Sivasagar

Sivasagar (earlier known as Rangpur) is one of Assam’s most historic towns because it served as the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. The Ahoms ruled Assam for nearly six centuries and left behind a rich legacy of palaces, temples, tanks, and planned civic spaces that still define the town’s identity.

A major landmark of this era is the Sivasagar Tank (Borpukhuri)—a large man-made water body associated with Ahom queen Ambika (Madambika). Along its banks rose the iconic Sivadol temple complex, with Sivadol built in 1734, which remains an active place of worship and a key symbol of the town. The Ahom rulers also built celebrated structures like Rang Ghar (1744)—a royal pavilion used for sports and public events—and the Talatal Ghar, a fortified palace/military base reflecting the strategic architecture of the period.

After the Ahom kingdom collapsed during the Burmese invasion (1819), the region was taken over by the British in 1825 and formally annexed in 1826, reshaping administration and governance.