Sivasagar (Sibsagar) - Assam
Discover Sivasagar
The historical city of Sivasagar was the capital of the Ahom rulers from 1228 to 1826 AD. Built around a 129-acre artificial tank called the Sivasagar Tank, Sivasagar is around 50 km from Jorhat and was previously known as Sibsagar, meaning ‘into the ocean of Lord Shiva’.
Things to do in Sivasagar and the surrounding area
There is lots to explore in this fantastic destination, including a great collection of historical monuments.
- Rang Ghar – One of the oldest surviving amphitheatres in Asia, Rang Ghar was once the royal pavilion where Ahom nobility would watch events such as bull-fights, cock-fights, elephant fights and wrestling. Translating as ‘House of Entertainment and also known as the royal observatory, the roof is shaped like an inverted royal Ahom longboat with a pair of carved stone crocodiles perched on the top. The building was constructed during the reign of Swargadeo Rudra Singha with bamboo and wood and was later rebuilt with brick, interestingly with a paste of rice and egg instead of cement!
- Sivasagar Sivadol – A fascinating place to visit is the Sivadol, or ‘temple of Lord Shiva’. This group of structures consists of three Hindu temples of Sivadol, Vishnudol (‘temple of the Lord Vishnu’) and Devidol (‘temple of the Goddess Devi Durga’) along with shrines, a bird-watching tower and a museum. These are all located on the banks of the Sivasagar tank (also called the Borpukhuri tank), where the water remains above the adjoining ground level. This enormous lake is around 257 acres and it is said that the water remains stable all year round, even during monsoon season.
The best way to see Sivasagar
If you would like to visit Sivasagar, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ATOL and ABTA protected holidays? Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you. Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.
