Basistha Temple

Basistha Temple Guwahati is one of the prime attractions of the city and a place that is visited by a lot of devotees and travelers throughout the year. Built-in 1764 by Rajshwar Singha, Basistha Temple is located near the Garbhanga Reserve Forest on the southeastern side of the city and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Basistha Temple is a part of the Basistha Ashram but what attracts the tourists is the beauty and the surroundings of the place. The flora and diversity in fauna live in harmony at this place making it one of the top attractions in Assam.

Though the surroundings of the Basistha Temple and ashram are quite enchanting and flamboyant, it still has a few spots that leave people mesmerized. One of such locations is in the cave, which is also called the meditating spot of saint Vashistha. This cave is approximately 5 km from the temple but inside the vicinity of the ashram. People hike to the spot, click some pictures and enjoy the beauty of the place.

The Garbhanga Reserve Forest is also another very interesting and enchanting attraction for wildlife lovers. It is a prime spot for bird watchers and wildlife lovers. People come to this forest reserve to enjoy their time and click pictures of elephants, butterflies, and other birds.

History

This temple has been described as one of the seven Shakti Peethas in the Kalika Purana. Also, the temple's history goes back to the Vedic age. The Basistha Ashram was founded by the well-known saint Vasistha.

As per the legends, once saint Vasistha went to Kamarupa to pay respects to Goddess Kamakhya, and when king Naraka tried to stop him, Vasistha cursed him. He also built a hermitage at the Shandhyachal and continued to live meditating on Shiva. He is also credited with writing the Vasistha Ramayana. It is believed that he dies at the ashram itself and that is quite evident with the saint’s grave on site.

Architecture

The well-known Ahom King Rajeswar Singha commissioned Basistha Temple in the year 1851 to 1769. The architecture of the temple is endowed by the terracotta and stone sculptures that can be witnessed inside the temple and the hills and stones in proximity.

Also, the temple is connected with the Maharishi Basistha of the Hindu epic Ramayana who brought an end to his life here. Apart from this, there are beautiful sculptures at his temple placed on the side of the tri-juncture of the hill streams, Sandhya, Lalita, and Kanta.