Historic temples of Guwahati

Photographs and text by  Anu Boro

For tourists, looking for archaeologically significant temples to delve into historical past, the temples in and around Guwahati city have lot to offer. Kamakhya temple, atop Nilachal hills, is the prime attraction and one of India’s top religious pilgrimage destinations. The present structure of the temple of Goddess Kamakhya was built under the patronage of King Naranarayana and his brother great warrior Chilarai of Koch dynasty in 1565. Other temples on Nilachal hills of Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta, Bogola, Bhairabi, Matangi, Kamala and Bhubaneswari, which are believed to be incarnations of Kamakhya, also attract pilgrims and other tourists. Basistha temple on Sandhyachal hill was constructed under the patronage of Ahom King Rajeswar Singha in the middle of 18^th century. Located at the peacock island in the middle of the river Brahmaputra, Umananda temple was built under the patronage of Ahom King Gadadhar Singha in 1694.  Sukreswar temple atop a small hillock on the bank of river Brahmaputra was built under patronage of Ahom King Pramatta Singha in 1744. Built in 1752 under the patronage of Ahom King Rajeswar Singha the Nabagraha temple on Nabagraha hills is also a major tourist attraction. Ugratara temple built in 1720 under the patronage of Ahom King Sivasingha, Mangalchandi or Chatrakar devalaya built during 1785 and 1799 under patronage of Ahom King Kamaleswar Singha also carry signatures of religious practices and beliefs of prevalent at the time of construction. Aswakranta devalaya on Aswakranta hills on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra in North Guwahati still offers a challenge to historians and archaeologist to determine the exact period of their construction. The present structure of Manikarneswar devalaya at Rajaduar locality of North Guwahati was built in 1677 under patronage of Ahom King Rajeswar Singha.

(Anu Boro is an independent photojournalist based in Guwahati and travels to different parts of the North East region as part of her professional work.)