Nomad Saikat
For so many amazing things Assam as a state is popular already. Ranging from the rich culture to history and places of worship it has a lot to offer to its visitors. For every person visiting Assam something or the other will be available for them to explore. And if you are a religious person then you can explore a special thing in Hajo Assam. Hajo is basically a small town in Assam and is quite a famous and visited spot. As a place Hajo is famous for being a location with religious harmony. Let me explain everything about Hajo Assam to all of you.
Basically, Hajo is a popular religious location in Assam. However the uniqueness that you can observe here makes it special. Furthermore every person visiting Assam, must include Hajo Assam in their itinerary. Keep on reading this article to know everything about Hajo Guwahati. By the end of this article you will know why you must visit this spot too. So read up and enrich yourself.
Hajo Assam
Overview of Hajo Assam
Hajo is an ancient centre of pilgrimage. However what makes it unique is the fact that it is an ancient pilgrimage center for Hindus, Muslims as well as Buddhists. This is one such unique location where you can witness a harmony of religions. Each of the religions here is maintaining them with utter grace and relevance. For every person who is willing to explore a different side of Assam, visiting Hajo Assam is a must. With ancient mythological relevance and rich history it can be a very interesting visit. Not just as a site of pilgrimage but also as a Multi Faith Pilgrim Centre Hajo Assam is a popular spot.
Located just 24 km away from the city of Guwahati, Hajo is located on the banks of Brahmaputra. Here you can find dedicated shrines dedicated to Devi Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu as well as Buddhist sites and tombs of Muslim saints. For people of all the three religions this is an important site to visit. The fact that all the three religions coexist here in harmony makes it very unique. Hajo is a small town but it is popular in Asia for its bell metal industry. Furthermore the artisans here make varieties of utensils and fancy household items out of these materials.
History of Hajo Assam
At one point of time Hajo was the capital of the Koch Dynasty. The son of legendary Koch leader Chilarai and the nephew of King Naranarayan, Raghudev established the kingdom of Koch. During the 16th century Hajo was the capital and an important centre for this dynasty. However we can find mention of Hajo during 11th century as well. Kalika Purana described Hajo as Manikuta and Apurnabhava. Even in 14th century Yoginitantra described Hajo as Bishnupuskar. Later in 18th century it was described as Manikutgram. Hajo was however known by its present name during the Ahom period.
According to Hindu Mythology it is believed that the Pandavas had taken shelter at this spot during their Agyatvas or the period of hiding. Even there is a spot where the stone bowl once used by Bhima is still found.
How to reach Hajo Assam
By air
The Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati is the nearest airport to reach Hajo. You can get regular flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur etc. Distance from Guwahati to Hajo is around 35 km. Buses and cabs are easily available here and you can take them to reach Hajo.
By train
Paltan Bazar railway station in Guwahati is the nearest railway station to reach Hajo. The distance is about 32 km from there. You will get taxis and cabs to reach Hajo from the railway station.
By road
Hajo is easily accessible from major cities. It connects the roadways well and you can travel from nearby cities to reach here. Buses are easily available from nearby cities. Kachari City Bus Stand and Adabari Bus Stand are the nearest bus stops in Guwahati. From there rickshaws and cabs are available to reach Hajo Assam. You can travel from Jalukbari as well. Jalukbari to Hajo distance is about 27.5 km and it would take around 45 minutes to reach there.
Distance of Hajo from nearby locations:
Sualkuchi (10 km)
Nalbari (23 km)
Dispur (29 km)
Manas National Park (74 km)
Weather Hajo Assam
Like the whole of Assam here also you will get the tropical climate. Along with that the humidity here is mostly on the higher side as well. The summer here starts from March and continues till May. Mostly, summers are very hot and humid here with temperatures going above 38 degrees. Alongside frequent rainfall also happened here during this time.
The monsoon season is fairly comfortable here. From May to August the monsoon continues here. With an average rainfall of 180 cm, Hajo Assam looks gorgeous during monsoon. Everything around turns green and therefore looks splendid with a lush green cover. It can be a good time to visit here too, as a lot of festivals also happen during this time. So if you are interested in visiting Hajo Assam during the festivals consider visiting in autumn season.
Moving on to winters, Hajo Assam experiences cool winters. Mornings are mostly foggy here. Furthermore the temperatures are also comfortable during this time ranging from 7 degrees to 22 degrees. If you want you can visit here during winter months of November to February as well. The cool weather will be comfortable in exploring the whole area well.
Places to visit in Hajo
Hajo Madhab Mandir
This Hajo temple is the most important temple that you can visit in Hajo. Also known as the Hayagriva Madhava Temple, basically this one is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The idol of Lord Vishnu here looks like the idol of Lord Jagannath in Puri. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in Hayagriva avatar here, which is the avatar with a horse head. This temple has three distinct parts with a Sikhara on top. King Raghuvendra Narayan built this temple in the 16th century.
Devotees from all around the world visit here to pay their visit to this temple. However there is something special about this temple in Hajo Assam. Even though this one is a Hindu Temple this is one of the important sites of pilgrimage for the Buddhists as well. It is believed that Lord Buddha attained Nirvana at this very spot itself. Hence Hindus, Buddhists as well as Bhutiyas visit this temple.
To reach the temple the visitors need to climb a fleet of stairs. The temple is relatively small in size. Furthermore the size of the temple doesn’t define the importance which is much bigger. During the Holi Festival the temple is usually at its liveliest best. A huge number of devotees visit here during the Holi festival in March. The temple celebrates Holi with a lot of pomp and grandeur.
Hajo Powa Mecca
This place is the reason why Hajo Assam is so important for the Muslim community as well. Powa Mecca is located near the Madhava Temple. The word Powa means 1/4th and basically this means that this location has some of the attributes of Mecca, which is the ultimate holy site of pilgrimage for the Muslims. This location is considered as holy as Mecca itself. According to popular belief visiting this shrine brings 1/4th of the blessing and the spiritual enlightenment of visiting Mecca. Mecca is located in Saudi Arabia and not everyone gets to visit there. So people practicing Islam often visit here if they are unable to visit Mecca at the moment. Furthermore this location is popular for the tomb of Pir Ghiyasuddhin Auliya. He is one of the pioneers of the Islam religion.
In 1657, Mir Lutufullah constructed this tomb during the rule of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. However the people consider this location as important as Mecca for a specific reason. It is believed that the soil directly brought from Mecca is used here to build the Mosque. This place offers a beautiful view from top of the hill. The Road to the mosque has a zig zag roadway that looks beautiful.
Kameshwar Temple Hajo
This one is yet another ancient temple in Hajo Assam. Ahom king Pramatta Singha built this temple in the 18th century. After many years of the construction of this temple, the devotees started worshiping Lord Shiva. From then this has been one of the popular and important temples in Hajo. The Shivalinga in the Kameshwar Hajo Temple resembles the Shiva lingam of Kedarnath. Many devotees visit here to pay their visit to Lord Shiva here.
Kedareswar Temple
This is another popular temple in Hajo Assam located on top of the Madanchala Hill. Moreover this Shiva temple is one of the oldest temples in the Indian subcontinent as well. A huge Shivalinga is enshrined here made of stone. According to popular beliefs this Shivalinga is a Swayambhu Linga. Furthermore the people here worship the deity in the Ardhanarishwara form as well. Here a huge metal bowl always covers the Shivalinga.
Wrapping Up!
A location where religious harmony prevails is very rare. In the era of religious intolerance Hajo Assam is one such location that is known for being a place where different religions can coexist. Additionally Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism exist peacefully here and their own sets of rituals are followed properly too. Here the people hold on to their beliefs without disturbing the other. And how unique that can be anyway! This is one such location where an Islam site is located just beside a Hindu site. Furthermore for Buddhists also the Hindu site holds a lot of importance. This location shows how religion can function and coexist if everyone sticks to their own principles.
For a variety of things Assam is popular. Ranging from natural beauty to historical locations to temples you will find so much in Assam. However a location like Hajo is simply unique. So next time when you are visiting Assam make sure you are visiting Hajo. At just a walking distance you will be able to explore the temples in Hajo. Make sure you are wearing comfortable footwear and explore the place well. Let me know if this article is helpful for you in knowing about Hajo Assam. And also don’t forget to tell me when you are planning to visit Hajo Guwahati.
