Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati)
Shiva (Umananda) temple · Guwahati, Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam, India
Umananda Temple is a Shiva temple on Peacock Island, also called Umananda Island, in the middle of the Brahmaputra River at Guwahati, Assam (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration). The presiding deity is Umananda, a form of Shiva (Assam Tourism). The island lies opposite Kachari Ghat, the riverbank area near the Deputy Commissioner's office in the city (The Assam Tribune), and the temple can only be reached by boat (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration).
The island is described by tourism authorities as the smallest inhabited river island (Assam Tourism; Incredible India), and it is said to take the name Peacock Island from its outline, which resembles a peacock's spread feathers (Assam Tourism). The temple stands on a hillock known as Bhasmachala (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati)
According to tradition, Shiva was meditating on this hillock when Kamadeva, the god of love, disturbed him, and Shiva burned Kamadeva to ashes with the fire of his anger (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration). The legend gives the hill its name Bhasmachala, the hill of ashes (Incredible India). Assam Tourism places the episode after the death of Sati, when Kamadeva tried to turn Shiva's thoughts towards Parvati (Assam Tourism).
The name Umananda joins Uma, another name for Parvati, with ananda, meaning joy (Incredible India). Another tradition holds that Shiva dwells here to deepen the love between himself and Uma (Assam Tourism). The Kamrup Metropolitan district site also notes the belief, drawn from the Kalika Purana, that the island was home to Urvashi, who brought nectar for Goddess Kamakhya, which is why it is also called Urvashi Island (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration).
Devotees regard worship on Amavasya (new moon) days as especially meritorious, above all when the new moon falls on a Monday (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Incredible India).
Heritage
History of Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati)
The temple was built in 1694 by Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique on the orders of the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Outlook Traveller). The Assam Tribune and Incredible India also credit Gadadhar Singha with founding the temple (The Assam Tribune; Incredible India).
The great earthquake of 1897 damaged a large part of the temple (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Incredible India). A wealthy local merchant later rebuilt the damaged section, adding Vaishnava inscriptions on the inner walls (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration).
A 2010 Assam Tribune report described two bodies involved in running the temple, a priests' committee and a temple committee of the district administration, and recorded visitor requests for better drinking water, toilets and repairs on the island (The Assam Tribune).
Architecture and sacred features
The rock faces around the temple carry carvings of Hindu deities, including Surya, Shiva, Ganesha and Devi (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration), along with images of Vishnu and his ten avatars (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Incredible India). The district administration attributes this work to local Assamese artisans (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration). From the landing point, visitors climb steep steps to reach the shrine (Incredible India).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Incredible India lists the temple as open from early morning until 6 pm (Incredible India) (checked October 2026); confirm before travelling, and confirm current arrangements with the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration or the temple office. Only priests and temple caretakers live on the island (Assam Tourism; Incredible India), which is also home to endangered golden langurs (Assam Tourism); The Assam Tribune has reported concern about visitors feeding them unsuitable food (The Assam Tribune).
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati)
Maha Shivaratri
Shivaratri draws very large numbers of devotees to the island every year (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; The Sentinel), with extra ferries arranged by the Inland Water Transport Department (The Sentinel). A festival committee of the temple has organised two-day Shivaratri programmes (The Assam Tribune).
Shiva Chaturdashi
Shiva Chaturdashi is celebrated at the temple with great devotion (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Incredible India).
Amavasya worship (Somavati Amavasya)
Devotees consider worship here on new moon days, and above all a Monday new moon, especially rewarding (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Incredible India).
Location
How to Reach Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati)
Ferries and motor launches are the only way to reach the island; they leave from Umananda Ghat in Guwahati (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration), near Kachari Ghat, and the crossing takes only a few minutes (Assam Tourism). Boats also run to the island from North Guwahati (The Assam Tribune). The nearest airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and the nearest railway station is Guwahati (Incredible India).
On Maha Shivaratri the Assam Inland Water Transport Department has run additional ferry services to the island (The Sentinel; The Assam Tribune). Confirm current ferry arrangements locally before travelling.
Location: Guwahati, Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam, India
Nearest airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati
Nearest railway station: Guwahati
More in Hindu temples in Assam · Shiva (Umananda) temples · Temples in Kamrup Metropolitan District
Questions
Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati): Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Umananda Temple?
It is on Peacock (Umananda) Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra River at Guwahati, Assam (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration), opposite Kachari Ghat (The Assam Tribune).
Which deity is worshipped at Umananda Temple?
The presiding deity is Umananda, a form of Shiva (Assam Tourism).
Who built the Umananda Temple?
It was built in 1694 by Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique on the orders of the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; Outlook Traveller).
What is the legend of the temple?
According to tradition, Shiva burned Kamadeva to ashes here when Kamadeva disturbed his meditation (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration), and the hill is called Bhasmachala after those ashes (Incredible India).
How do I get to Umananda Island?
The island can only be reached by ferry or motor launch, which leave from Umananda Ghat in Guwahati (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration) near Kachari Ghat (Assam Tourism).
Why is it called Peacock Island?
Assam Tourism says the island's outline resembles a peacock's spread feathers (Assam Tourism).
When is the temple most crowded?
Maha Shivaratri draws the largest crowds of the year (Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration; The Sentinel).
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q7881086 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Umananda Temple — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration — Umananda Temple
- Assam Tourism — Umananda Temple
- Assam Tourism — Umananda Island
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) — Umananda Temple
- The Assam Tribune — Umananda temple needs positive intervention
- The Assam Tribune — 2-day Shivaratri at Umananda
- The Sentinel — Devotees throng Umananda Temple on the occasion of Shivratri
- Outlook Traveller — Beyond Kamakhya: Explore 6 Lesser-Known Spiritual Sites In Guwahati, Assam
Further reading: Umananda Temple (Peacock Island, Guwahati) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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