Umananda Island — Peacock Island and its Shiva temple in the Brahmaputra
What it is
Umananda Island lies in the Brahmaputra just opposite the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati, about 2 km and 3 minutes by road from the centre to the ghat. Wikipedia ranks it as the world's smallest inhabited river island, and says that country boats from the bank carry visitors across.
Photos: Pinakpani (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The temple and the story
A temple of Shiva as Umananda stands on the island's hill, Bhasmachala. The Kalika Purana says that at the start of creation Shiva sprinkled ashes here and taught Parvati, and that the hill got its name when Shiva's anger burned Kamadeva, who had broken his meditation, to ashes. The goddess Urvasi is said to dwell here and bring nectar for Kamakhya, so the island is also called Urvasi Island. The name Umananda joins Uma, Shiva's wife, with ananda, happiness.
The building
Wikipedia says the temple was built in 1694 on the order of the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha, and that the earthquake of 1897 destroyed it. Post-Gupta stone sculptures at the site show that an older temple stood here. We have no verified boat timings or fares; ask at the ghat.
Combine it with
The one day in Guwahati puts the island after Kamakhya Temple, and the Assam State Museum is a short drive away. Read how to reach Guwahati.
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Questions people ask
What is Umananda Island?
A small rocky island in the Brahmaputra, opposite the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati, also called Peacock Island and Urvasi Island. Wikipedia ranks it as the world's smallest inhabited river island. A temple of Shiva as Umananda stands on its hill, Bhasmachala, reached by country boat from the ghat.
How old is the Umananda temple?
Wikipedia says the temple was built in 1694 on the order of the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha and was destroyed in the earthquake of 1897. Stone work of the post-Gupta period on the site shows that an older temple stood there. The present building dates from the rebuilding after the earthquake.
What is the legend of the hill?
The Kalika Purana says that at the beginning of creation Shiva sprinkled ashes, bhasma, here and taught Parvati, and that Kamadeva, who broke Shiva's meditation on this hillock, was burned to ashes by his anger, so the hill is called Bhasmachala. Urvasi is said to dwell at Urvasikunda here, bringing nectar for Kamakhya.