Bhairabi Temple

The Bhairabi Temple, also called Bhairabi Devalaya, stands on the outskirts of Tezpur in Assam's Sonitpur district, close to the Bharali river. It is dedicated to Bhairavi, one of the Mahavidyas, and legend says Usha, daughter of the demon king Banasura, came here to worship the goddess. Behind it the view looks across the Brahmaputra to the Kolia Bhomora Setu, and the Bamuni Hills, with ruins of an old palace and stone carvings of the 9th century, lie a couple of kilometres away.

A long staircase climbs from the road to the temple, with stalls selling ghee lamps, sweets and fruit for offerings. Devotees regard it as a place where prayers are answered, Durga Puja is celebrated here and animal sacrifices are offered. The temple belongs to the Borthakur family of Tezpur and is managed through the district Deputy Commissioner's office. An earthquake tilted the roughly 400-year-old building slightly and damaged a nearby structure, and daily worship was halted afterwards.