Hajo - It Is An Ancient Pilgrimage Centre For Hindus, Buddhists And Muslims

Hajo - It Is An Ancient Pilgrimage Centre For Hindus, Buddhists And Muslims

The religious village of Hajo is situated on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River. About 30 kilometres away from Guwahati, Hajo is an ancient pilgrimage centre for Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. There are quite a few temples in Hajo and all enjoy the reverence of their devotees. 

Most famous is the Hayagriva Madhava Temple atop the Monikut hill. Hindu as well as Buddhist pilgrims seek solace at this scared stone temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Hayagriva Madhava Temple is also known for its exemplary architecture. Other historically and religiously important temples in Hajo include the Madan Kamdev Temple on Dewangiri hill and the Kedareswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Hajo can rightly be called the pilgrimage city of Assam. Dotted with a number of Hindu temples, Hajo invites all to taste the flavour of utmost spirituality. Among the famous Hindu shrines in Hajo are Hayagriva Madhab Temple on Manikuta Hill, Kedareshwar Temple and Ganesha Temple. On the other hand Muslims also rever Hajo as a holy place and come here to pay homage at Powa Mecca. 

Buddhists see Hajo as a pious place where Lord Buddha attained Parinirvana. Hajo or precisely Sarthebari is famous for its bell metal items and when you are there, make sure you buy at least a souvenir. Whether you believe in religion or not, you will love to see this holy destination in Assam, which defnitely has the capability to change your perspective towards spirituality.

Hayagriva temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu that is similar to the idol of Lord Jagannath in Puri. Also, it is believed that Lord Buddha is believed to have attained Nirvana at this religious site and hence this site is visited by numerous Buddhists, Bhutiyas and Hindus.

Powa Mecca and the word 'Powa' means 1/4th and hence, Powa Mecca figuratively refers to having some of the sanctity of Mecca. The tomb of Pir Giasuddin Auliya, a pioneer of Islam is located here.

The Kamesware Temple is an ancient temple, built in the 18th century by the Ahom king Pramatta Singha. Quite later after its construction, it was turned into a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The shivlinga here resembles that in Kedarnath.

Kameswara Temple Located atop the Madanachala Hill in Hajo, this Shiva temple is regarded as one of the oldest temples in the Indian subcontinent. This temple enshrines a huge Shivalinga, made of stone, which is popularly known as the Svayambhu Linga.

Reaching Hajo is quite easy, as there is a good connectivity to this place from the nearby cities, like Guwahati, Tezpur etc. The town is located at a distance of about 25 km to the west of Guwahati and is frequently visited by travelers and tourists from all over the globe.