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Umananda Temple
Shiva · Peacock Island, Brahmaputra · Assam
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
The Umananda Temple sits on a small wooded island in the midst of the Brahmaputra at Guwahati — Peacock Island, said to be the smallest inhabited river island in the world. A Shiva shrine built by an Ahom king, reached only by ferry across the great river, it is wrapped in the legend of Kamadeva, the god of love burnt to ashes here by the fire of Shiva’s third eye.
The island of the love-god’s ashes
The hillock on which the temple stands is called Bhasmachala or Bhasmakuta, “the hill of ashes,” for here, by legend, Kamadeva — the god of desire — disturbed Shiva’s meditation and was burnt to ash by the opening of the third eye. Shiva, worshipped on the island as Umananda (the joy of Uma, his consort Parvati), is said to dwell here in peace above the river.
A temple in the Brahmaputra
The shrine was built by the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha in the late 17th century and rebuilt after an earthquake, set among the rocks and trees of the tiny island. Around it live the rare golden langurs, and the island’s isolation in the wide river gives the temple a quiet found nowhere on the busy banks of Guwahati.
Crossing by ferry
Umananda is reached only by boat, a short ferry ride from the Guwahati bank across the Brahmaputra — part of the pilgrimage’s charm. Maha Shivaratri is the great festival, when devotees throng the ferries and the little island fills, and the temple is busy on Mondays sacred to Shiva.
How to reach Umananda
- By ferry: boats run to Peacock Island from the Kachari and Fancy Bazaar ghats on the Guwahati riverfront.
- By train: Guwahati railway station is in the city.
- By air: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, is about 25 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Umananda Temple?
It is on Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra at Guwahati, Assam — said to be the smallest inhabited river island in the world — reached by ferry.
What is the legend of Umananda?
The island hill is called Bhasmachala, the hill of ashes, where Kamadeva, the god of love, was burnt to ash by the fire of Shiva’s third eye for disturbing his meditation. Shiva is worshipped here as Umananda.
Who built the temple?
The shrine was built by the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha in the late 17th century and was rebuilt after an earthquake.
How do you reach the temple?
Umananda is reached only by boat — a short ferry ride from the Kachari or Fancy Bazaar ghats on the Guwahati riverfront, across the Brahmaputra.
What animals live on the island?
The island is home to the rare golden langurs, among the trees and rocks around the temple.
When is the main festival?
Maha Shivaratri is the great festival, when devotees throng the ferries; the temple is also busy on Mondays sacred to Shiva.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Shiva as Umananda (joy of Uma) |
| Setting | Peacock Island, smallest inhabited river island |
| Legend | Kamadeva burnt to ashes here (Bhasmachala) |
| Built | Late 17th c, Ahom king Gadadhar Singha |
| River | Brahmaputra |
| Access | By ferry from Guwahati |
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