A DAY IN NORTH-GUWAHATI VISITING DOUL GOVINDA AND DIRGHESHWARI TEMPLE SITES

Photo Travelogue :
Read first part - Here!


My trip to north-guwahati was quite an impromptu one. I wanted to go, but was terrified of travelling by ferry due to water-phobia. Nonetheless, I gathered some courage and did end up going to the other shore ~ by ~ yes, a boat! The river ride was sheer bliss, although, I wish they didn't overload the tiny boat and scared the hell out of me. Anyways, since I was there, I had to do little time-pass before taking a return boat back home. So, I decided to go the safer places first. North Guwahati has lots of options, especially, when one goes by road, but since I had gone by boat I opted the nearest place. Not the religious types, but I had heard a lot about Doul Gobindo ( from my mother who had been there ) which is about 5-10 minutes walk ( depending on how fast you walk ) from the Rajaduwar Ghat where my boat landed. Here's details about my visit :-)

1. DOUL GOVINDA TEMPLE...

getting down at Rajaduwar ghat...there's nothing to indicate why it is named as such...


the small road that goes right up to the temple...its a famous site, so, no chance of getting lost...


reaching the temple site...the main entrance...


some interesting 'old' idols near the entrance...


going inside...photography is not allowed inside the temple...


so, I loiter around the grounds a bit...


take the prasad and I'm off...Doul Govinda Temple is one of the important temples of Kamrup, Assam, India. It is situated on the northern banks, on the foot hills of Chandra Bharati hill at Rajaduar, North Guwahati. The temple is mainly devoted to Lord Krishna. Besides, there is an Namghar along with the temple within the same premises ( wiki ).

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While in north-guwahati, I decided to head towards Dirgheshwari Temple next, which is few kms from Doul Gobindo ~ in the interiors, and would require a shared auto ride. I was particularly interested to see the ancient rocks that are located there, which is said to have several images carved in them - dates of which are unknown. There are trackers that goes to the temple, so, I went to its stand which is not far from Dol Gobindo temple. I walked to it, asking for directions.


the tracker stand...


when I saw this sight, I almost laughed, but wait to know till the end why it ceased to be funny...


2. DIRGHESHWARI TEMPLE...

unlike Guwahati city, north-guwahati is quite small and soon we were in the country side...


passing through fields...


and villages...the road was okay, kinda...no complaints!


its a twenty-minutes ride and we reached the temple...


first entrance; lots of steps to climb...the temple is on top of a hill...Sitachal hill...


it is an ASI recognised site...maintained by ASI...


view of the road below as one climbs, the road disappears from view further up...


pause, and look around a bit...



many ancient rock images and carvings here...of ganesh, hanuman and other gods...


continue climbing...


the last and main entrance...


rock images inside as well...these foot prints are believed to be of Goddess Durga...


a galaxy of trishuls...


the temple from outside...


the main prayer-hall and altar of the temple...

There's a dark inner chamber ~ the Garbha-griha of the temple, located underground in a small cave ( like Kamakya temple ) down those stairs, where the idol of Goddess Durga is present...


it was too dark to click pictures inside the 'diya' ( offered by devotees ) lit cave...


2nd prasad of the day...it was salt-less so tasted quite bland!
Dirgheswari Temple is a temple situated in the northern banks of the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati, Assam. Built by Ahom king Swargadeo Siva Singha, Dirgheswari temple is considered as a Shakti Peetha for Shakti Worship. Many ancient images made on rocks existed along with the temple ( wiki ).

While getting there was relatively an easy task, it was quite a wait to get a return tracker back to Rajaduwar ghat to take a return ferry. Also, it being a tiger-leopard infested area, I was getting bit nervous as to how to get a ride back. At the end, I had to get in an over-crowded one, like the one I had laughed at earlier. When I counted there were 17 inside ( including me ), how everyone fit in that tiny auto - don't ask me! I was just too glad to come back at last ~ in one piece. Phew!

Address : Doul Gobindo Temple - Doul Govinda Rd, Baruah Souk, North Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781030
Dirgheshwari Temple - Amingaon Doul Govinda Road, North Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
( Images - ©Mine. All rights reserved. )
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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL, A FERRY RIDE IN KANYAKUMARI

Photo Travelogue :
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I had already seen the seas in both east and west part of India. In Kanyakumari, I was meeting up with the ocean as well, along with the western Arabian Sea and the eastern Bay of Bengal. This is the end-tip of India, where the 3 massive water bodies meet. And one can see it all here. But the best view is from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, that's in the middle of the ocean itself ( 500 meters east off mainland ) and we had to take a ferry - we were informed. Everything closed by 5, and we had just the time for the last ferry, after our long ride to Kanyakumari from Rameshwaram, so we rushed like anything, not to miss it. Quickly checking in TTDC, we headed straight for the jetty ( 10-15 minutes walk from our hotel ). The line was long, so we opted for...



...yeah, the Special Ticket Entry - of course, charges are more on this option :-)


So, in the pictures one can see crowded queue on one side and the VIP exit on the other. Guess who the VIPs were ;-) Also, in pictures, scribblings left by tourists & lovers, and the view of the waves crashing into the rocks, through those tiny holes in the walls. But then again, we had to make another rush for the boat, and here, there was no VIP no common man - everyone was same. Though, we managed to get the first places to enter the ferry first. Phew!



Finally, with our compulsory life-jackets on..we set sail...


I, so loved this little ride ( barely takes 5 minutes or so ), hoping the ferry wouldn't sink. We crossed the giant Thiruvalluvar Statue that's near the rock. It reminded me of Statue of Liberty.


Thiruvalluvar, is a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher whose contribution to Tamil literature is the Thirukkural, a work on ethics. He was born in Thiru Mylai Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Both Buddhists and Shaivites, also claim him as their own. ( wiki )


There has been a controversy over this rock, since quite many decades. With both christians and hindus claiming it as their own, having their own significance. Hindus relate it to Vivekananda ( that he swam to this rock and meditated; attained enlightenment on the rock, and henceforth became a reformer and philosopher ), whereas, Christian relates to it as the St.Xaviers rock. It also has a more older story as well ( prior to the others ), as the place where according to legend, it was on this rock that Goddess Kumari performed austerity. There's an ancient temple just opposite the Memorial. The place is really awesome, very breezy and ideal to watch both sunrise and sunset from. And since, it is the end-tip really, one can just shift his eyes to watch the same. The colour of 3 different water bodies is distinct too, and one can make out. Photography is strictly prohibited inside both the structures though, which was a downer. Clicked outsides only!



Entrance of the memorial and the ground compass showing north-south direction...



The ancient temple...


Collecting our shoes, we boarded the ferry and headed back to mainland. Wow! I'd just love to go there again, but in slow-motion next time. Everything happened just too quick :|

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument and it is a popular tourist attraction in Vavathurai, Kanyakumari, India. The memorial stands on one of two rocks located about 500 meters east off mainland of Vavathurai, India's southernmost tip ( wiki ).

Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Address: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
( Images - ©Mine. All rights reserved. )
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