Umananda Temple: Island Shrine of Shiva

Umananda Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated on Umananda Island, also known as Peacock Island, in the middle of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati. This island is recognized as the smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. The temple was built in 1694 by King Gadadhar Singha of the Ahom dynasty. According to legend, Lord Shiva resided here in the form of Bhayananda. It is believed that Shiva burnt Kamadeva, the god of love, to ashes when he interrupted Shiva's meditation on this island, giving the hillock the name Bhasmacala. The temple houses a Shiva Linga, and you can also find representations of Surya, Ganesha, other Hindu gods, and the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The original temple suffered damage in the 1897 Assam earthquake but was later reconstructed by a local merchant. Maha Shivaratri and Shiva Chaturdashi are the major festivals celebrated here, attracting many devotees. The temple is open daily from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and entry is free. Worshipping here on Amavasya, especially on Mondays, is considered highly auspicious.