Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday city life, Guwahati also has a number of places spread across the city which have tremendous historical and religious significance. From the blessing of Goddess Kamakhya to Grace of Saint Basistha; Guwahati is lucky to have beautiful places to worship.
Here are top five places where you can give your soul some peace and take a day out from your busy life.
Kamakhya Temple
Located atop the Nilachal Hill, Kamakhya Temple holds great historical significance for Hindus. It is one of the oldest of the Shakti Pithas is considered to be an important pilgrimage destination for devotees. People from far off place come to seek the blessing of goddess Kamakhya. According to the legends, when Sati jumped into the fire and Lord Shiva did Tandav dance, the body parts of Sati fell in different places. Each of these places is now a place of worship. It is beleived that Sati's Yoni or womb fell in the Nilachal Hill and the Kamakhya temple came to place.
Pir Baba Mazar or Ulubari Mazar
This dargah is frequented by people of all faiths and religion and is one of the oldest. Locals hold the mazar in great reverence and throng to offer their prayers. Hazrat Zahir was a renowned pir who came from Arabia around two centuries ago and made Ulubari his abode. Witnessing suffering all around him, he stayed in the state and helped the needy. The popular dargah is visited by not only devotees from Assam but also from far flung places like Delhi, Patna and Kolkata among others. According to legends, people have claimed that their illness has been cured after offering prayers at the dargah.
Umananda Temple
This temple is a popular place to visit among devotees since it is built on the Peacock island in the middle of the Brahmaputra River in the city. It was constructed om 1694 AD on the orders of King Gandadhar Singha, one of the strongest rulers of the Ahom dynasty. It is located opposite to the Kachari ghat of Guwahati and is devoted to lord Shiva. The peacock island is uniquely known as the smallest inhabited river island in the world.
Christ Church
Located in the famous Nehru Park, Christ Church is one of the oldest churches in the Northeast. The church is 174 years old and has a strong history attached to it. The church was recently renovated by the church’s congregation and is considered as one of the important heritage sites of the state. Christ church was founded in 1844 and was consecrated in 1850.
Sukreswar Temple
Another important temple of Guwahati is the Sukreshwar temple. Located in the heart of the city, the temple draws the attention of devotees of Lord Shiva. With the beautiful view of the huge Brahmaputra River, the temple is an important landmark of the city. With six Jyotir Lingam and a colossal Shiva Lingam, the temple has drawn huge number of devotees during important Hindu festivals.
It is said that Saint Sukreshwar once meditated for Lord Shiva at this place. The temple was reconstructed by Lord Parattma Singha, the Ahom King.
