Hajo Assam: An ancient pilgrim site of Assam - TheUnexplored Blog

December 11th, 2022

Hajo Assam: An ancient pilgrim site of Assam

Hajo Assam

Hajo Assam, a hilly town, preserves the entire spirit of India as a country with a diverse population of cultures and religions. Although it is renowned for being ” Tirtha Sthan” or Pilgrim site. Numerous Buddhist and Muslim pilgrims also visit its hallowed places. Every path winding through the lush green forest here leads to a god’s realm that was constructed centuries ago, and every wall bears the imprint of connected cultural histories.

Hayagriva Madhava Temple

Hayagriva Madhava Temple (Wikimedia commons)

Hajo Assam – The popularity of this shrine among  Vaishnavites and Buddhists alike accounts for its singularity. The temple, which is located atop the Monikut hill and was constructed in the 10th century under the Pala dynasty. It is dedicated to Vishnu’s half-horse, half-man avatar. It is made of stone and contains the idol of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation Hayagriva Madhab. The Pancha Madhab, or five manifestations of Vishnu, are preserved in the main temple. It is one of the hamlet’s busiest pilgrimages.

Hajo Assam
Stairs of Hayagriva Madhava Temple (Wikimedia commons)

To get to the temple complex, you have to climb at least 100 steps. It is situated on a hill’s summit. The temple’s natural surroundings are stunning.

Kedareswara Temple

Hajo Assam
Kedareswara Temple (Wikimedia commons)

A Shiva temple is located on a hike up the Madanachal hill. The age was related to the reign of the Ahom ruler Sargadeu Rajeswar Singha based on inscriptions found inside the temple that also list land concessions made at that time. The temple has a straightforward façade that blends well with its serene surroundings. As it contains the revered Svyambhu (self-originating) Shiva Linga in Ardhnareswar (male and female) form, it is regarded as auspicious and a must-visit by many pilgrims visiting Hajo.

Poa Makkah

Hajo Assam
Poa Makkah (Wikimedia commons)

Muslims visiting Garurachal hill can discover a piece of their history there. The mausoleum of Pir Giyasuddin Aulia is also housed on this site, in addition to a mosque. The chambers are entrenched in a bygone era. The Mughal prince Muhammad Shujauddin is mentioned in Persian inscriptions on the walls that belong to the 17th century. Additionally, the inscriptions include information about its creator, an Iranian by the name of Lutfullah Shirazi, as well as Hajo’s Mughal-era name, Shuja’abad.

Hajo Assam
Interior of Poa mecca (Wikimedia commons)

This area is known as Powa Mecca, which translates to “one-fourth of Mecca,” the holy city of Muslims. It is stated that people who are unable to visit Mecca once in their lifetime due to financial or physical constraints might fulfill their religious obligations by traveling to Powa Mecca four times.

How to reach?

A 36-mile drive separates Hajo from Guwahati. From the Guwahati train station, Hajo may be reached in about an hour. It takes about 40-50 minutes from the airport. To get to Hajo, there are public and private bus options from Guwahati to Hajo. To see the well-known tourist attractions in Hajo, you may also think about hiring a private taxi.

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