Billeswar Devalaya

Getting there

• By air

  Guwahati International Airport is about 60 km from Nalbari town.

• By train

  Nalbari railway station is in the town centre. The temple is about ten km south-west of the town.

• By road

  Nalbari is reached by National Highway 27 from the north and National Highway 427 from the south.

Why devotees come here

Billeswar Devalaya is an ancient Hindu temple in Belsor village, Nalbari district, Assam, dedicated to Shiva. Local legend says a priest's cow led to a Shiva lingam, which a king had dug out, and the temple is believed to be about 500 years old. It has drawn devotees and royal patronage for centuries.

Legend says a priest had a cow that would not be milked. He followed it and found the cow gave milk on a bush of virina grass. When the king heard of this, he had the spot dug and found a Shiva lingam there. A temple was built on that spot, and devotees have come to it for centuries.

The temple is believed to be about 500 years old and received royal patronage from the Ahom kings. Lakshmi Singha rebuilt it after a natural calamity damaged it. A news report says the main temple was built by the Ahom king Shiva Singha, and that the devalaya was established during the reign of King Nagsankar.

Queen Phuleswari is believed to have been the first to perform Durga puja at the devalaya, in the late Ahom era. Today the temple holds many pujas through the year. Belsor is now a developed village with easy accessibility.

Festivals

• Navami of Durga PujaDurga Puja

  Thousands of devotees throng the temple on Navami to pray to Devi Durga. Buffalo sacrifice is part of the Durga Puja ritual here.

• Through the yearPujas through the year

  Shivaratri, Navaratri, Janmastami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Kali puja are among the pujas held here.

Tips for your visit

• Doul yatra and Kati Bihu are also celebrated at the devalaya, besides the pujas listed above.
• Thousands throng on Navami, so if you want a quieter darshan, plan your visit for a day other than Navami.

Questions people ask