Exploring Assam: Jagannath Temple, Dibrugarh

The Jagannath Temple in Dibrugarh in all ways translocates the essence of the extravagant Vaishnava temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha. Built as a replica of the temple in Puri, the Temple constructed at the Khanikar area in Dibrugarh is touted to be the second largest after Puri in terms of its magnitude and size.

Apparently the person most instrumental to the coming up of the temple was the former governor of Assam Janaki Ballav Pattnaik under the aegis of whom the initial lot of papers saw the light of the day. The sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by walls approximately 3 meters in height on four sides with two gated openings. The east-facing main gate – Singhadwara – lays open the arms for the visitors greeted by the stone structures of two magnificent lions.

Sprawling over more than five bighas of land (approx) donated by the Bokpara Tea Estate the structure floats in the ocean of lush green tea plantations spread till oblivion. The proximate population (mostly tea tribe) embraces the temple in their daily existence and holds on to it in line with their kinfolks back in Odisha from where they had at one point in history migrated to the tea plantations of Assam.

In the inner sanctum of the temple, rests on a bejewlled platform the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. In line with the parent temple in Odisha, the temple is anticipated to come up as a holy place for the Hindus, especially followers and believers of Lord Krishna. Sans the mythological base upon which the superstructure at Puri had come up centuries ago, the temple at Khanikar shall have its inescapable share of constraints in emerging as an unavoidable sojourn for the pilgrims from around the globe. The thrust to promote tourism and employment by the Government of Assam aside, the temple shall call for untiring faith and devotional metamorphosis to feature into the spiritual consciousness of the believers.

The construction of the temple was undertaken by the Sri Sri Jagannath Cultural Trust which acts as the official guardian and custodian of the establishment. The consecration (Pran Pratistha Samaroh) of the temple was enlightened by the presence of the priests from the Tirupati Balaji Temple back in the year 2014. Since then, the temple has witnessed a regular exodus of believers, followers and tourists.

The place for the believers is a zone of rendezvous with the unseen divine and is enriched in all due ways by the warmth of lighting lamps and whiff of incense. With utmost devotion and dutiful recital of the praises of the divine Lord rising skyward out of the loud speakers the being in time at the temple is obvious to strike the spiritual nerves in all possible ways. The temple in all its essence provides an escape for even the non-believers in that it enthralls each visitor with its engaging serenity and complementary peace of soul and mind. If not in pursuit of the unseen, the place calls for a visit in pursuit of an encounter with the convincing ambience and composure that is duly observable and realizable.

If not otherwise, one must for all reasons make the place a compulsory pit-stop in his/her trip to the northeastern highlands of India.

Nearest Town- Dibrugarh, 7 kms

Nearest Airport- Mohanbari, Dibrugarh
Nearest Railway Station- Banipur, Dibrugarh
Places To Stay- Hotel Natraj, Dibrugarh Club House, Hotel Devika among others.
How to Reach- Direct taxis can be hired from the Mohanbari Airport which could be used to eventually get a drop off to the hotel in Dibrugarh town 7kms from the temple. Shared as well as hired three wheeler auto-rickshaws are available ceaselessly from the Banipur Railway Station (New Dibrugarh). 

(Any further additions and contributions to the entry are welcome at uddiranbx@gmail.com)