If you are planning a trip to Tezpur, look no further. If you are not, what are you waiting for?

Tezpur is a historic City on the northern banks of Brahmaputra, around 175 kilometers away from Guwahati. Often referred to as the cultural capital of Assam, this is a place rich in history and steeped in mythology. With the mighty Brahmaputra in close proximity, Tezpur is also a place worth exploring.

So one Sunday morning, braving the scorching August sun, we embarked on a 95km trip to Tezpur.

Arriving to Tezpur is a fairly straightforward affair. It is a City well connected with the entire state. We followed the NH 15 that passed through Rowta and Dhekiajuli before taking the turn to Tezpur.

You will cross multiple small towns on your way, with a healthy dosage of greens on both sides to feast the eyes. Interestingly, you will also cross Orang on the way, which is famous for the Orang National Park and Orang Tiger Reserve. There's a post in this blog regarding a recent incident at the Orang Tiger Reserve that you could check out (Orang Tiger Reserve Tragedy: Maneater on the prowl? | The Thinking Me).

Mahabhairab Mandir, Tezpur

We started our tour of Tezpur with a visit to the legendary Mahabhairab Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated on a hillock in the northern part of the City, this is a very popular destination for devotees around the state.

It is said that King Bana had this temple carved out of stone. However, as the structures withered over time, they have been renovated with concrete. There is a tradition here where pigeons are freed during pujas to denote ancestral spirits achieving Moksha.

Maha Shiv Ratri is celebrated here with great pomp and show, with believers thonging the temple from far and wide to seek blessings from almighty. The place is right by the side of the road and shouldn't be too hard to locate. However, be careful if you are navigating with Google Maps, as it has a tendency to direct you to narrow roads that lead to nowhere.

If you are looking for breakfast or a bite to eat, there's a decent place just by the side of the temple called Mahadev Sweets. The tea is fantastic and worth a try. We also tried the samosa, which was pretty good too.

Agnigir Hills, Tezpur

Next up on our itinerary was Agnigarh Hills, a picturesque hillock just by the side of the mighty Brahmaputra. The place isn't too far away from Mahabhairab Mandir, and with minimal traffic on a hot and humid Sunday, we reached our destination in no time.

Agnigarh Hills is famous for an ageless love story involving Usha and Aniruddha. According to folklore, King Banasura's daughter Usha fell in love with Aniruddha, Lord Krishna's grandson and the two of them secretly got married. When the Asura King came to know of this, he locked his daughter in this hill and surrounded it with fire to keep Aniruddha away.

Banasura also imprisoned Aniruddha, enraging Lord Krishna and ensuring a war. The battle was apparently so intense that the city was covered in blood, hence the name Tez (Blood) Pur (City). However, peace prevailed in the end and the two of them were ultimately united.

The place is maintained well and it is a long walk to the top of the hill. However, the picturesque view from the top certainly makes up for all the calories burnt in the process. One can get a bird's eye view of the City from the watch tower at the top fo the hillock.

On the other side lies the mighty Brahmaputra and shutterbugs are likely to have field day. The famous Kaliabhomora Bridge can also be spotted from here. There's a kids' playground here, but it is in a poor state, much to Messi's disappointment.

The climb can be a challenge on hot days and it is advisable to carry adequate water with you. Alternatively, you can also buy water and refreshments from the small stall at the top of the hill. There are multiple makeshift stalls outside the park for those who want to indulge in a little souvenir shopping. The parking fee here is 30/-

Ganesh Ghat

The last time I visited Tezpur, I was mesmerized by Ganesh Ghat. We sat on the banks of the Brahmaputra and watched time slip through its waters. Since it is only a stone's throw away from Agnigarh Hills, this place became the next stop on our trip.

Ganesh Ghat gets its name from a 3-foot statue of Lord Ganesh cut in stone, where he can be seen sitting on a lotus throne. If legends are to be believed, this statue was built by Lord Vishwakarma, the architect god of Hindu Mythology. The statue was apparently carved during the 9th or 10th century.

Unfortunately, I was hugely disappointed when I stepped foot at Ganesh Ghat. Gone was the beautiful riverbank that had captivated us on our previous visit. Instead, the place was littered with waste and resembled a dumping ground. It was so dirty that taking a picture proved to be a challenge.

We walked down the stairs, but couldn't stay for long. One of my favorite places in Tezpur is now lost in time and I can only hope that the authorities take action to restore it to its previous glamour. The temple and the sculptures remain the same, but the state of the river left me disappointed.

There is a small park on the other side of the temple, which is in a relatively better state. We clicked a few pictures there instead, before deciding to leave.

Chitralekha Uddan, Tezpur

The Chitralekha Uddan is a stone’s throw away from Ganesh Ghat and there’s ample parking space available by the side of the road. There’s a long line of food stalls where you could indulge yourself if you are hungry. There is a nominal entry fee required to enter the premises.

The park is over a hundred years old, but has been maintained quite well. Initially built by the British in 1906, it was reconstructed in 1996 and renamed after the fabled painter who, according to legends, played a role in uniting Aniruddha and Usha.

If you are in Tezpur, this place is a must visit. Since it was a hot and humid day, we bought chilled Fresh Lime Water from the stalls and cooled ourselves on the many benches near the picturesque lake.

After some prolonged photo sessions, we noticed a Bumping Car Arena at one end. We proceeded to knock ourselves out for the next couple of minutes, much to Messi’s delight.

There are many old sculptures here bearing inscriptions that will appeal to history buffs. You can have a boat ride through the lake if you so desire, although we decided against it due to the weather.

There’s a nice Kids Play Area for the little ones and a MIG 21 which is also one of the attractions of the place. On pleasant winter days, this place will certainly calm your spirits, but it is perhaps better to avoid it during the hot summer months.

Lunch at Saffron Pind, Tezpur

The long walks at Chitralekha Uddan had a profound impact on our bellies as well and we ended our tour of this beautiful City with a trip to one of its culinary delights. The Saffron Pind is located on the outskirts of Tezpur, right by NH715. Interestingly, it is just six kms away from the famous Koliabhomora Bridge.

The place has a small bakery and confectionery as well which you can check out. We opted to sit at the main restaurant and ordered a meal for for the Kings. We started with the mandatory tea and Mexican Cheese Ball. This crunchy starter is a must try if you visit this place.

For the main course, we ordered Veg Fried Rice, Veg Manchurian, Rice, Dal Fry, Papad, Mutton Pepper Fry and Butter Naan. The service was swift and the food was really good. If you are around, you can check this place out. I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.

There’s a separate section designed to resemble a very colourful roadside Dhaba. You could stretch out your legs on the Khatiayas or sit down for a meal in a Nawabi setting as well. Shutterbugs will also love the place, as will people who love to have their pictures taken.

After a fulfilling meal, we unwinded with a long drive over the fabled Koliabhomora Bridge. This bridge was inaugurated in 1987 by the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. In 2021, a second bridge was inaugurated parallel to the old one for ease of traffic.

The 3 Km Bridge was the fourth longest in the country during its inception. Now there are 15 bridges over water bodies larger than the Koliabhomora Bridge in India.

The bridge is named after the fabled Ahom General Kalia Bhomora Borphukan, who dreamt of constructing a bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra in the late 1700s. However, his plans failed to materialise after his sudden death.

A visit to Tezpur cannot be complete without a drive across one of the man-made marvels of the region. This is the fifth largest bridge of the state and the fourth over Brahmaputra in the state. We crossed over to the other side and came back again and just like that, our trip had reached the final stage.

With the sun rapidly heading down the western sky, we followed the road home, tired but content with a trip to Tezpur. There's so much to see in this City that one day isn't enough. However, if you do plan to visit this place, I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Watch: A Video of our Escapade -

Further Reading:

Why are Wolves killing humans in this Uttar Pradesh District? | The Thinking Me

Phuentsholing: The Gateway to Bhutan | The Thinking Me

Kurseong: Worthy Competitor for Darjeeling's Throne | The Thinking Me

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