10 Road Trips to the Best Pilgrimage Sites in Northeast

North-east India is mostly related to astounding scenic beauty, enjoyable weather, and sumptuous cuisines. Not many of us are aware that this side of the country also takes pride in having some of the famous pilgrimages. A few of them are visited not only by Indians from various nooks of the country but also by people from other countries. And no matter which religion you belong to or practice, North-east India has religious places for every religion. Let us discuss some of the best pilgrimage sites in the Northeast.

10 Famous Religious Places in the Northeast.

• Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam
• Umananda Temple, Assam
• Bhuvaneswari Temple, Assam
• Billeswar Temple, Assam
• Asvakranta Temple, Assam
• Ugratara Temple, Assam
• Hajo Powa Mecca, Assam
• Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh
• Akashganga Temple, Arunachal Pradesh
• Tripura Sundari Temple, Tripura

1. Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam

Located on the top of Nilanchal Hill in the capital city of Assam, Guwahati, Kamakhya Devi Temple is one of the most famous Hindu religious places in the northeast. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, who is believed to bestow tantric powers. It is also one of the 51 Siddha Shaktipeeths in the country. Every year a 3-days fair is conducted in June at the temple, which is called ‘Ambubasi Mela’. It is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her yearly menstruation cycle during these three days. The fair is attended by saints, pilgrims, tantric, tourists from different corners of the country. During these three days, the temple remains closed and on the 4th day, the goddess is bathed by the priests in the temple.

Best time to travel: June

2. Umananda Temple, Assam

Umananda Temple or Umananda Devaloi is located in the middle of River Brahmaputra at Umananda Island, which is also called Peacock Island. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and to reach the temple, you have to take a country boat.

Best time to travel: January- March, October – December

3. Bhuvaneswari Temple, Assam

Another famous temple in the northeast is the Bhuvaneswari temple in Guwahati. The temple is located 165 feet above the Kamakhya temple, which means you can take a tour of both the temples at one go. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhuvaneswari, another form of Goddess Durga. The best time to visit the temple is during sunrise to witness the splendid beauty of nature.

Best time to travel: January- March, October – December

4. Billeswar Temple, Assam

A pilgrimage trip to northeast India is incomplete without taking a tour of Billeswar Temple in Nalbari. It is one of the ancient temples in Assam which also offers eye-catching scenic beauty. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and believed to be more than 500 years old. The temple is frequented by devotees coming from across the country.

Best time to travel: October – February

5. Asvakranta Temple, Assam

Asvakranta Temple is another religious place that you can go to in Guwahati, one of the places to visit in the Northeast. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, this temple is visited by many to perform the last rites of the departed souls. 

Best time to travel: November – February

6. Ugratara Temple, Assam

Ugratara Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ugra Tara, a form of Goddess Parvati. There is no idol of the goddess here, but you will be able to see a small pit filled with water. It is also one among the 51 Shaktipeethas. During the time of Navratri, the temple is decorated with lights and flowers. In some of the festivals, even animal sacrifice takes place in this temple, which is attended by thousands of people.

Best time to travel: October – March

7. Hajo Powa Mecca, Assam

Perched on top of the Garurachala Hills, Hajo Powa Mecca is a significant pilgrimage center for the Muslim community. When looking for places to visit in the Northeast, consider going to this mosque which is one of the oldest in the Northeast and you will also be able to find the tomb of Pir Giasuddin Auliya, who was an Iraqi prince and later turned into a preacher. During the time of Urs, you can witness a huge crowd of pilgrims from all across the country.

Best time to travel: October – February

8. Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh

Tawang Monastery, a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Northeast was founded in the 19th century and is one of the largest monasteries in Asia. The monastery is located at Tawang Valley and looks majestic. Tawang Monastery is visited by millions of tourists as well as devotees from across the country. Visiting this monastery will not only enable you to admire the beauty of the holy destination but you will also be able to get some peace of mind.

Best time to travel: Any time of the year

9. Akashganga Temple, Arunachal Pradesh

Akashganga Temple or Malinithan Temple in Arunachal Pradesh is dedicated to Goddess Durga. You can see Odisha style architecture in this temple, while the interiors have carvings of animals and flower motifs from the 14th-15th century. 

Best time to travel: November – May

10. Tripura Sundari Temple, Tripura

One of the major tourist attractions in the Northeast is Tripura Sundari located at Udaipur in Tripura. The main deity worshipped in this temple is Goddess Tripura Sundari. This is also one of the Siddha Shakti Peethas in the country. Tourists and devotees from all parts of the world visit this temple, especially during Diwali.

Best time to travel: October- November

Visiting these pilgrimages is one of the best things to do in the Northeast, besides taking a tour of several tourist attractions. To make your trips convenient, you can take a car rental services by Revv. If you want to book a car, you can visit their website or browse through the app and choose the car of your choice. In a few days, the car will be delivered to your doorstep and you can get started with your trips.