A temple at Mahamaya. A Telegraph picture

Jan. 25: More than half a dozen exquisite temples and a bathing bank with a mythological twist to it have given Dhubri a religious tourism hub to bank on.

The famed Mahamaya temple and 16 temples surrounding it are drawing tourists by the lakh across religions.

The Mahamaya Snan Ghat, located a little away from the main temple, along river Tipkai by National Highway 31 in Kokrajhar, has also become a haunt for pilgrims.

According to historians like Edward Gait and Sibananda Sarma, there was temple of Mahamaya along the river Tipkai where the goddess is believed to take dips and ascend to main temple on the hilltop.

The temple was destroyed in an earthquake between 1548 to 1596.

Research on the temple’s ruins revealed that it was built before 12th century.

There had been no attempts to rebuild the temple till Amarendra Bordoloi, a resident of Uzan Bazar in Guwahati, arrived in Dhubri a decade ago with the sole mission of erecting the Mahamaya temple.

Joydeep Barua, an ardent follower of the Shakti cult, says Bordoloi has not only rebuilt the temple but also transformed the place into the abode of peace and tranquillity.

“Apart from the temple of Mahamaya, all other temples around it were built with marvellous architectural beauty,” Barua said.

There are about 17 temples on the complex.

What intrigues Bordoloi is that devotees from all religions throng the Mahamaya temple.

Bordoloi also explained how every temple on the complex has a meaning.

“Dirgheswari, under a giant artificial tree, means no life is possible without vegetation. Like this one, every temple has a significance,” Bordoloi said.