivratri. It was built in 1734 by Kuwori Ambika. It is 104 feet (32 m)
tall and encircles over an area of 195 feet (59 m).
Vishnudoul
Dedicated to the
Hindu god, Lord Vishnu, this is another important temple in Sivasagar.
According to the Hindu calendar the month of "Bhada", is supposed to
be very auspicious, though one can visit throughout the year. Kuwori Ambika
constructed these temples. She was the wife of the Swargadeo Siba Singha.
Devidoul
Dedicated to the
Hindu Goddess of Power, Durga, which is another important temple in Sivasagar.
Durga Puja, the most important festival of the temple is celebrate twice in a
year. The first one is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (April–May) and the
other in the month of Ashwin (September–October)
Panidihing Birds Sanctuary
A rich wetland
eco-system of 33.93 square kilometres (13.10 sq mi) on the southern
bank of river Brahmaputra in the Sibsagar district. Birds: A paradise of
migratory and resident birds, so far 165 species of birds have been identified
and recorded. A place for quite high concentration of geese and other migratory
birds. The common birds seen are bar-headed goose, grey leg goose, spot billed
duck, mallard, gadwall, wigeon, gargany, shoveller, red-crested pochard, common
pochard, ferruginous duck, adjutant stork, lesser adjutant stork, open-bill
stork, white-necked stork, etc. Aquatic fauna: Varieties of fishes have been
identified along with various species of frogs and snakes, etc
Hajo
Hajo (Assamese: হাজো) is an ancient pilgrimage centre for three religions: Hindus, Buddhists,
and Muslims.
It lies on the banks of the Brahmaputra River,
24 km from the city of Guwahatiin
the Kamrup district of Assam, India. The area is dotted
with a number of ancient temples as well as other sacred artifacts. The
Hayagriva Madhava Mandir is the most famous temple of Hajo. Lesser known
temples of Hajo like that of Ganesha was constructed during the reign of Ahom King Pramatta Singha in 1744 AD. The Kedareswara Temple, a Shiva
temple, has inscription on the temple showing that it is of Rajeswar Singha period.
Hayagriva Madhava Temple is situated on the Monikut hill. The
present temple structure was constructed by the King Raghudeva Narayan in 1583.
According to some historians the King of Pala dynasty constructed it in 6th
century. It is a stone temple and it enshrines an image of Hayagriva Madhava.
Some Buddhists believe that the Hayagriva Mahhava
temple, best known in the group of Hindu temples, is where the Buddha attained Nirvana.
At this imposing temple, the presiding deity is worshipped as the Man Lion
incarnation of Vishnu by the Hindus.[1] It is a stone temple and it enshrines
an image of Hayagriva Madhav. The rows of elephants are seen on the body of the
temple and they are fine specimens of Assamese art. There is a big pond known
as Madhab Pukhuri near the temple. Doul, Bihu and Janmastami festivals are
celebrated every year in the temple. Moreover this temple preaches both
Hinduism and Buddhism, which attract Buddhist Monks from far flung places. Sayani, the first wife of Kalia Bhomora Borphukan donated a family of paiks and also a
plot of land for their maintenance to the Hayagriva Madhava temple during the
reign of Ahom king Kamaleswar Singha
·
Hayagriva Madhava Mandir:This mandir is located in outskirts of Hajo. This temple is
visoted by both Buddhism and Hinduism
·
Madan Kamdev Temple:This temple i slocated 42 km east from Hajo.It is situated
on top of the Dewangiri Hillock.It is on of the ancient Hindu temples of Kamrup
Dynasty.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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