Nartiang Durga Temple
Nartiang, West Jaintia Hills district · Goddess Durga as Jayanti / Jainteshwari; Bhairava as Kamadishwar
A Jaintia kings' Shakti Peetha where Hindu and Khasi-Pnar traditions meet.
On a hilltop above the Myntang river in the Jaintia Hills, this small temple is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where Sati's left thigh is believed to have fallen. Built under the Jaintia kings, who made Nartiang their summer capital, it blends Hindu worship with Pnar (Jaintia) customs. Its Durga Puja is famous for a dressed banana plant as the goddess, immersed with a gun salute.
Timings
- Temple open: Daytime – no official hours published; check locally
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Durga Puja worship – Free to attend (Navaratri (Sep/Oct), about five days)
How to book darshan
No booking. No Inner Line Permit is needed for Meghalaya.
Dress code
No published dress code; modest clothing.
Best time to visit
October to April for dry weather. Durga Puja (Sep/Oct) for the festival. Meghalaya's monsoon (June–September) is very wet.
How to reach
- air: Shillong (Umroi) airport – limited flights; Guwahati (about 160 km to Jowai) is the main airport.
- rail: Guwahati is the nearest major railhead.
- road: About 65 km east of Shillong (2010 report), via the Shillong–Jowai highway and a branch road; Jowai is about 64 km from Shillong. Shared Sumos run Shillong–Jowai; hire a taxi for Nartiang.
Festivals
- Durga Puja – Sep/Oct