Attractions Of Guwahati: Basistha Ashram Temple

Basistha Ashram Temple

Short Overview:

flickr: Basistha Ashram Temple

Basistha or Vasistha Temple is located in Guwahati city in Assam. The temple is situated on the Vasistha ashram, the abode of saint Basistha. It is a shiva mandir. The temple stands on the bank of mountain streams which originates from the hills of Meghalaya which in turn becomes river Basistha and Bharalu that flows through the city. The Basistha Temple was constructed by Ahom king Rajeshwar Singha in 1751-1769. The king also gifted 835 bighas of land to the ashram.

Long Overview:

flickr: Basistha Ashram Temple

flickr: Basistha Ashram Temple

Basistha or Vasistha Temple is located in Beltola , at the outskirts of the Guwahati city atop the Sandhyachal hill. It is located near Garbhanga Reserve Forest which is populated by elephants and is also a proposed butterfly reserve. The temple was constructed by Ahom king Rajeshwar Singha in 1751-1769. The king also gifted 835 bighas of land to the ashram of saint Basistha. 

Basistha temple attracts pilgrims for the immense beauty of its temples. There is temple in the ashram. There are wells within the temple. This is Shiva-shakti peeth. The shakti peeth is called tara peet. Siva linga of Mangaleshwar is hidden in the wells which is not visible. There is a cave 5 km inside the ashram where Basistha muni meditated. 

Three mountain tributaries Sandhya, Lalita and Kanta flow nearby the ashram. The meeting point of the rivulets is called Amrutha kunda. Vasistha muni used to meditate (trisandhya) in the place. Pilgrims visit the ashram for a holy dip in the Vasistha kunda. The Vasistha kunda is downstream the Vasistha Ganga, created by the saint. here is also the grave of Basistha muni who died here. There is also waterfall in the area which is the major attractions of the Basistha temple.

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