Namsai’s Golden Pagoda, or Kongmu Kham as it’s known in Tai-Khamti, is a Buddhist temple inspired by Burmese architecture that opened in 2010. Currently, Kongmu Kham is being developed by the World Tripiaka Foundation to become the first international Tripiaka center in India.
It sits on a plateau high above the surrounding plains of Arunachal Pradesh, amid the foothills of the Eastern Himalayan Patkai Range. The Pagoda is 17.60 m high. There are 12 smaller domes that make up the Pagoda, with the central, largest dome serving as the shrine’s altar.
The huge Lord Buddha statue inside the temple made of pure bronze was donated by the chief monk of Wat Aranjikavas temple in Thailand. The shrine’s main hall can be entered from four different directions: east, north, west, and south. Each of the entrances are guarded by a pair of mythical lions.
There is a pond near the entrance Gate. The reflection of the main pagoda on the water of the pond will surely mesmerize you.
In addition to housing for the monks and novices, the Golden Pagoda complex also features a large shrine hall, a meditation hall, a multipurpose hall, a guest house, a library, and a monastery with space for about 100 Bhikkhus. The building includes a residential care facility for the elderly and a free clinic for the people who live nearby.
Time required to visit the Pagoda:
How long you spend within the pagoda complex is, of course, entirely at your discretion. There is so much peace and quiet here that you won’t get bored. Instead, you’ll feel calmed by the natural beauty of the vicinity. We arrived there in the late afternoon. The Pagoda by night is a sight to behold, and we waited till after dark to see it.
How to reach:
The airport lies in Dibrugarh City while the nearest railway station is in Tinsukia. Tinsukia has two railway stations, New Tinsukia Junction (NTSK) and Tinsukia Jn (TSK). Buses and shared sumos as well as cabs ply on a daily basis from both Dibrugarh as well as Tinsukia.
The Golden Pagoda lies at Tengapani, about 16 kilometers from the Namsai Main market. You’ll have to go past Namsai Main Market if you’re coming from Dibrugarh or Tinsukia. An inner line permit is required by all domestic as well as international tourists to enter the state of Arunachal. One can apply online at www.arunachalilp.com or collect it on arrival.
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