Chandi Baruah & Howly | The History of Chandi Narayan Baruah
Chandi Narayan Baruah
Howly · Barpeta · Assam

Chandi Baruah.

The story of Chandi Narayan Baruah, the historic Barua Bari and the deep connection between his legacy and Howly.

History Heritage Howly, Assam
চণ্ডীবৰুৱা আৰু হাউলী · Chandi Baruah and Howly

A forgotten
history still
lives here.

Chandi Baruah historical portrait
Chandi Narayan Baruah · Howly

চণ্ডীবৰুৱা
আৰু হাউলী

অসমীয়া

চণ্ডীবৰুৱা আৰু হাউলী

হাউলীৰ পশ্চিমে এডোখৰ হাবি আছে। এই হাবিৰ ভিতৰত এটা পুখুৰী আছে। মাজে মাজে ভগা ইটা, ভগা শিল পৰি পৰি আছে। এই ডোখৰ হাবিৰ নাম বৰুৱাবাৰী। বৰনগৰীয়া চণ্ডীবৰুৱাৰ টোলটো আজিকালি “বৰুৱাবাৰী” বোলা ঠাই ডোখৰত মানাহ নদীৰ পাৰত আছিল।

বৰনগৰৰ শেষ ৰজা চণ্ডীনাৰায়ণ বৰুৱাৰ হাউলি অর্থাৎ বাসস্থান আছিল বৰ্তমানৰ হাউলী চহৰ। মানাহ নদীৰ পাৰত চাৰিপুৰা মাটিৰ টোলেৰে সৈতে চণ্ডীবৰুৱাৰ থকা ঠাইৰ নাম আছিল “বৰুৱাৰ বাৰী”।

বৰ্তমানৰ হাউলী চহৰৰ চাৰিআলিৰ পৰা মৰা মানাহ নদীৰ পাৰৰ উত্তৰ অঞ্চল আগুৰি খাটালপাৰা গাঁৱলৈ বিস্তৃত হৈ আছিল তেখেতৰ চাৰিপুৰা মাটিৰ টোলৰ পৰিসৰ।

English

Chandi Baruah and Howly

To the west of Howly lies a wooded area containing a pond, with broken bricks and stones scattered through the remains. This place is known as Barua Bari.

The residence of Chandi Narayan Baruah, described as the last king of Barnagar, was located in what is now Howly town. His settlement beside the Manas River, occupying approximately four pura of land, was known as “Baruar Bari” — the Barua's estate.

According to the source, the historical settlement extended from the present Howly Chariali towards the northern side of the old Manas River and towards Khatalpara village.

Barua Bari.
A place
remembered.

The historical account connects Chandi Narayan Baruah's residence with the area now associated with Barua Bazar and Pukhuripar in Howly.

The source describes a large fortified settlement with an entrance, an elevated pathway and two substantial square ponds. Coconut trees were planted along the banks, while flowering plants surrounded parts of the ponds.

Beyond the ponds stood the Barua residence, along with the Madanmohan temple and the Manikut house. The account also associates a Krishna image with the temple.

Historical Chandi Baruah image
Chandi Baruah and Howly historical heritage

History leaves
traces.

The historical account points to several pieces of evidence associated with Chandi Baruah and the remains of his residence.

Rajanikanta Bordoloi, author of the Assamese novel Manomati, is described as having personally seen the ruins of the area while serving as an SDC in Barpeta between 1894 and 1897.

Several place names mentioned in the novel, including Halapakhari, Nagarjhar, Ghilajhar and Barbarijhar, are stated to still exist in the Howly region.

In 1943, while excavating the Barua Bazar area, Howly resident Narayan Chandra Das reportedly discovered a collection of objects associated with Chandi Narayan Baruah's temple.

The reported discoveries included four lion figures, ceremonial lamps, a bronze mirror, vessels, a silver ceremonial object, the Madanmohan image and other archaeological remains.
Manomati · Rajanikanta Bordoloi

A novel.
A memory.
A place.

The historical account also connects the landscape of Howly with Rajanikanta Bordoloi's Manomati.

The source states that the location associated with Manomati was believed to have been near the Regulating Marketing Office at Joljoli, beside the CRPF camp in Howly. Local residents reportedly remembered a raised mound at the site during the 1950s.

The story of Chandi Baruah and his adopted daughter Manomati therefore forms an important part of the historical and literary memory associated with Howly.

Portrait of Chandi Narayan Baruah
Remembering Chandi Narayan Baruah

The story
remains.

Centuries may change a landscape, but names, stories, literature and fragments of the past can continue to connect a place with its history. In Howly, the memory of Chandi Narayan Baruah remains part of that living story.

Howly Digital Media documents the history, people, culture, heritage and traditions of Howly, Assam.

© 2026 Howly Digital Media
Article by Ashim Das · Howly Digital
```