Hajo

Hajo is a small town on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, about 25 km from Guwahati, that has drawn pilgrims of three faiths for centuries. Its most famous shrine is the Hayagriva Madhava Temple on Monikut Hill, a stone temple rebuilt in the 16th century under the Koch king Raghudev. Hindus revere it as a Vishnu temple, while many Buddhists believe it marks a place associated with the Buddha's parinirvana.

On a hill nearby stands Powa Mecca, a mosque said to contain a quarter (powa) of the sanctity of Mecca, built in the 17th century and associated with the saint Pir Giasuddin Aulia. Hajo also has a Kedareswara Shiva temple and other shrines, making the town a remarkable example of Assam's syncretic traditions.

The temple tank at Hayagriva Madhava is home to a community of turtles that pilgrims feed. Hajo is a natural half-day outing from Guwahati and combines well with the silk village of Sualkuchi, just 10 km away.