Name: Morigaon
Rating: 3.6

Mayong, Morigaon Overview

Mayong, also known as 'the land of black magic', is a cluster of villages situated at a distance of 40 km from Guwahati. The village lies on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in the district of Morigaon in Assam. Mayong is a famous tourist spot and the famous stories of black magic and the magicians of the land make the place all the more enticing to the tourists. The ones who have been to the place say that there is an eerie silence surrounding the place which is completely opposite to the chaotic history associated with it.

Mayong village is surrounded by wildlife due to which the Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary situated beside the village is a very famous attraction. There are some adventure sports including trekking and river sports organized in the village which is why adventure enthusiasts love to come and pay a visit here. Apart from this, there are some old remains at the place too, and the people who are interested in the history of the place would love witnessing them for real. All in all, the place is a lovely getaway for the tourists as it is a blend of almost everything ranging from secretive magical powers to being a scenic beauty.
Traditionally, magic was practised in this town and has been passed down through the generations since then. There are also some ancient ruins of Ayurveda and black magic which have been conserved in the Mayong Central Museum.

Mayong - The Black Magic Capital

Though the village has a peaceful ambience and is a scenic beauty somehow everything does not look normal. The village is surrounded by some sort of mystery it seems. Stories of men disappearing into the air and humans being turned into animals go around in the village. Even today, magic is practised in the village but not as much as it used to be. Kobiraj teaches magic spells to students when they reach a certain age. Most of the magic spells are taught verbally whereas some of them need to be written down. Illness too can be cured with the help of this magic.

History has it that Aurangzeb instructed his Mughal General Raja Ram Singh to defeat the Ahoms in Assam in 1667. Raja Ram Singh was not afraid of any of his enemies that this mystical land of Assam scared him to his very core. He did not die there but came back defeated. In 1256-57, Ikhtiyaruddin Yuzbuk Tughril, the Sultan of Bengal attacked Assam and never came back. He and his army of 10,000 soldiers died there. There are numerous texts even today which are preserved by the families of the Mayong village. Some of them have destroyed them out of the fear of them going into the wrong hands while some of them still have it. People do not reveal the secret behind the magic and keep it to themselves.

Legend and Mythology of Mayong

The land of Mayong is mysterious. Even the name of the village has a mystery in it. It is believed that the name of the place originated from 'Maya' meaning magic. There are a number of tales associated with the place. One story states that when all the Northeastern states were known as Assam, some Manipuris belonging to the Maiibong clan inhabited this area which is why it came to be known as Mayhong and later with time changed to Mayong.

Another tale has it that an elephant is known as Miyong in Manipuri language which is why the village was given this name which later got modified to Mayong over time. It is also said that sacred parts of Goddess Shakti were found here and the older generation called them Maa-R-Ongo which means Goddess parts, and therefore it was known as Mayong.

Mayong has been mentioned in the Mahabharata and many, ancient works. Legend has it that the Chief of the Kachari Kingdom, Ghatotkacha participated in the battle of Mahabharata after he got magical powers from Mayong. It is also believed that the forest is still home to the saints who wish to practice black magic. Also, human sacrifices took place here to worship Goddess Shakti and make her happy.

Archaeological Importance of Mayong

Mayong is known for its rich wildlife, archaeology pilgrimage and eco-tourism. Not only that , it also provides adventure tourism, cultural tourism and river tourism. The place has archaeological , ancient objects and artefacts kept at the museum for the visitors so that they can have a look at them. There are books on black magic and Ayurveda . The museum was opened in the year 2002 .

Places To Visit in Mayong

Nature Tourism- Pobitora National Park
Pobitora National Park lies in the Marigaon district which is rich in wildlife especially the one-horned rhinoceros. The park is spread over a distance of 38.8 square kilometres. Although the total area of the park is 38 square kilometres, the rhino habitat covers only 16 square kilometres out of that. Earlier declared as a reserve forest in 1971, Pobitara National Park was turned into a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. There are flat floodplains and a hillock in the sanctuary. It is worth paying a visit to with the entire family if you are visiting Mayong.

Religious Tourism
There are numerous shrines and temples situated in the village of Mayong. Mayong is also known as the land of Pancha Devta namely Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Dinesh, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Shiva Shrine of Kachashila, Narasinha Ashram of Hiloikhunda, Ganesh Temple of Hatimuria and Kechaikhaiti Shrine of Burha Mayong are some of the famous and significant temples situated here.

Best Time To Visit Mayong

In case you are visiting Mayong, try avoiding the monsoon season because all the tourist activities including get cancelled during the rains. The ideal time to visit the place is from November to March since the weather remains pleasant during this time and the temperature remains between 10 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius. The late summer becomes hot and too uncomfortable to enjoy.

Tips For Visiting Mayong

Do visit the Central Mayong Museum located nearby if you are interested in knowing the history behind the ancient objects. This museum includes several books, masks and mythological tales about black magic. It also has detailed writings on black magic and Ayurveda and if you want to experience a chill up your spine, you must definitely visit the Mayong Central Museum. There is no particular place where you can eat or drink over there , so carry food along with you.

How To Reach Mayong Assam

Morigaon is 40 kms away from Guwahati which can be reached through any mode of transport. It is most accessible by roads. There are two important commercial towns, Marigaon and Jagiroad, the district is well connected by air, rail and road.