Sibsagar or Sivasagar (Assamese: শিৱসাগৰ) is a city in Upper Assam. Sibsagar is famous for its monuments of the Ahom kingdom. It also houses the burial sites of Ahom kings, known as Moidam, a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site Heritage Site. Now it is a multi-cultural city.
Understand
[edit]Sivasagar, formerly known as Rangpur, was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. In 1733, the Ahom queen Ambika devi dug a tank at the Ahom capital Rangpur. The tank covered 257 acres. A Shiva temple was built next to the tank and the tank came to be known as Shivsagar (sea of Shiva). With the passage of time, the entire region came to be known as Sibsagar. Today, the area in and around Sibsagar houses several temples along with pavilions, tanks and strategic military structures. 25 km south-east of Sibsagar lies the royal burial grounds of the Ahom Kings. These conical hill-like grass-covered structures were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- Shibsagar doesn't have an airport. The nearest airports is in Jorhat (55 km), Other nearby airports are Dibrugarh (80 km) and Guwahati (369 km).
By train
[edit]- 1 Shivasagar Railway Station (SRTN). Well connected with north east and rest of India
By bus
[edit]- 2 ASTC Shivasagar. Buses ply regularly from Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Guwahati. Buses ply regularly from Simaluguri towards Sibsagar.
Get around
[edit]Auto rickshaws can provide access to the temples and Ahom-era structures within the city. For beyond the city, a hired car is essential. Cars can be arranged by hotels and local tour operators. Also, Shibsagar can be explored from Jorhat in a day trip.
See
[edit]
Map of Sibsagar
The sites are arranged from west to east and is ideal for travellers visiting Sibsagar for a day trip from Jorhat.
- 1 Gourisagar Tank. Gourisagar Tank is an artificial lake dating back to the Ahom dynasty. It has three temples located on its northern bank.
- 2 Namdang Stone Bridge. The Ahom-era stone bridge was built in 1703 by the Ahom king Rudra Singha. It runs over the Namdang river, a tributary of the Dikhou river. The bridge is on NH 37 and connects Jorhat with Sibsagar. The bridge spans 60 m in length, 6-6.5 m in width and stands about 1.7 m high. It has six culvert for the water passage.
- 3 Na Pukhuri Shiva Dol (Rudrasagar Shiva Dol) (North bank of Na Pukhuri). An 18th-century Hindu temple constructed during the reign of King Lakshmi Singha (1769-1780). The 1773 built temple stands on an octagonal base and follows the tri-rath style.
- 4 Joy Dol (Keshavnarayan Vishnu) (North bank of Joysagar tank). Constructed in 1698 by Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha (1696–1714) in honour and memory of his mother Joymoti. Nearby are two more temples. 5 Shiva Dol (Vaidya Natha). and 6 Devi Dol.
- 7 Ghanashyam House (Nati Gosain dol) (WEst bank of Joysagar Tank). It is an early 18th-century brick temple built during the reign of the king Rudra Singha dedicated to the architect Ghanashyam. The temple was constructed by one Ghanasyamuddin Khanikar, later renamed as Ghanashyam. It is believed that Ghanashyam was earlier a Muslim who converted to Hinduism. As a result the temple is a mixture of Hindu and Muslim architectural elements. The brick-built temple has rich terracotta ornamentation.
- 8 Fakua Dol. Fakuwa Doul was constructed by Swargadeo Rudra Singha in remembrance of his mother Queen Joymati Kunwari, between 1703 and 1704 A.D. Although considered a temple, locals believe it to be a maidam, a burial chamber of Ahom royals. It is believed to be a burial chamber of Queen Joymati, the patriotic wife of Swargadeo Gadadhar Singha. The pyramidical structure stands on an octagonal base. Four sets of stairs lead to the top, housing the shrine.
- 9 Ranganath Dol. Built in 1703 by Sukhrungphaa, the 30th Ahom king. The Shiva temple houses a lingam. A do-chala mandapa is attached to the sanctum. A newly built shed is attached to the do-chala mandap.
- 10 Hara Gouri Dol. This is a brick-built temple constructed during the reign of the Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha (1751 – 1769 AD). The inner sanctum of the temple follows the do-chala style and is attached with a do-chala pavilion. The temple is profusely ornamented, with the upper part of the outerwall containing floral designs.
- 11 Gola Ghar. An ammunition storehouse used by the Ahom Kings. It was built during the reign of Chakradhwaj Singha (1663-1669 AD). It represents a rectangular brick hut with a two-layered (do-chala) roof. It has been renovated as a museum gallery. It displays various weapons, arms, armour, process of making gunpowder
- 12 Talatal Ghar. Built by Rajeswara Singha (AD 1751-1769). All the rooms were connected with small passages. Talatal ghar had three storeys underground and four storeys above ground. The remains of this palace is standing tall in Sivasagar town. Though top levels of the palace having wooden works are completely destroyed. All the rooms were connected with small passages. Similarly the underground levels are closed for tourists. Bortop (guns) preserved in Talatal Ghar.
- 13 Rang Ghar (ৰংঘৰ Roṁghor). A two-storied building, which was the royal sports-pavilion from which the Ahom kings and nobles witnessed games like buffalo fights and other sports at the Rupahi Pathar (pathar meaning field in Assamese) specially during Rangali Bihu festival in the Ahom capital, Rangpur. On the roof of the Rang Ghar is a design of an Ahom royal long boat. The building was constructed during the reign of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in 1746. It is north east to the Talatal Ghar a multi-storied royal complex in Joysagar west of Sivasagar town, on the other side of the Assam Trunk (AT) Road in Sibsagar district in Assam.
The Rang Ghar is said to be the oldest amphitheater in Asia. The base of the monument has a series of arched entrances and atop the roof is a decorative pair of carved stone crocodiles. In many of these, only the brick framework exists with vestiges of sculptural adornments here and there. The Ahoms, who used special thin baked bricks, did not have the use of cement and, therefore, used a paste of rice and eggs as mortar for their construction. - 14 Sivasagar Shiva Dol (South of Shivasagar Tank or Borpukhuri). The complex consists of three temples known as Shiva Dol, Vishnu Dol and Defvi Dol. The temple lies on the south bank of Shivasagar Tank (also called Borpukhuri). The tank was dug between 1731 and 1738 and the temples were built in 1734
- 15 Tai Ahom Museum (Western bank of Shiv Sagar Tank). The 1992 museum showcases a fascinating repository providing an insight into the grandeur of the Ahom dynasty. From ornate goblets to ceremonial palanquins to swords, shields, canons from the Ahom royals. Beyond the royal collection, the museum exhibits items of everyday life for Assamese people, including fishing and hunting equipment. The museum also showcases a rich collection of rare manuscripts.
- 16 Kareng Ghar (Garhgaon Palace). Considered the finest example of Ahom architecture, it served as the administrative building of the kingdom. It was built of wood up to the reign of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha, 1751 AD. But Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha built the present permanent structure in 1752 AD with seven storied palace made of bricks and boulders.
- 17 Bishnu Dole, Namti. Vishnu Doul, Namti is a brick-built temple constructed by Namatial Bhagati Barbarua in the year 1775 A.D. during the reign of Swargadeo Gourinath Singha (1780 -1794)
- Maidams or moidams are burial mounds from the 13th-18th centuries. Royals of the Ahom people were buried here, instead of cremated according to usual Hindu practice. In 2024 the area was listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, named "India Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty". They are located in Charaideo village, 30 km east of Sibsagar
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- Burger Point, B.G. Road (near SBI ATM).
- Brahmaputra Hotel (opposite bus stand).
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Hotel Piccolo, Arunodoi Path, Boarding Road, ☏ +91 98592 87203, [email protected].
- Brahmaputra Hotel, Opposite Bus Stand.
- Raj Palace Hotel, AT Road, Station Charali.
- Prashaanti Tourist Lodge, Sivasagar, ☏ +91 772 222394. The lodge is operated by Department of Tourism and Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited.
Connect
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