Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Negheriting Shiva Doul in Golaghat on September 3. He assessed current facilities for tourists and worshippers at the hillside temple complex near Dergaon. The site serves as a major hub for faith and history. It has stood for nearly 1,200 years.
Sarma shared his thoughts on social media. "The historic Negheriting Shiva Doul, a centre of faith and spirituality for nearly 1,200 years, is an important chapter in Assam's glorious heritage," he wrote. The complex features a central shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva surrounded by four smaller structures honoring Vishnu, Ganesha, Surya, and Durga.
History defines the grounds. The Kacharis originally built the temple between the 8th and 9th centuries. Natural disasters later damaged the structure. Ahom King Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha ordered its reconstruction in 1765, tasking architect Ghanashyam Khonikar with the job. Local lore links the site to the Dihing River, which once shifted its course and destroyed the original shrine. Workers later found a Shiva lingam in the waters of Sheetal Negheri and moved it to the new location.
The main shrine now holds a three-foot Banalinga. The name Negheriting comes from a local bird species. Officials want to modernize visitor amenities while protecting the ancient architecture. The site draws steady crowds of devotees and tourists all year long.
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