The Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati, located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river above the Nilachal Hills, is a historic Shakti pith (shrine of divine power). Every year Kamakhya temple of Guwahati receives millions of footfalls of devotees across India and the world. However, many visitors comment on my blog regarding “How much time does it take to visit Kamakhya Temple?”. This blog will clear all doubts regarding Kamakhya Temple timing, ticket booking, and total time needed to explore Kamakhya Temple etc.
Exploring Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati
The Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati is not a standalone destination. There are many places within the temple complex that a first time visitors must explore.
But the question “How much time does it take to visit Kamakhya Temple?” applies to only visiting the temple i.e. the inner garbhagriha of Kamakhya Temple. The other places within the complex, you can explore at your convenience. as there is no rush of public in those places. The rush is there only to visit the garbhagriha. Once you are done with visiting the inner temple, you can plan your trip accordingly.
What’s Special Inside the garbhagriha?
Visiting the garbhagriha i.e. sanctum sanctorum is the main aim of 90% of visitors. So, first we will discuss about the time required to visit it. It is noted that there is no image of Maa Kamakhya inside the main temple. Instead of a traditional idol, it houses a yoni-shaped stone representing the goddess Kamakhya. A natural spring keeps the stone moist. The devotees touch the stone, draped with a silk sari, and offer flowers and Bilwa Patra (Bel Pat in Assamese) on it. Devotees offer their prayers and seek blessings in this central and most sacred part of the temple.
Imagine the Rush and Waiting Time to Visit Kamakhya Devi
To get a darshan of Maa Kamakhya Devi and pray, then you must plan your trip early in the morning, preferably at 5 PM. If you are visiting during the festive season, make it at 4 AM. You have to take the queue for about 4 to 5 hours. Finally, you can expect to get a darshan by 12-1 PM. After that, you can easily explore the temple complex and nearby areas. In this case, it would take around 6-7 hours to visit kamakhya temple.
Visiting the sanctum sanctorum is the main aim of 90% of visitors. So, first we will discuss about the time required to visit it. It is noted that there is no image of Maa Kamakhya inside the main temple. Instead of a traditional idol, it houses a yoni-shaped stone representing the goddess Kamakhya. A natural spring keeps the stone moist. The devotees touch the stone, draped with a silk sari, and offer flowers and Bilwa Patra (Bel Pat in Assamese) on it. Devotees offer their prayers and seek blessings in this central and most sacred part of the temple.
Once you are done with visiting the inner temple, you can plan your trip accordingly.
The Shortcut Method
As you have seen it takes almost 6-7 hours to visit the temple. However, there is a catch. At kamakhya temple, VIP pass can be bought where you can complete the the same process in about 3 hours.
Besides, if you are travelling with children or sick or elderly people, a Kamakhya Temple VIP pass becomes essential. This is because following the queue is a physically demanding task.
Read this blog to know all the details regarding VIP Darshan at Kamakhya Temple
Things To Note Before Buying a VIP Pass
- The best time to book a ticket is at 7:30 AM; for that, you have to be at the counter queue before 6 AM on normal days or 5 AM on holidays/festive days.
- Suppose you get to the temple at 5:30 AM, book a VIP slot at 7:30 AM, and you will get your VIP darshan between 8:30 – 9:30 AM. So, the average visiting time is 4 hours. But again, Kamakhya temple timing depends on which day you visit.
- Once you book a VIP ticket, you will be given seats in a restroom where are 100 seat capacity (as 100 persons are given tickets per slot). Once the temple door opens, you will be informed and you join the queue. Until then, be seated and relax in the name of Maa Kamakhya.
Special VIP Pass For Defence Personnel
A special VIP pass for defence personnel is offered by Kamakhya temple authority. It is offered to save the valuable time of the personnel and as a tribute to them for serving and protecting the nation.
Read this blog to know all the details regarding VIP pass for defence personnel at Kamakhya Temple
In conclusion, for general pass, it takes around 6-7 hours to visit Kamakhya Temple; for VIP Pass, it takes around 3-7 hours to visit Kamakhya Temple. Defence timing is almost same as the VIP pass.
Once you are done with visiting the inner temple, you can plan to explore other places within the complex.
Places to Visit Inside Maa Kamakhya Temple Complex
The Kamakhya temple is not a standalone tourist destination. Many places near the Kamakhya mandir can be explored during your visit to Maa Kamakhya Temple. The Nilachal Hill, on which the Mandir is situated, offers various viewpoints.
Kamakhya View Point
Kamakhya View Point stands as a serene vantage point, offering visitors a breathtaking panorama of the majestic River Brahmaputra. Here, the gentle caress of the cool breeze blends with the spiritual ambience of the nearby temple creating a worthy atmosphere. Located along the route to the temple, reaching this scenic spot requires minimal effort. However, during busier hours, it’s not advisable to park your vehicle nearby.
Tortoise Pond
This pond is located at a distance of 500 meters from the main temple. You can visit this pond using the stairway. This iconic pond is the habitat of some rare tortoise breeds, some of them more than 100 years old. However, the surrounding environment is not properly managed by the authority.
Amrut Kund and Soubhagya Kund
This kund or pond is considered very safe by the people of the area. Various religious rites are done near the Kund. You can spend a few minutes here to get a glimpse of such religious ceremonies which happens almost every day.
So, final verdict about “How much time does it take to visit Kamakhya Temple”
It depends on what you want to explore. Suppose, you are planning to visit garbhagriha and all other places inside the complex, it would take almost 10-11 hours (From 5 AM to 5 PM).
If you want to explore only the main garbhagriha via VIP pass, it would take around 3-4 hours. So, plan accordingly.
