Umananda Temple is located on a small hillock on the serene Peacock Island, right in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, Assam. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Umananda, also called Tatrasti Bhagavan Sambhu-Ruma-Nandakarah Prabhu. The name “Umananda” comes from two words, “Uma,” another name for Lord Shiva’s wife, and “Ananda,” which means happiness or bliss. Interestingly, Peacock Island, where the temple stands, is said to be one of the smallest inhabited river islands in the world.
History of Umananda Temple
The history of Umananda Temple is a mix of legend and fact, going back to the 17th century. It was built in 1694 by Ahom king Gadadhar Singha as a dedication to Lord Shiva, one of Hinduism’s most worshipped deities. Local stories say that Shiva meditated on this quiet island, which is how it came to be called “Umananda”, Uma being another name for Parvati, Shiva’s wife, and Ananda meaning bliss.
In older texts, the island is called Bhasmacala, or “Hill of Ashes,” because it is believed that Shiva once burnt a demon here, leaving ashes behind. The temple suffered damage during the big earthquake of 1897 but was later restored by local devotees and descendants of the Ahom rulers.
Traces of an old stone temple from the post-Gupta period can still be found at the site. There are several stone carvings and sculptures from the early medieval time. Among them is a Chaturbhuja stone image of a female figure, along with rock-cut figures of Ganesha and also a small cave.
Architecture of Umananda Temple
Umananda Temple shows a mix of Ahom and traditional Assamese styles, with some influence from the Nagara style. Built mainly from stone and brick, it has an old, rustic charm. Inside the sanctum is a stone idol of Lord Shiva, decorated with flowers and vermilion, which is different from the usual lingam found in many Shiva temples.
To reach the main shrine, visitors have to climb a flight of steep steps. Besides Lord Shiva, the temple has shrines for ten other Hindu gods. You can see representations of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva, and Devi, who is shown with a scorpion as her emblem, as well as Vishnu and his ten incarnations. The sculptures suggest that worshippers here honored all the main Hindu deities while some rock-cut figures are also preserved in the temple.
Legends of Umananda Temple
According to local legend, Lord Shiva once stayed here in the form of Bhayananda. According to the Kalika Purana, at the beginning of creation, Shiva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this spot and shared knowledge with Parvati, his consort. Legends say that while Shiva was meditating on this hillock, Kamadeva disturbed his yoga. In anger, Shiva burned Kamadeva to ashes, and because of this, the hillock came to be called Bhasmacala.
The hill is also known as Bhasmakuta. The Kalika Purana mentions that Urvasikunda is located here, where the goddess Urvasi lives. She is said to bring Amrit (nectar) for Kamakhya’s enjoyment, and because of her presence, the island also became known as Urvasi Island.
Festivals at Umananda Temple
The biggest festival at Umananda Temple is Maha Shivratri, which usually happens in February or March. During these days, the temple glows with flowers, lamps, and bright decorations, giving it a sacred yet lively feel beside the wide Brahmaputra river. Another rare festival here is the Brahmaputra Pushkaram, which takes place once every twelve years in honor of the holy river.
Umananda Temple is mainly devoted to Lord Shiva, and worship here is done in the traditional Shaivite way. Devotees offer milk, bel leaves, flowers, and incense as offerings, while priests recite mantras during the daily aarti. During festivals the place turns more lively, with the ringing of bells and devotional songs spreading across the Brahmaputra.
Unlike a few other temples in Assam, animal sacrifice is not much practiced here, which adds to the calm and meditative mood of the shrine. The priests, who generally belong to local Assamese families, follow a mix of Vedic and regional customs, so both orthodox and tantric followers find the temple open and welcoming.
How to Get There
By Boat: The only way to reach the temple is by ferry from Umananda Ghat in Guwahati. The boat ride takes around 10 minutes across the Brahmaputra. Boats run from early morning at about 7 till 5 in the evening, and tickets cost roughly ₹20–50 per person.
By Air: The nearest airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, 20 km from the city. There are flights to Delhi (around 2 hours) and Kolkata (about 1 hour).
By Train: Guwahati Railway Station is about 3 km from the ghat, and it has trains going to big cities like Delhi and Dibrugarh.
By Road: Guwahati is on NH-27, so it can be reached easily by bus or private car. From within the city, autos and taxis are simple to find for getting to the ghat.
Best Time to Visit
The months between October and March are best for visiting. The weather is cool and pleasant, around 15–25°C, perfect for the short climb and boat ride. Weekdays are quieter, but weekends or festival days like Maha Shivratri get very crowded, sometimes with thousands of devotees. If you want peace and a nice sunrise over the river, early morning, around 7 to 9 AM, is the best time.
Nearby Attractions
Kamakhya Temple: About 10 km away, famous for tantric worship and the Ambubachi Mela.
Basistha Temple: Around 14 km from the ghat, a calm Shiva shrine in a forest with a small healing spring.
Navagraha Temple: Just 5 km away, an astrology-themed temple on Chitrachal Hill dedicated to the nine planets.
