Sivadol Temple

Sivadol ('Temple of Shiva'), standing prominently on the banks of the large Sivasagar tank (also called Borpukhuri - 'Big Pond') in Sivasagar town, Assam, is a major historical monument from the Ahom kingdom era and one of the most famous temples in the state. Its construction was commissioned by Bar Raja Ambika (also known as Madambika), the chief queen consort of the Ahom King Swargadeo Sutanphaa (more popularly known as Siva Singha), and was completed in 1734 CE. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Architecturally, Sivadol is a significant example of the Ahom temple style, which evolved through a synthesis of indigenous architectural traditions with influences from mainland India, particularly Bengal. Its most striking feature is the towering central shikhara (vimana or dol), which rises to a height of approximately 32 meters (104 feet), making it one of the tallest pre-colonial temple towers in India. This curvilinear spire is crowned by a golden kolosi (finial), which itself is about 8 feet high. The main sanctum houses a Shivalinga. Adjacent to the Sivadol, Queen Ambika also patronized the construction of two other slightly smaller but architecturally similar temples around the same tank: the Vishnudol (dedicated to Lord Vishnu) and the Devidol (dedicated to Goddess Durga), forming a significant religious complex. The temple structures primarily use brick and stone, with some decorative elements reflecting Ahom motifs alongside standard Hindu iconography. The construction of these temples and the massive Sivasagar tank (excavated earlier by King Rudra Singha or later by Siva Singha) occurred during a later phase of the Ahom kingdom (which ruled Assam for nearly 600 years), a period marked by increasing influence of Shaktism and Vaishnavism alongside older Ahom beliefs. Sivadol remains an active place of worship and a major landmark of Sivasagar town, which derives its name from the king, the deity, and the tank associated with this temple complex.