Mahabhairab Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Salonibari civilian airport is about 8 km from the city centre, on the road to Balipara.

• By train

  Tezpur station is closed. The nearest railway station is Dekargaon, about 4 km from town.

• By road

  Guwahati to Tezpur by National Highway 52 is 181 km, via Baihata Chariali, Mangaldoi, Kharupetia, Dalgaon, Rowta, Orang and Dhekiajuli. Regular buses run from Guwahati, and taxis are available there at an affordable rate.

Why devotees come here

Mahabhairab Temple stands to the north of Tezpur town in Sonitpur district, Assam. Tezpur lies on the banks of the Brahmaputra. The temple is a Shiva temple linked to King Bana, and its linga is said to be made of living stone.

Legend says King Bana built the Shiva temple. Some people believe Bana gained prosperity by worshipping Shiva here. The linga is said to be made of living stone.

The temple is believed to have been established by King Bana with a Shiva linga. In later years the Ahom kings gave temple land, and priests and attendants, the pujaris and paiks, were appointed to look after it. The original temple was built of stone. The present structure was renovated and built with concrete.

Today the Government of Assam manages the temple through a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur. Maha Shivaratri, the annual festival of the Shaivite branch of Hinduism, is celebrated in the temple complex, and devotees come from far and wide.

Festivals

• AnnualMaha Shivaratri

  Celebrated in the temple complex, with devotees coming from far and wide.

Tips for your visit

• Haleswar Temple is 10 km north of Tezpur, near the Tezpur-Balipara main road.
• Agnigarh, a hillock on the Brahmaputra bank, is the site of the legendary romance of Princess Usha.

Questions people ask