The Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati is Guwahati’s most famous tourist place. Every year thousands of visitors across the globe embark on the Maa Kamakhya Temple Tour to witness this majestic temple and its authentic religious vibes. 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). According to a recent survey, 8 out of 10 people visiting Northeast India for vacation and family tours, visit Kamakhya temple.
Why Kamakhya Temple Tour is so famous?
Kamakhya Temple tour offers visitors a unique opportunity to emerge themselves on a spiritual journey that is a very unique but wholesome experience. It is said that Maa Kamakhya has the divine power to fulfil one’s wishes, ward off evils and bless her devotees with happiness and prosperity. Besides the spiritual thing, the Nilachal Hilltop on the temple is situated offers a majestic view of the Brahmaputra river and Guwahati city below.
Another reason you should opt for the Kamakhya Temple tour is to witness the annual Ambubachi Mela. Ambubachi Mela is considered the Kumbh Mela of Northeast India.
In this blog, we will discuss every detail about the Kamakhya temple tour, how to reach Kamakhya temple, how to get a darshan (view) of Maa Kamakhya, hotels and accommodations near the Kamakhya Temple, Kamakhya Temple Ticket Booking, VIP Pass etc.
How To Reach The Kamakhya Temple
To reach the Kamakhya Temple, travellers have convenient options via both railway and air.
For those opting for the railway, two primary stations are serving Guwahati: Guwahati Junction (GHY) and Kamakhya Station (KYQ). However, Kamakhya Railway Station stands out as the closest, merely a 14-minute drive away covering a distance of 6.1 kilometers. This station offers direct connectivity to major cities across the country.
Alternatively, for air travellers, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati serves as the nearest airport, approximately a 34-minute drive from the temple, spanning a distance of 20.4 kilometres.
Hotels and Accommodations Near Kamakhya Temple
Once you decide to visit Maa Kamakhya Mandir, the first thing that will cross your mind is to where to stay near Kamakhya temple. Here there is a clause. If you want a casual visit to the temple, you can choose any hotel in Guwahati for your stay. However, if you want an immersive Kamakhya Temple Tour you must stay within the 5-km radius of the Kamakhya temple.
You are advised to stay near the Kamakhya temple because if you want to get the best view and experience you must visit the temple between 7-10 AM. Afterwards, it is just a hue and cry. During the daytime, you won’t find any peaceful atmosphere.
So, the best hotel to stay in during your Kamakhya Temple tour is the nearest one. That is Maa Kamakhya Devalaya Guest House. The guest house is run by the Kamakhya temple administration. There is no online booking system in this guest house. The contact number of the guest house is 0361 2734654. It is the best guest house because the temple is just a few steps from this hotel.
In addition, there are many hotels and guest houses along the route to Kamakhya temple. You can choose any one of them. The trick is that choose the nearest hotel to the temple.
Kamakhya Temple Tour: Darshan of the Deity
Here is the toughest part of the Kamakhya Mandir tour. Being the most visited temple in Northeast India, there is a lot of devotees each day. Even though the gate of the shrine opens at 8 AM, there is a long queue from 5 AM onwards. That is why, we advised you earlier to stay nearby. During a normal day, You can join the queue at 6 AM and expect to get the darshan of Maa Kamakhya around 9-10 AM. If you join the queue after 9 AM on a holiday or a special day (according to the Hindu calendar), you would be exhausted just by waiting and standing in the queue.
If you are a casual visitor, you can go to the temple any time of the day and light a diya (earthen lamp) beside the designated place (near the main shrine), pray, click some good photos and leave the place after buying some prasad. You don’t have to stand in queue for that. The rush is there only to visit the main shrine.
Exploring The Kamakhya Temple Complex
Once you are inside the temple complex, you will be mesmerized by the aura of the temple and the number of devotees present there. You would need a clear vision of what you need to do. See, the complex is made of 11 temples, the main shrine is surrounded by 10 other temples. You can explore all the temples except the main shrine quite easily. There is a rush only to visit the main temple.
Besides the temples, there are various places to explore near Kamakhya Mandir which are described in this blog.
VIP Pass for Kamakhya Temple Tour
If you want a darshan of the deity and you want a darshan of the deity, there is a special provision for you. Though the VIP pass was intended to ease darshan for elderly and disabled persons, nowadays anyone can buy the pass at a minimal cost of 501 Rs. and skip the queue. The VIP pass for Kamakhya temple can be bought at the information centre beside the temple or at the temple trust office which is situated inside the temple complex.
Read this blog to know all the details regarding VIP Darshan at Kamakhya Temple
Once you buy the VIP pass for the darshan of Maa Kamakhya temple, you will be assigned a token number and time slot. You just sit in the waiting room and visit the shrine at your designated slot. There is no separate VIP ticket for children below 10 years old. They may go along with their parents for free.
Best Time To Visit Kamakhya Temple
For a temple as revered as Kamakhya, every day presents an opportunity for spiritual connection and devotion. However, for those seeking a serene and tranquil ambience, it is advisable to avoid visiting during the Ambubachi Mela and Navaratri (Durga Puja) celebrations. During these festivals, the temple premises teem with an overwhelming influx of devotees.
Despite the crowd, these festivals at Kamakhya Temple offer a unique and vibrant glimpse into the fervent religious fervour of the region. Nonetheless, for visitors yearning to experience the essence of Kamakhya Temple in a more serene setting, the ideal time to visit is during the morning hours, typically from 7 AM to 10 AM.
Things You Should Know Before Planning the Kamakhya Temple Tour
Before you plan a visit to the Kamakhya temple of Guwahati, you must decide for yourself what you want to do at the temple complex. If you are going only for spiritual purposes i.e. 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. In this case, you can easily get a darshan by 9 AM. After that, you can easily explore the temple complex and nearby areas. This time clause, however, does not apply to visitors who buy VIP passes.
For those casual travellers who are going to the Kamakhya Mandir for a family outing, you can easily plan your journey. Reach the temple at around 9 AM. Pray as you like. Explore the temple and return.
Activities and Places to Explore near Kamakhya Temple
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.
Here is the list of tourist places near Kamakhya Temple that you can explore
How To Reach Kamakhya Temple From Guwahati Railway Station
From Guwahati railway station, it is 15 15-minute (7.8 km) drive to Kamakhya temple via Assam Trunk Rd and Kamakhya Mandir Rd. However, during rush hour, it may take up to 1 hour. You can easily book Ola, uber and local taxis to reach Kamakhya temple from Guwahati railway station.
