Location :
Joysagar, just 5 km away from the Sivasagar Town
Highlights :
Giant temples built 300 years back dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva.
The temple is popularly known as the 'Kesavanarayan Vishnudole' or 'Joydole' (Lat. 26°58’ N Long.
94° 41' E). It was built during the reign of Ahom king Rudra Singha (AD 1696-14) and
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It stands on the eastern extremity of the northern bank of
the Joysagar tank which was excavated in memory of his mother Joymati. The temple proper
has an octagonal Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum adorned by a dome like structure and
decorated with honey- comb designs and lotus medallions. The external walls of the main
temple are also beautifully decorated with stone plaques richly carved with figures of
various Brahmanical divinities including incarnation forms of Vishnu. On the western side
a square mandapa is provided.It connected the main sanctum through an antarala or vestibule.
A small brick structure adjacent to the main sanctum was meant for kitchen house or bhog-ghar.
There are two small temples lying behind the main shrine and are known as Surya and Ganesha
temple respectively.This is the largest temple built by the king in the adaptation of
'Nilacala Type' of architectural design used in the reconstruction of the Kamakhya temple
in 1562 A.D. by the Koch king Naranarayan. Though Rudra Sungha patronized Vaishnavism,
yet he showed due honour to the devotees of Durga and Shive by building two temples named
Shiva Dole and Durga Dole adjacent to the Vishnu Dole. The king used to perform Durga Puja
once in a year in the Devi Dole.
Joysagar Tank
Location :
Adjacent to Joy Dole
Highlights :
Largest of all the tanks built by Ahom Kings in Assam. It is considered as the largest men made pond in India. The water level of the tanks stays at 14 feet higher than ground level.
The Tank Jayasagar was dug by Ahom king Rudrasingha (1696-1714) to commemorate his
mother Sati Joymoti, wife of Gadapani, later King Gadadharsingha (1681-1695). The
place was chosen, where Siulikpha convicted Joyamoti through his Chaodangs to extract
information regarding her exiled husband Gadapani. This is the biggest man-made tank comprising
an area of 318 acres including the four banks.
Joy Dole along with Sun and Ganesha temples
View of the Joysagar pond
Fisherman at the tank
Keshavanarayan Vishnu Dole aka Joy Dole