Tilinga Mandir is a famous Shiva Temple in upper Assam. Tilinga means "bell" in Assamese and mandir means "temple" .This Bell Temple is as spiritually and mystically strong as any other temple. There are hundreds and thousands of bells of all sizes in bronze, brass, copper and aluminum that are tied to the big peepal tree and on its various branches.
Tilinga Mandir is situtaed at Bordubi, a small town 7km fare from Tinsukia District of Assam.
The temple is nearly half a century old. "In 1965, the tea garden workers of this area noticed a 'Shiva Linga' emerge from the ground near this banyan tree. The administrators of the garden then said that a small temple should be built here. "Initially when people came to pray here, they promised to come back and present a bell to the temple if their prayers were answered. It was a matter of belief. "With time, more and more people came to know of this and started tying bells on the arms of this grand tree when their prayers got answered. From small ones, which might not weigh more than 50 grams to heavy 55 kilo ones, a whole range of bells hang in the temple's premises. "There are so many bells and year after year the numbers only keep increasing. Some of them fall off but since the devotees have gifted them, temple management don't throw them. Temple management store them in gunny bags and keep them in a corner of the premises of the temple.
It is believed that if you have a wish and you pray to Lord Shiva for fulfilling the wish, your wish will be granted by lord Shiva. Only thing is that you have to determine to donate a bell at this temple. Many people even present pigeons to the temple when their wish gets fulfilled. It's generally a norm that people either present a 'trishul', a pigeon or a bell in a Shiva temple when their prayers are answered. Devotees use to tie a tilinga (bell) at the branches of a giant peepal tree to fulfil their wishes. The fame of this temple with all its mysterious power spread far and wide when the pilgrims discovered that their wishes and prayers under the tree actually came true. People from various parts of India who heard about this temple have visited this temple. According to Hindu Mythology "Monday" is considered as "Lord Siva's" day and therefore every Monday a huge number of people gather here to worship Lord Siva.