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Umananda Temple, Peacock Island

Peacock (Umananda) Island in the Brahmaputra, opposite Kachari Ghat, Guwahati, Kamrup Metropolitan district · Lord Shiva as Umananda (also called Bhayananda)

A Shiva temple on a small river island in the middle of the Brahmaputra, reached by a ferry from Kachari Ghat.

Umananda is a small Shiva temple on Peacock Island, a rock island in the Brahmaputra river opposite Kachari Ghat in Guwahati. It is reached by a short ferry ride. The hill is called Bhasmachala (Bhasmakuta), the hill of ash, from the story that Shiva burned Kamadeva to ashes here. Maha Shivaratri is the main festival, and the island is also known for its golden langurs.

Timings

• Temple open: approx. 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM daily (Sentinel Assam and tourism listings)
• Ferries: approx. 7:00 AM to 5:00 or 6:00 PM. Government ferries start around 9:30 to 10:00 AM and stop around 4:00 PM; private boats start around 8:30 AM (Sentinel Assam, 2021). Confirm at the ghat.

Daily rituals

• Morning – Shiva puja: Priests perform daily worship. Exact times are not published.

Darshan types and costs

• General darshan – Free. Short on weekdays; long queues on Maha Shivaratri.

Sevas and costs at Umananda Temple, Peacock Island

Puja with a priest – Check on the island

When: During temple hours

A priest on the island performs a puja for you with the offerings you bring.

How to book: Ask the priest on the island.

Persons allowed: Family

No published price list.

How to book darshan

Darshan is walk-in. Ferry tickets are bought at Kachari Ghat. We found no official booking site for the temple.

1. Go to Kachari Ghat (Uzan Bazar) and ask for the government (IWT) ferry counter.
2. Confirm the return time before you board.
3. Government ferries are the safer choice, since officials advised against private country boats when the river is high (June 2026).

Booking safely

• Private boat operators overcharging. The Assam Tribune reports visitors alleging this; government ferries are cheaper (about Rs 20 per person, a travel guide's figure).
• Officials advised people not to use private country boats when the river is high (June 2026).

Buy a ferry ticket at the government (IWT) counter at Kachari Ghat. Darshan is free and walk-in.

Prasadam and offerings

• Prasad – Check on the island. Offered by the priests.

• Flowers, water, milk: The usual offerings to Shiva, such as flowers and water.

Dress code

Modest, traditional clothes. Wear shoes with grip for the steps and the ferry ramp.

Temple etiquette

• Do not feed the langurs; the Assam Tribune notes visitors feed them cake, which harms them.
• Keep the island clean and avoid plastic.
• Use only licensed ferries and follow the boatmen's safety instructions.

Why it matters

The Kalika Purana says that at the start of creation Shiva scattered ashes here and taught Parvati, and that Kamadeva, who disturbed Shiva's meditation, was burned to ashes. This is why the hill is called Bhasmachala. Uma (Parvati) and ananda (joy) give the temple its name (Sentinel Assam).

The Purana also connects the island with the goddess Urvasi, and says it gives amrit (nectar) to the goddess Kamakhya. For this reason some call it the Urvasi island (Sentinel Assam).

Maha Shivaratri is the biggest festival. Large crowds go on the ferries for it, and ferry arrangements are made with the temple committee.

Legends

Shiva and Kamadeva

The god of love, Kamadeva, disturbed Shiva's meditation on this hill. Shiva opened his third eye and reduced him to ashes, and the hill came to be called Bhasmakuta (heap of ash).

Shiva as Bhayananda

Hindu tradition places Shiva on the island as Bhayananda, the giver of joy (Sentinel Assam).

History

Post-Gupta and early medieval: Early remains

Wikipedia notes remains of a post-Gupta stone temple and early medieval sculptures on the island.

1694: Ahom temple

A brick temple was built in 1694 under the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha (1681 to 1696) by the Borphukan, the governor at Guwahati.

1897: Earthquake

The great Assam earthquake of 1897 badly damaged the temple. A local merchant rebuilt it.

June 2026: Ferry suspension

Ferry services were suspended after a sudden rise in the Brahmaputra when water was released from a dam upstream (Sentinel Assam, 25 June 2026).

Architecture

The main shrine is reached by a steep flight of steps. The temple has images of Shiva, Surya, Ganesha, Devi and Vishnu with his ten avatars (Wikipedia).

There are rock-cut figures and a cave on the island. The interior was decorated with Vaishnava slogans by the merchant who rebuilt it after 1897 (Wikipedia).

What to see

• The ferry ride: A short boat ride across the Brahmaputra from Kachari Ghat.
• The Shiva shrine: The main temple at the top of the steps.
• Rock-cut figures: Carved figures and a cave on the island.
• River views: Views of the Brahmaputra and the Guwahati waterfront.
• Golden langurs: The Assam Tribune records a population of golden langurs on the island. Do not feed them.

How to cover the temple

Take the government ferry from Kachari Ghat, climb the steps to the Shiva shrine, see the other deities and rock-cut figures, and return by the same ferry. About 2 to 3 hours.

1. Buy a ferry ticket: Go to Kachari Ghat in Uzan Bazar and buy a ticket on the government (IWT) ferry. Check the return time.
2. Ferry to the island: The ride across the Brahmaputra takes about 10 minutes (travel guide).
3. To the shrine: Climb the steep flight of steps to the Shiva temple.
4. Umananda Shiva: Have darshan of Shiva and see the images of Surya, Ganesha, Devi and Vishnu.
5. Rock-cut figures: Look for the rock-cut figures and the cave, and watch the langurs without feeding them.
6. Last ferry: Leave in time for the last ferry.

Customs and traditions

Maha Shivaratri worship

A night and day of Shiva worship, the island's biggest festival.

Umananda is a Shiva temple; Shiva is worshipped here as Bhayananda.

Large queues at Kachari Ghat; go early.

For elders and differently-abled visitors

Access: Very hard. The trip needs a boat ride and a steep flight of steps to the shrine. It is not suitable for people who cannot manage steps, or who cannot board and leave a boat from a ramp.

• A steep flight of steps from the landing to the shrine (Wikipedia).
• We found no published assistance. Government ferries are safer than private boats.

Waiting time

Short on weekdays; the main wait is for the ferry.

Maha Shivaratri: long queues at Kachari Ghat.

Best time to visit

October to March. During heavy monsoon and flood months, ferries may stop.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri (Shiva Chaturdashi) (February or March)

The main festival. Many devotees travel to the island, and the temple committee and ferry operators plan extra services. Expect long queues at Kachari Ghat.

How to reach Umananda Temple, Peacock Island

• By air: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati.
• By rail: Guwahati railway station; take a taxi or auto to Kachari Ghat.
• By road: Take a taxi or auto to Kachari Ghat in Uzan Bazar. Ferries run from there to the island. Boarding at Shukleswar Ghat and Fancy Bazar ghat has also been reported.

Road safety

The temple is on an island, so the safe trip depends on the ferry. Services stop when the Brahmaputra rises, and officials have told people not to use private country boats at such times.

Drive or take an auto to Kachari Ghat in Uzan Bazar, board the government ferry, and climb a steep flight of steps from the island landing to the shrine.

Full road-safety guide

Where to stay

Stay in central Guwahati. There are no rooms on the island.

• Hotels in Guwahati (Pan Bazar, Paltan Bazar) – Varies. Book directly.

Suggested plan

Half day

• Reach Kachari Ghat by morning.
• Take the government ferry to the island.
• Climb the steps to the temple and have darshan.
• Return before the last ferry.

Tips

• Check the water level and ferry status at the ghat. Services stop when the Brahmaputra rises.
• Carry drinking water. The Assam Tribune has reported water shortages on the island.
• Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the ferry?

Listings say about Rs 20 per person on the government ferry and about Rs 200 to 300 on private boats. These are approximate and may be out of date.

Is the ferry always running?

No. Services are suspended when the river rises, as on 24 June 2026.

Temples nearby

• Maa Kamakhya Temple – Nilachal Hill, Guwahati, Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam (about 8 km by road)
• Nartiang Durga Temple – Nartiang, West Jaintia Hills district (about 154 km by road)

More Shiva temples

• Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam – Srisailam, Nandyal district
• Ramappa (Rudreswara) Temple, Palampet – Palampet, Venkatapur mandal, Mulugu district
• Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar (Brihadeeswarar) Temple – Thanjavur, Thanjavur district
• Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple – Rameswaram island, Ramanathapuram district
• Sri Virupaksha Temple, Hampi – Hampi Bazaar, Hampi, Vijayanagara district (formerly Ballari)
• Arulmigu Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple) – Periya Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district

All Shiva temples

No official website: We could not find a website of the temple committee or the Assam government dedicated to this temple that we could confirm.

Sources

• Sentinel Assam – Umananda Temple: ferry timing and history
• Sentinel Assam – Ferry services to Umananda suspended (June 2026)
• Wikipedia – Umananda Temple
• Assam Tribune – Umananda Temple needs positive intervention
• Assam Tribune – Umananda temple facelift on the cards

Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.