DERGAON, Jan 1 � For 286 years, the historic Negheriting Shiva temple site has not been developed into a tourist spot. The government has allegedly been ignoring the importance of the site as a tourist spot.
But government apathy notwithstanding, the Shiva temple area, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, attracts picnickers every year. This year too, over a thousand picnickers thronged the area, one kilometre north of NH-37 at Negheriting Chariali under Dergaon PS on New Year�s day today.
The picnickers who came from Jorhat, Sivasagar and Golaghat, arranged feasts and enjoyed the first day of the new year.
The temple was built by Ahom King Rajeswar Singha in 1727 AD. There is a big pond, besides abundant highlands where plantation may easily be undertaken. But despite its natural beauty as well as resources, the government has not developed the area into a tourist spot.
