Umananda River Island — Attraction in Assam

Great View, Umananda Island is the smallest inhabited river islet in the middle of river Brahmaputra, flowing through the city of Guwahati in Assam, a state in northeast India.

As seen from Umananda Ghat, near Guwahati Highcourt (August 2018) Its name derives from Assamese Uma, another name for the Hindu goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva; and ananda, which translates to "joy". A British officer named the island Peacock Island for its structure, which he thought resembled the splayed feathers of a peacock. It is also known as Bhasmachal, from the words bhasma, meaning 'to destroy', and chal, meaning 'place'. The legend giving rise to this name is that Kamdev, the god of love in Hindu mythology, after interrupting Shiva in the middle of a deep meditation on the islet, was burnt to ashes.

It is mostly visited for its Shiva temple, the Umananda Temple, and was also home to a large population of golden langurs, an endangered species of primate.

The islet can be reached via a 10-minute ferry, available from Umananda Ghat, located near the Guwahati High Court.

In 1897, an earthquake damaged the temple heavily, but was later repaired by a local merchant. The temple displays a mixture of both Hindu Vaishnavism and Shaivism. There are Assamese craftings of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, and other Hindu deities. During the repairing work of the temple, some new Vaishnavi scripts were written on the walls. Craftsmen also carved figures out of rocks...

The Umananda Temple is the smallest inhabited riverine Island is a Shiva Temple located in between Brahmaputra river in Guwahati. The Umananda Temple is a most admired temple located on Peacock Island opposite the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati on the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra. It is believed by religious saints and devotees that the name Umananda comes from two of the Hindi words Uma and Ananda, Uma is another name for the wife of the powerful Lord Shiva and Ananda means happiness. It is a beautiful island surrounded by water which provides the view of nature with the essence of spirituality. The spiritual Umananda Temple and the beautiful island are situated at the peak of the Bhasmakala Mountain. The island was made by Ahom King Gadadhar Singha in 1694 AD but later destructed by an earthquake that occurred in 1897 but again re-established by a wealthy local merchant who was a true worshiper of Lord Shiva. Apart from the idol of Lord Shiva enshrined in the temple it also enshrines ten...

Umananda Island is the world's smallest inhabited river Island in the middle of river Brahmaputra, flowing through the city of Guwahati in Assam, a state in Northeast India. Umananda Island is also known as Peacock Island and Bhasmachal. Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the Temple. The Umananda Island can be reached from Guwahati and North Guwahati by ferries and. One can hire a ferry from Sukleshwar ghat or Fancy Bazar Ghat. This is expensive but one can get the feel of the river and its surroundings without any interventions. This is most ideal for couples and family trips. However, a much convenient and cheaper transport has been provided by Inland Water Transport, which connects the Umananda Island to Guwahati from Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat also known. The fees is as low as 20...