Tukreswari Mata Temple, Nestled atop a sacred hill in Tukra village, near Goalpara in Assam, is a powerful and spiritually vibrant shrine dedicated to Goddess Sati. Known as one of the divine spots where a part (Tukra) of Sati’s body is believed to have fallen, this hilltop temple is revered as a Shakti Peetha by thousands of devotees from Assam and beyond.
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati, revered here as Tukreswari—a Shakti Peetha where a fragment (tukura in Assamese) of her body is believed to have fallen during Shiva’s fierce Tandava dance.This divine presence makes it one of the important centers for Shakti worship in Assam. A secondary shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva (Joya–Vijoya Temple) also sits at the hilltop.
The temple exhibits a blend of Assamese Hindu architectural style, with a prominent shikhara (spire) over the main sanctum and ornate carvings depicting mythological scenes. The complex includes a lower temple near the hill base—for easy access—and the main shrine perched atop the boulder edge, reachable via roughly 700 stone steps. A sacred kund (pond) near the site marks the believed location of the fallen fragment and is used for ritual cleansing before darshan.
The present temple is attributed to King Kumud Narayan of the Bijni estate, who in the 17th century constructed the upper hill shrine and a lower temple at the foot of the hill for easier access. This development made the sacred site more accessible to pilgrims and worshippers across the region.
The story of the Tukreswari Temple begins with the ancient legend of Goddess Sati. When Sati immolated herself due to grief, Lord Shiva, overwhelmed with sorrow, carried her body and performed the fierce Tandava dance. As her body disintegrated, fragments (tukura in Assamese) fell at various places across the land, transforming them into powerful Shakti Peethas.
According to local belief, a part of Sati is said to have fallen on Tukra Hill in the Goalpara district. This divine fragment sanctified the spot, and the temple came to be called Tukreswari Temple, meaning “the goddess of the fragment” (Tukura).
A unique aspect of the Tukreswari Temple is its resident troop of Assamese macaque monkeys. These monkeys have coexisted with the temple and devotees for generations. Locals believe the monkeys are sacred and protectors of the shrine, even referring to one of them as the “monkey king.”
The most important festival celebrated here is Durga Puja during Navratri (Ashwin month). Thousands of devotees from nearby villages and towns visit the temple during this time. Other festivals include Kali Puja, Joya–Vijoya celebrations, and Hindu marriages that are often performed in the temple’s sacred presence.
