Just a few months back when I had been toying with the idea of visiting the North East state of Assam, I came across the website of Nexplore Travel. That is when I thought of visiting the interiors of Assam. I am a lover of quaint little towns or villages that are steeped in history and culture. Of course, archaeological remains and vibrant natural beauty could be found in many places in North East India, my focus was drawn to the place called Sibsagar.
I contacted this travel agency by mail and soon enough I was packing my bags and camera to visit the town of Sibsagar.
An overview of Sibsagar that struck me:
To start with, I reached Guwahati airport and from there, a cab ride ensured I reached Sibsagar in six hours. Sibsagar means the Ocean of Lord Shiva, which was formerly called Rangpur. It was the capital city of Ahom rulers who ruled for over six centuries. Our trip was between 10 and 17 April and that it was in time for Bihu festival, which is held during 13 and 16 April every year.
There are a plenty of tanks and reservoirs and the entire town is now dotted with the royal palaces that have been the only evidences of the long lost era of royalty.
Monuments that made me proud of our heritage:
Yes, looking back at my photo album of Sibsagar trip, I have to ascertain that only in a few times earlier, I have been so mesmerized by the architecture that dots the scenic locality of Sibsagar, or Sivasagar. Our first stop was at Ranghar or Rang ghar, which is the oldest remaining pavilion in Asia. I had read about this in school but until the time I visited it, I had never believed that such exquisite place existed. We got a chance to view the beautiful Bohag Bihu festival here in front of Rang ghar. I was amazed to see the beautiful dance performances by the local dancers whole day and could not resist myself in joining them. This was the best experience in my Sibsagar trip.
We took time to look around the two-storied amphitheater where buffalo fights were held for the spectators during the rule of Ahom ruler Pramatta Singha. It is just 15 kilometers away from Kareng Ghar, which happens to be the royal palace.
Talatal Ghar was our next stop. Which was one of the most important places of Ahom rulers. The building is one of the main portions of the royal palace comprising of Kareng Ghar. The Talatol Ghar as it is also called was built three storeys from below the ground complete with tunnels and made of bricks.
Our next destination is Kareng ghar was also called the Garhgaon Palace. Talking of the architecture, this is the highlight of my Sibsagar tour at its best. The entire palace was originally made of special brick and an indigenous type of cement made locally by a sticky variety of rice grain and eggs etc. Over these years, the structure has fallen off but still many rooms remain intact even today. The overall beauty of what would have been an outstanding work of art can be noted even now.
It is worth a visit on your trip to Sibsagar and I felt happy that whatever I had read about the architecture in these parts of the country is not untrue. Our stay in the homestay as organized by Nexplore travel proved to be really welcoming. The homestay was neat, the hosts were hospitable and if you too happen to come here, do not miss out on the local dishes of fish and rice that are the staple here.
The next morning we went to Charaideo, 30 kms away from Sibsagar town is the sacred burial ground of the Ahom kings and queens of the past. It is a very beautiful place consist of approximately 30 Maidams or hillocks surrounded by greenery.
Tanks and Reservoirs that abound:
Sibsagar has plenty of temples and tanks like the Gaurisagar tank, which is spread over 150 acres and has three temples attached to it. The Shivadol, the Vishnudol and the Devidol are the three temples here and they have to be visited as a must on your visit to Sibsagar. The word ‘dol’ means temple. The pure beauty of this place can only be experienced. The walls of the tank and temples are adorned majestically, which makes us get absorbed in the period when these were built.
Another man-made tank is the Jaysagar tank, which was built in 1698 by the King Rudra Singha, and it also has Bishnu dol attached to it. King Rudra Singha’s son, Lakshmi Singha built another tank in his father’s memory and this was what was called Rudrasagar. The tank has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Temples and the Wonderful Architectural Designs:
If you have gone to Sibsagar, then a visit to Shivadol, the main temple of Lord Shiva is as essential as the visit to the Taj on your visit to Agra. The Shiva dol with its 31m high dome can be viewed from the time a car approaches the town of Sibsagar. Of course, the most famous tank, the Sibsagar tank after which the name of the town was given is here next to this temple. There are three great temples by this tank too and this is today a hub for birdwatchers who come here to visit the migratory birds. The three temples of Shivadol, Vishnudol and Devidol are seen here and we too offered our prayers here. Once again, adorned with gardens on all sides, this Sibsagar tank is just mesmerizing and we decided to stay there for some more time.
Azan Pir Dargah is a holy place that can be visited for its historical significance. The dargah is made after the Saint Ajan Fakir who was a fakir and had come all the way from Baghdad and to bring Muslim Reform Movement in Assam.
Other places worth visiting in Sibsagar:
Call it our love for nature and open spaces that we have already fallen in love with Sibsagar. The comfortable homestay provided the rest and relaxation that we so needed. Added to that, when we realized that we are just a little away from the Pani dihing Wildlife sanctuary, which is just around 22 kms from the Sibsagar town. Known for offering the best bird watching experiences, this sanctuary lived up to its expectations. We spotted few birds and we also came to know that it invites around 70 species of migratory birds every year.
Overall, our trip ended in a week and we felt at peace with the lush tea gardens and meadows all around. The once-upon-a-time capital city of the Ahom rulers today is just filled with the vestiges and thanks to the commendable job that is being done in maintaining the place, we surely hope that it will remain so for years to come. This trip was an eye-opener and truly made us wish to come back again possibly during the months of November or December and visit the Magnificent Assam in depth. During these months, we can spend some more time in the open by the Gaurisagar tank or even watching the Red crested pochard or a white necked stork in the Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary. Moreover, the stay at the same Sibasagar travel was made brilliant by Nexplore travel.
