Janardana Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU) in Guwahati is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Guwahati Railway Station (GHY) is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Janardana Temple stands on the Shukleshwar hillocks in Guwahati, near Shukleshwar Ghat on the Brahmaputra River. Its deity is Janardana, a Buddhist reincarnation of Vishnu, and its stone architecture blends Hindu and Buddhist styles.

The architecture and construction style of Janardana Temple reflect a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism. The deity is Janardana, a Buddhist reincarnation of Vishnu, and the temple takes its name from him. The belief that Buddha is a reincarnation of Vishnu brings Buddhist and Hindu culture together here.

The temple is believed to have been renovated in the 17th century by Swargdev Paramatt Singh. It is built of stone on a hillock. The Hindu parts are the mandap, the garbhagriha and the shikhara, which houses the deity. The Buddhist parts are the carved stupas, lotus motifs and statues. The floor plan is classic rectangular, with the door facing east.

An idol of Buddha is installed inside the main hall. The temple stands on the Shukleshwar hillocks, near Shukleshwar Ghat on the Brahmaputra River, which flows from Tibet to the Bay of Bengal. Guwahati, the city it belongs to, lies between the banks of the Brahmaputra and the foothills of the Shillong plateau. The mandap is the hall where devotees gather, and the garbhagriha and shikhara house the deity.

Tips for your visit

• Visit the nearby Shukleshwar Ghat to watch the Brahmaputra River flow past.
• After the ghat, visit the Assam Museum, whose artefacts tell the story of Assam and its people.
• Look for the carved stupas and lotus motifs, which show the Buddhist side of the architecture.

Questions people ask