Sivasagar: Valley of historic monuments and temples

Located around 360 km from Guwahati and 55 km east of Jorhat, Sivasagar is a place of historical importance. It is especially known for its historic monuments and temples built during the reign of Ahom dynasty.

Sivasagar was the Ahom capital for almost six centuries. The Ahom dynasty’s first capital was established at Charaideo by its first king, Sukapha. It is believed that Su-ka-pha was accompanied by his soldiers, elephants, ministers and officials when he entered the Brahmaputra Valley in the 13th century crossing the Patkai Hills.

The Burmese invasion of 1819 ensured the fall of Ahom dynasty and then the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company. The present day Sivasagar is a very popular destination and people as well as devotees from faraway places flung to this place.

Things to do

Sivasagar known its glorious history has plenty of monuments and temples each having its own historical relevance that are worth visiting. You can take a stroll around the holistic sites and nature reserves. You can also see the Borpukhuri, a tank that can be seen from the complex of the three dols. The water level remains unchanged in this tank, no matter how much it rains or even is there is a dry spell in the summers. This tank is also the second largest man-made tank in entire Assam after the famous Joysagar tank. Another interesting fact about this tank is that it was made within a single night without any technological support.

Places to Visit

This exquisite travel destination have plenty of places to visit. You can visit the famous dols which is situated in the heart of the town. The tallest and the greatest among the three is the Shiva Dol that lies in between Vishnu Dol and Devi Dol. Shiva Dol dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the most sacred pilgrimage of the country. Vishnu Dol and Devi Dol is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Maa Durga respectively. Queen Ambika, the wife of Shiva Singha ordered the construction of these three temples. All these three dols have sculptures of Brahma, Shiva on his Nandi, Narasimha, Kalki, Devi sitting on what looks like a mythical winged creature, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and even hunting scenes on them. The Devi Dol attracts lots of devotees from all over the world during Durga Puja.

Best time to visit

Travellers can visit Sivasagar throughout the year but the best time is considered between October to April. One can also consider traveling in the time of Maha Shiv Ratri as grand celebrations are held here.