Riding in an auto through the bustling town of Sivanagar, Taran and his family finally reached Tatatal Palace in Assam. “Finally, the palace with secret underground levels and tunnels,” said Taran excitedly.
At the entrance were large cannons on the right and the left. Three were named after parts of an elephant — head, trunk and legs — because of their size. It was a very imposing start to the palace visit.
“This was built in the 18th century by the Ahom Dynasty. Four storeys were constructed above the ground and then the mysterious three storeys below with secret tunnels and chambers.”
Inside the palace
Taran wanted to head straight to the underground storeys but his parents were busy exploring the palace above. He spotted an octagonal temple in one section with several rooms and storage areas. “These big rooms must be for the weapons,” he speculated, peering into his guide map.
“Yes, this was also a military base. The Ahoms were a strong warrior class. They defeated the Mughals on many occasions. Finally, they fell to Burmese invasions and eventually came under British rule,” said Appa.
Many wooden carvings and sections had been burnt in a fire and other parts damaged during invasions. What was left was mostly flat foundations of the storeys above. There were few remnants of the past grandeur. A few tourists like them were walking around. Several rooms had scorch marks on the walls. “Must be due to the lamps,” whispered Amma.
There was peacefulness to the palace premises. “Hard to believe this was a bustling palace,” remarked Taran.
The family began exploring the underground levels. “The building has two hidden escape routes, it seems. One tunnel stretches about 3km to the Dikhow River. The second tunnel stretches 16km to the Garhgaon Palace,” noted Appa. But they could not see much. Many sections had been closed for safety reasons and fallen bricks blocked the paths.
“What a cool escape route in case of invasions! Imagine enemies are looking for you in the palace above and you've already sneaked away! What a genius design by the architects!” Taran stared into the dark labyrinth.
Suddenly, he blinked. He caught his breath. He felt he saw something flickering. Was there someone there? Was it a light? The gleam of a sword? “Amma, do people still live here?”
Amma looked at him oddly. “Of course not! It says right here that the tunnels have been closed.”
Taran looked at his mother sceptically. He held her hand and announced, “Let’s head back.” He looked back and felt something move. Not towards him, he prayed. His steps quickened. He emerged onto the ground floor and was glad to see light and his Appa. Perhaps some mysteries were better left unsolved.
Published - October 23, 2026 08:51 am IST