Hajo Temple | Timings, Festivals

Hajo Temple is on the Brahmaputra bank river, 25 km (16 m) northwest of Guwahati in the Kamrup district of Assam state, India. There is an enormous pond known as Madhab Pukhuri near the Hajo (Hayagriva Madhava Temple) Temple. It is also a pilgrimage site known for its tradition of preserving scarce tortoises species, with Hindu devotees believing that they are a form of the Kurma avatar of Vishnu.

Hajo Temple Overview

Location: Hajo, Assam, India
Nearest city: Guwahati
Built10th–18th century CE
Architectural style(s): Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim

Hajo is a historic town in the hills northwest of Guwahati, Assam, India. Due to the various yatra sites on the Hajo hills, it is a meeting point for Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. For Hindu people, the Manikut Parbat of Hajo is the site of the 10th-century temple foundation. To the Buddhist peoples, mainly from Bhutan and Tibet, Assam state is where the Buddha died, and the Hayagriva mandir or Temple in Hajo town is a part of the sacred place of the Buddha. To the Muslims, the Mughal era Poa-Mecca shrine on other Hajo hill has the tomb of Giyasuddin Aulia built in the 17th century.

History of Hajo Temple

King Raghudeva Narayan constructed the present temple structure in 1583. According to local legend and the earliest remains, the original Temple was erected in the 10th century, probably during the Pala dynasty. It is a stone (rock) temple dedicated to Vishnu and Hajo’s best-known, most frequented monument.

Etymology of Hajo Temple

Hajo word has derived from the Boro word ‘Hajw’, which means Hill. It has named after Koch Hajo, a Koch tribal chief of the early 16th century.

Hajo Temple Timings

Here are the Hajo Temple Timings:

Day	Timings
Monday	4 am – 10 pm
Tuesday	4 am – 10 pm
Wednesday	4 am – 10 pm
Thursday	4 am – 10 pm
Friday	4 am – 10 pm
Saturday	4 am – 10 pm
Sunday	4 am – 10 pm

Hajo Memorials

The Hajo pillar:

Fragments discover within the premises of the Hayagriva Madhava Mandir temple complex. It is a sizeable unchanging pillar that likely broke in a historical earthquake. Four pieces of the Hajo pillar are known, three significant and kept by later restoration of the Temple, and one smaller portion of the same stone was found later1950. The local people now refer to it as the “Ashoka pillar”.

Hayagriva Madhava Temple:

It situated on Monikut hill (Manikuta Parvata). King Raghudeva Narayan constructed the present temple structure in 1583. He built it in the 10th century during the Pala dynasty. It is a Vishnu-dedicated stone temple. The mandir enshrines an image of Hayagriva Madhava (Vishnu as the part-man-part-horse avatar).

The rows of elephants at the block or slab of the Hayagriva temple are likely the oldest part here, about the 10th century. They are fine specimens of Assamese art. Hayagriva Madhava Temple has artwork from Vaishnavism and Shaktism Shaivism.

Hayagriva temple structure

It shows Nagara architecture.

mandapa
antarala
garbhagriya

Kedareswara Temple:

It is a Shiva temple on the Hill of Madanachal in Hajo, with inscriptions showing land grants made during the Rajeswar Singha time. Another name for this Temple is Kedarnatha temple.

Kamaleswara Temple:

A Shiva temple from the Ahom-time also on the Hill of Madanachal, east of the Ganga-pushkarini.

Kameswara Temple:

It is also a Memorials statue

Ganesha Temple:

It is at the foot of the Hill of Madanachal. A boulder here looked like a Ganesha swamy, as per the local legend, and it has carved to reveal the Ganesha full image.

Fakuwa Dol:

This Hindu shrine has an octagonal plan and domical top near the Hayagriva Mahadeva temple.

Powa Makkah:

The Hill of Garurachal in Hajo is the site of a Muslim tomb and mosque – Powa Makkah (Poa Mecca, a quarter of Makkah). Makkah is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims.

Festivals at Hajo Temple:

These are the famous festivals at Hajo Temple.

Holi/Doul Utsav:

Doul Utsav is also called ‘holi’ or ‘Fakuwa’. In the month of “Phagun” and “Chot,” spring comes, and the world has filled with trees with green leaves, flowers blooming, birds used to sin sweet songs,

Bihu/Rongali:

‘Rongali’ or ‘Bohag Bihu’ has observed in April, ‘Kongali’ or ‘Kati Bihu’ in October, and ‘Bhogali’ or ‘Magh Bihu’ was observed in January. The Rongali Bihu is the most famous of the three, celebrating the spring festival.

Janmashtami/Krishnashtami:

Janmashtami is the annual birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu of Hinduism. It is also known as Krishna Janmashtami, Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, and Sri Krishna Jayanti.

Tourist Places near Hajo Temple:

Kedareswar Temple
Joy Durga Temple
Poa Mecca Dargah
Kedar Temple
Bishnu Pushkar
Hajo Manasha Temple
Baramboi Hilltop
Umananda Temple
Shri Shri Aswaklanta Temple

Hotels near Hajo Temple

Hotel Vrinda Regency
Hotel Parashuram
Hotel Aashiyana
Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati
Kiranshree Grand
Hotel Prag Continental
Hotel Rudraksh
Dynasty Hotel
Hotel Rajmahal

Hajo Temple Address:

Hajo town, Kamrup district, Assam – 781102, India.
Hajo Temple: Website

How to Reach Hajo Temple

By Air:

Guwahati has International Airport.

By Rail:

Guwahati Railway Station is near Hajo Temple. Rangia is also near the Temple.

By Road:

Guwahati has joined with regular bus services from all the major cities. Biahata Chariali/Guwahati is near to temple.

FAQs

Why is Hajo famous?

Hajo town is one of the most archaeological and historical sites in northeast India as it preserves the history and inscriptions architecture of a range of temples and memorials over about 1200 years.

Who built the Hajo temple?

King Raghu deva Narayan.

Which is the famous Temple in Hajo Assam?

The Hayagriva Madhava Temple.

What is the culture of Hajo?

Hajo is an ancient pilgrimage centre for Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims. ‘Hajo’ is derived from the Bodo dialect where ‘Ha’ means ‘high’ and ‘Jo’ means ‘land’, implying it is ‘highland’. The place is known for its ancient temples, monuments, and housings.