Umananda Temple – It Resides An Island Amidst The Brahamapurtra River

UMANANDA TEMPLE

AT

KAMRUP

This temple located in between the mighty river Brahmaputra in a Peacock island, Umananda temple is just opposite side of the famous Kachari ghat in Guwahati, Assam.

This shiv temple was built by the famous Ahom King Gadadhar Singha who was the husband of Sati Joymati a great devout of Shaivite. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devasting earthquake of 1897.

Later,it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a siva temple with Vaisnavite slogans.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Siva created this place his wife Uma's happiness and pleasure.Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. Thats why this place is called Uma-Nanda.

Uma means Siva's wife and Ananda means happiness. According to another myth in Kalika Purana, Lord Siva burnt Kamdeva with his Third eye in this place when he tried to interrupt Siva's deep meditation. So it is also known as 'Bhasmachal'. 'Bhasma' means ash and 'chal' means home in assamese.

This place a small island, probably one of the smallest among the river islands, situated in the majestic Brahmaputra river

In 1694, the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha ordered his minister Gargaya Handique Phukan to build a temple. The deity of the temple is also called Umananda, Lord Sambhu- ruma- nandakarah. In 1897, a great earth quake damaged the temple heavily. but later it was repaired by a local merchant.

 The temple displays mixture of both Hindu Vaishnavism and Shaivism. There are beautiful assamese crafting of Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Pavati, Vishnu, and other Hindu Gods.

During the repairing work of the temple some new Vaishnavi scripts were written to the walls. Apart from the temple walls sculptures on the rocks of the Umananda Island presents talents of ancient assamese craftsmen. 

Maha Shivaratri is the most celebrated hindu festival celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and new moon brings bliss to the pilgrims. 

Umananda island is home to few golden langur also. This one of the rarest species of monkeys found in Assam. A visit to Umananda will give you glimpse of this langur too.

By Air

The nearest airport to Umananda Temple is lokpriya gopinath bordoloi international airport , guwahati which is 18 km away from Umananda Temple.

By Train

The nearest railway station to umananda temple is Guwahati Train Station which is 1 km away from Umananda Temple.

By Road

Guwahati is linked to all the major cities of Assam and nearby states.one can easily reach Guwahati by road from any part of the state. 

Devotees can take a ferry to reach the temple. The ferries are arranged to take the visitors to the island by the state tourism department for the tourists from all the parts of India and around the world.