Dirgheswari Temple

Dirgheswari Mandir stands on a rocky hill on the north bank of the Brahmaputra at North Guwahati and is regarded as a Shakta pitha. Legend says part of Sati's body fell on this hill, Sitachal, when Vishnu's discus cut her apart, and that the sage Markandeya did penance here until Durga appeared to him. The present brick temple was built under the Ahom king Siva Singha (1714–1744), supervised by Tarun Duwarah Barphukan, viceroy of Guwahati; a rock inscription at the back entrance records the royal order and land grants. In 1756 King Rajeswar Singha gave more land and a silver cover still used over the goddess's image.

The sanctum lies underground in a small cave. Many old images are carved into the rocks of the hill, among them a large Ganesha at the entrance and two footprints believed to be Durga's. The yearly Durga Puja, with its animal sacrifices, draws people from far away, and the Archaeological Survey of India recognises the temple as an important historical site.