Doul Govinda Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar serves Guwahati, about 20 km west of the city centre.

On the way

• Ferries and steamers run from Fancy Bazaar Ferry Ghat to Rajaduar, the easiest and fastest way to reach the temple.
• From Rajaduar landing it is a five-minute walk to the temple.
• Trekkers are available from Kharguli, Adabari and Jalukbari.

Elderly visitors

• Rajaduar is a village in North Guwahati, on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra.
• Special ferries run from Guwahati to Rajaduar during Holi.

Why devotees come here

Doul Govinda Temple stands at Rajaduar in North Guwahati, on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. It is mainly devoted to Krishna and is one of the important temples of Kamrup. Holi is kept here for five days each year, drawing about five thousand pilgrims.

Doul Govinda Temple is mainly devoted to Krishna, and it is one of the important temples of Kamrup in Assam. Several stories tell how the deity came to this place. Legend says the late Ganga Ram Barooah brought him from Sandhyasar, a place near Nalbari.

The first structure was built more than one hundred and fifty years ago, and it was renovated in 1966. The temple stands on the foothills of Chandra Bharati hill, close to the river. A Namghar stands within the same premises as the temple. The temple is open and accessible all year round.

The Chandra Bharati hills near the temple were the abode of Chandra Bharati, a medieval litterateur. The temple's Doul Mahotsav festival runs on a five-day schedule.

Festivals

• February or MarchHoli

  Observed for five days with various programmes, and about five thousand pilgrims gather at the temple premises. In Assam it is also called Doul Utsav.

• July 16Jagannath Rath Yatra

  The 14th Rath Yatra was set to roll from North Guwahati to Doul Govinda on that day. Thousands of devotees are expected at Guwahati's 8 km annual Rath Yatra.

Tips for your visit

• Expect a crowded temple during Holi, when about five thousand pilgrims gather on the premises.
• The Namghar stands within the same premises as the temple, so both are on one visit.

Questions people ask