Parasuram Kund is situated within the Kamlang Reserve Forest area. This place on the Lohit River carries a strong mythological link with the legend of Parsurama, a Hindu sage. According to the legend, sage Parsurama washed away his sin of matricide in the waters of the Lohit river at Bramhakund. Each year thousands of pilgrims from all over the country congregate on Makar Sankranti day, to wash away their sins. A fair (mela) is held during this period.
Parshuam Kund Mela is an annual religious fair which is celebrated near Parshuram Kund, which is based at a distance of nearly 3 miles from the north-eastern portion of Tezu, which is the district headquarters of the district of Lohit in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. On Paush sankranti, a Parshuram Mela is held near this place on 4th January every year, which is attended by innumerable saints and devotees from across the nation, despite the severe cold.
Parshuram Kund is situated within the Kamlang Reserve Forest area in Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. The Kund is surrounded by dense forest of Ruddraksha trees, the fruit of which is considered sacred to Hindu ascetics as well as general believers of the faith. This place on the Lohit River carries a strong mythological link with the Kalika Purana, the Srimad Bhagavat and the Mahabharata; sage Parsurama washed away his sin of matricide in the waters of the Lohit River at Bramhakund. Each year thousands of pilgrims from all over the country congregate on Makar Sankrati day, to wash away their sins. A fair (Mela) is held during this period.
HawaCamp:
Is on the way to Tezu where one can enjoy the panoramic view of the magnificent Lohit
valley as well as sunrise and sun set views.
Essentials
The origin of the kund is associated with Parashuram’s matricide described in the Srimad Bhagvat, Kalikapurana and in the Mahabharata. One day, Renuka, mother of Parashuram, went to fetch water. While returning, she felt drawn towards King Chitranatha playing with celestial nymphs. Consequently, she was late in returning to the ashram. Jamadagni, her husband, worried over her delay as it was getting late for the midday worship. On perceiving through his divine power the reason for her delay, Jamadagni was so enraged that, on her arrival, he asked his sons to kill her. None of his six sons except Parashuram could oblige. He immediately beheaded his mother. The handle of the axe which he used, however, clung to his hand. Pleased with his son, Jamadagni desired Parashuram to ask for any boon. Parashuram asked six boons and one was for the immediate recovery of his mother. However, this did not wipe out his sin. He was told that the only way to wash off his sin was by taking a dip in the Brahma Kund. Only then would the axe stuck to his hand drop. Parashuram ultimately came to the Brahma Kund in present Lohit District and made a passage for the kund to come out by digging the bank of Brahma Kund. The spot where the axe dropped from his hand came to be known as Parashuram Kund. The Kalika Puram states that a mere bath in the kund leads to emancipation. The waters of the kund are considered as sacred as the waters of the River Ganga. In the 18th century a sadhu re-established the site of Parashuram Kund. The sadhu who came through Chowkham, as the story goes, was driven out form his village as he was looked upon as a swindler. The villagers thereafter were afflicted with some unknown disease. Meanwhile the sadhu, had hidden himself in a cave around the kund away from the angry villagers. The villagers came in search of him and offered him fruits and flowers and asked forgiveness.
The site of the Parashuram Kund as established by the sadhu was in existence till 1950 when the old site was completely changed by the earthquake that shook the whole of the North-East and the kund was completely covered. A very strong current is now flowing over the original site of the kund but massive boulders have in a mysterious way embedded themselves in a circular formation in the river bed thus forming another kund in place of the old.
On Paush, Makarsankranti day which normally falls in Mid-January every year, an endless stream of pilgrims come to take a dip in the kund in spite of the biting cold wind. At midnight, the auspicious ceremony of Makarsankranti begins and devotees start bathing in the kund.
Though there is scarcity of accommodation pilgrims bear the hardships bravely and spend the night around the temple, wherever they can find space to rest their tired bodies and spend the night. Sadhus of different sects from as far off as the hills of Uttar Pradesh remain at the kund for two nights after their holy bath singing devotional songs. There is also some recreation in the form of a mela (fair) organized on the bank of the River Lohit.
Lohit deputy commissioner R K Sharma informed that about 10000 pilgrims thronged the kund and took a holy dip in 2021. Last year (2018), the number of visitors was little less than that of last year probably due to Kumbh Mela at Allahabad.
However, the number of pilgrims visiting the holy kund is expected to be one lakh till the end of coming pilgrimage. Free food was provided to the pilgrims at the mela site by the Parshuram Sewa Samity and Manav Utthan Seva Samity of Tinsukia in neighbouring Assam besides some other NGOs.
Every year, free medical camp is also organized by ITBP, district medical authorities and Arunachal Pali Vidyapith. Round the clock volunteers to help the old and aged pilgrims and to control the crowd were provided by Vivekananda Kendra and Arun Jyoti, Wakro.The District police authorities make elaborate security arrangements and deployed adequate Police and Para Military Forces.
Like most pilgrim centres in other parts of India, Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh, situated on the Brahmaputra plateau in the lower reaches of the north of Tezu in Lohit District, has been a source of spiritual inspiration of a multitude of devotees since time immemorial.
The personality and exploits of Parashuram are part of India’s millennial memory. The great epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and numerous scriptures have repeated reference of his deeds. From the study of the Mahabharata, it is clear that Parashuram taught archery and military science to the warriors of the Mahabharata such as Bhisma, Drona, Karna and even wrote treatises on its known as Dhanuveda. There is also a legend of his killing the Kshatriyas, the warrior’s class, to establish the path of righteousness at the time of its decline.
From the data available it is clear that regular approach routes to the kund were in existence for centuries but in 1826 when the British Administration took over this area, and introduced Inner Line regulations, pilgrims could not move into the interior at liberty. Even today one has to obtain entry permit to cross the inner line check posts. The office of the Deputy Commissioner Lohit District issues these permits for pilgrimages on the occasion of Makarsankranti. Arrangements are also made to issue entry permits for pilgrims at Dirak and Sunpura check posts during this period. The kund is 165 kilometres from Tinsukia, the nearest railway station, and 97 kilometres via Tezu. A fleet of the State Transport Department of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh make elaborate arrangements for playing buses from Tinsukia to Namsai, Wakro and Tezu.
A fair is held during the mela where wild cows, rare fur-rugs and other curios are brought down by the mountain tribes. There are also facilities for trekking from Tezu to Glow lake which takes one day, hiking and river rafting and angling on the river Lohit. While district headquarters Tezu is 21 km from the kund, the nearest railway station is Tinsukia (120km) from where one can take buses via Namsai. There are also buses available from Sadia. The nearest airports are Tezu and Dibrugarh in Assam.
| 01 Days |
Itanagar Dibrugarh (Assam)
Morning arrive at Gumto rail station(Doimukh) later drive 4/5 hrs to Dibrugarh ( Assam 2nd biggest towm ) , en route board a ferry at Bogi beel ghat to cross mighty river Brahmaputra and reach at Dihing river camp(Assam) where pilgrims can camp over night for a price of Rs. 2500/ tent inclusive of fooding and lodging.
| 02 Days |
Dibrugarh – Chongkham (Detours1)
Morning arrive at Gumto rail station(Doimukh) later drive 4/5 hrs to Dibrugarh ( Assam 2nd biggest towm ) , en route board a ferry at Bogi beel ghat to cross mighty river Brahmaputra and reach at Dihing river camp(Assam) where pilgrims can camp over night for a price of Rs. 2500/ tent inclusive of fooding and lodging.
| 03 Days |
Chongkham – Parsuramkund
Morning drive 2 hrs to Parsuramkund were the history of myths ( Mahabharat ) begin. Afternoon take a dip in the holy water of Parsuramkund were sage Parsuram washed his sin and visit the festival. Overnight camping around riverside / Heritage Tea Bungalow(Mishmi Retreat Resort) .
| 04 Days |
Parsuramkund
Whole day at festival and explore the mythological sites of Pursuramkund overnight on 15th January every year.
| 05 Days |
Paruramkund – Roing (Detour 2)
Morning drive 3 hrs to Roing located at the foothill of the Mishmi Hill was Idu Mishmi tribe is indigenous dweller, en route visit Bismaknagar. Overnight at Mishmi Hill Camp / Dibang Valley Jungle Camp.
| 06 Days |
Roing – Pasighat (Detour 3)
Morning drive 4 hrs to Pasighat which was founded in 1911 A.D. by the British as a gateway to administrative convenience of the greater Abor Hills and the settlements of Pasi and Minyong tribe. Overnight at Hotel Anne / Donyi Polo Tea Estate.
| 07 Days |
Passighat – Itanagar
Morning drive 4/5 hrs to Itanagar, evening visit Ganga Lake & Zoological Park ( if time permits ). Overnight at Hotel .
| 08 Days |
Tour end
Transfer to Itanagar Railway Station.
When to visit: During the period, November to Feb.
How to reach: By bus from Tinsukia.
Where to stay: Circuit House Tezu/ Hotels
Nearest Airport: Mohanbari (Dibrugarh).
Nearest Bus stand: Tinsukia. (direct).
Nearest Railway Station. Tinsukia.
What to see: P.Kund,Glow Lake, Tezu.