Hatimura Temple, Silghat

Durga as Mahishamardini temple · Hatimura (near Silghat / Jakhalabandha), Nagaon, Assam, India

The Hatimura Temple is a shrine of the goddess Durga as Mahishamardini, the slayer of the buffalo-demon, at Hatimura near Silghat and Jakhalabandha in Nagaon district, Assam. It stands among hills on the bank of the Brahmaputra.

The Nagaon district administration describes Hatimura as a Shaktipith built during the reign of the Ahom king Pramatta Singha in 1745, and as a place that offers a glimpse into the Ahom kingdom and its legacy.

By the HinduTone Editorial Team · Last reviewed 1 November 2026. Editorial policy & corrections

Faith & Tradition

✦

Religious Significance of Hatimura Temple, Silghat

In their study Temples and Legends of Assam, B. K. Barua and H. V. Sreenivasa Murthy describe Hatimura as one of the important centres of Shakti worship in early Assam. The district administration calls it a Shaktipith dedicated to the goddess Mahishamardini, and Wikipedia also describes it as a Shakti Pitha.

Barua and Murthy describe the image of the presiding goddess in detail: ten-armed, each hand holding a weapon, with her right foot on the lion and her left pressing the shoulder of the buffalo-demon, whom she pierces with a trident and binds with a noose, while the lion also attacks the demon. They note that the composition follows the iconographic texts closely.

Heritage

✦

History of Hatimura Temple, Silghat

Barua and Murthy date the present temple to Saka 1667 (1745–46 CE), in the reign of the Ahom king Pramatta Singha, and say it was probably built on the ruins of an older stone temple. The Nagaon district administration gives 1745, and Wikipedia gives the same Saka date.

Like several Shakta shrines of early Assam, Hatimura is associated in historical accounts with blood sacrifice. Barua and Murthy record that human sacrifice was once performed at its altars and that a large sword believed to have been used for the purpose was deposited in the Assam Provincial Museum at Gauhati (Guwahati). This belongs to the distant past and is recorded here as history, not current practice.

Architecture and sacred features

Barua and Murthy describe Hatimura as a brick temple, which in their time was standing but in a very dilapidated condition. No recent official description of the building's present state or restoration was found.

Plan Your Visit

✦

Darshan and Visitor Information

Hatimura is a riverside hill site that the district administration also describes as a picnic spot; respect the shrine area, carry water and keep the site clean. Dress modestly at the temple. Little current information is published, so confirm timings and access with local authorities in Nagaon or Kaliabor before travelling.

Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.

Location

How to Reach Hatimura Temple, Silghat

The Nagaon district administration places Hatimura about 60 km from Nagaon town by way of Jakhalabandha. It suggests hiring a taxi from Nagaon or using local tempo services.

Location: Hatimura (near Silghat / Jakhalabandha), Nagaon, Assam, India

More in Hindu temples in Assam · Durga as Mahishamardini temples

View larger map →

Questions

✦