Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Sibsagar, also known as Sivasagar literally translates to the ‘Ocean of Lord Shiva'. It is a historic town and was the capital of the Ahom kingdom for about 100 years.
The presence of historical monuments belonging to the Ahom times is considered the pride of the town. Today Sibsagar has grown from being merely a historic town to a town with oil and tea gardens surrounding it. There are many places you can visit in this Upper Assam tourist destination.
Having been the Ahom capital for a long time, many things in Sibsagar are reminiscent of the great rulers. The astounding Sibsagar Tank is the most significant attraction of the town. There are three important temples around the tank namely, the Shivadol, the Vishnudol and the Devidol.
How to Reach Sibsagar
By Air: Sibsagar does not have any airport within the city. The nearest airport is at Jorhat, located about 55 km away. The airport has regular flights to Guwahati, Kolkata and Silchar. All these are stopover flights.
By Train: The nearest railhead to Sibsagar is at Simalguri that is located about 16 km from the town. This railway station falls in-between the Guwahati-Dibrugarh rail-line and thus many trains stop here.
By Road: The NH 37 runs through Sibsagar and continues till Dibrugarh further up in the state. The NH has been a major route for tea traders and oil exporters and till today is a very busy highway. The town is thus well connected to the other parts of the state as well as the region.
Photo Courtesy: rajkumar1220
Charaideo
Charaideo is located about 30 km from the Sibsagar town. There are several burial grounds of Ahom royal family and it is also the place of ancestral gods of the Ahoms. The burials are shaped as hillocks that resemble the Pyramids of Egypt. There are close to 150 burial sites or maidams in Charaideo. It is a historic tourist destination for people visiting Assam and the burial grounds reflect the excellent architecture and skill of the sculptors and masons of those days. Around 30 maidams are under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India and Assam State Archaeology Department. This is a must visit place for any tourist coming to Sibsagar.
Photo Courtesy: Zorodocknife
Gaurisagar Tank
Gaurisagar Tank is located at a distance of about 12 km from Sibsagar town. This temple was built about 200 years ago and has three temples dedicated to Goddess Durga and her various forms built on the banks of the lake. Spread over an area of 150 acres the vast tank and the three temples serve as a major tourist attraction. Devotees from all over Assam and other parts of the country come to this place to offer their prayers. The tank and its adjacent areas also serve as a great picnic spot for tourists.
Photo Courtesy: Dhruba Jyoti Deka
Joysagar Tank
Joysagar Tank is a man-made tank built by Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha. The Joysagar Tank is the largest man-made tank in the country and covers an area of 318 acres. There are several temples around the tank because of which it is known as the Joysagar Tank and temples. The temples are - Kesavarai Visnu Dol or Joydol, Devi-Ghar, Baidyanath Shiva Dol, Sri Suryya Mandir, Ghanashyam Dol or Nati-Gosai Dol and Ganesh Mandir. All these temples are located on the northern side of the tank and are must visit places for tourists.
Photo Courtesy: Chanchal Rungta
Kareng Ghar
Kareng Ghar is situated 15 km from Sibsagar at a place called Gargaon. The Kareng Ghar is seven storey structure, of which three storeys are underground and they are called the Talatal Ghar. The complete structure is popularly known as the Talatal Palace. The top floors; the Kareng Ghar - have three storeys with the top floor having a dome-like roof with a chamber. Originally there were four watch towers of which only two remain now. It takes about 30 min on road to reach this palatial structure.
Photo Courtesy: Aniruddha Buragohain
Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary
Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary is located 22 km from Sibsagar town. It is a rich wetland ecosystem that is spread across 33 sq km. It is especially known for the migratory birds that come here every year. The bird sanctuary was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1996. There are several rare birds that are found here such as the variegated species of aquatic birds, adjutant storks, variety of ducks and fishing eagles. Among the other birds found in the wildlife sanctuary, tourists can spot the Bar-Headed goose, Spot Billed duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveller, Common Pochard, Open Bill stork and more.
Photo Courtesy: Ron Knight
Sivadol
The Sivadol is the tallest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva that stands on the banks of the Sibsagar Lake. Standing at a height of 59 mt from the ground, it is believed to be the tallest Shiva temple in the whole of India. The temple is capped by eight feet high golden dome that displays the magnificent craftsmanship of the Ahom artisans. This place attracts huge number of tourists every year during the Shivaratri. A huge fair is organised in the temple ground. Alongside the Shivadol is the Devidol and Vishnudol that also serve as great attractions to tourists visiting this place. Near the temple complex, you can also witness ancient cannons made from iron that have been preserved as relics from the time of the Ahom rule.
Photo Courtesy: Supratim Deka Narakasura
Talatal Ghar
Located on the outskirts of the town of Sibsagar is the Talatal Ghar, the palace of the Ahom rulers. It is considered to be one of the grandest architectural marvels built during the Ahom dynasty. The seven storey structure has three floors below the ground which served as ta storage facility for the king and his subjects. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Assam and throws light into the grand past of the Ahom rulers. The canons, staircase and the terrace of the palace are very popular with tourists.
Photo Courtesy: D. Konwar