Umananda Temple
The Shiva Shrine on the River Island
Overview
The Umananda Temple is a Shiva temple on Umananda Island, also called Peacock Island, in the middle of the Brahmaputra river at Guwahati, Assam, India, reached by a short ferry. Widely described as the smallest inhabited river island, the wooded islet was consecrated in 1694 by the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha. The setting is the draw: a compact hilltop shrine among trees where the rare golden langur is sometimes seen, with the broad river and city on either bank. MyTripMyTravel arranges the ferry crossing and an escorted visit as a serene counterpoint to Kamakhya.
The Umananda Temple offers something no other Guwahati site can: a Shiva shrine on a tiny forested island set mid-river in the Brahmaputra, reached only by boat. The crossing itself, threading between the two banks of one of Asia's great rivers, is half the experience.
The island, Umananda, popularly Peacock Island, is often called the smallest inhabited river island, and its temple was established in 1694 under the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha. Beyond the shrine, the wooded slopes are a small sanctuary where the endangered golden langur is occasionally spotted among the trees.
MyTripMyTravel handles the ferry logistics and escorts the visit as a calm, contemplative counterpoint to the intensity of nearby Kamakhya, ideally in gentle morning or late-afternoon light on the water.
At a glance
Umananda Temple in brief
What to see
Highlights
The Brahmaputra ferry
The short river crossing to the island, with views back to Guwahati and the far bank.
The hilltop shrine
The compact Shiva temple established in 1694, set among trees on the island's crest.
Golden langurs
The rare, endangered primate that lives on the island's wooded slopes and is sometimes seen by visitors.
Island setting
The mid-river islet, often described as the smallest inhabited river island, ringed by the broad Brahmaputra.
Visitor information
Our tips
Build in buffer time, ferry frequency and river conditions govern the visit, and we plan around them.
Go early or late for the best light on the Brahmaputra and cooler temperatures on the climb.
Keep an eye on the trees for golden langurs, but don't feed them.
Pair it with Kamakhya for a full Guwahati day, the two shrines are complete opposites in mood.
Good to know
Umananda Temple, your questions
How do you reach the Umananda Temple?
By a short ferry across the Brahmaputra to Umananda (Peacock) Island; there is no bridge. We arrange the crossing and escort the visit.
Why is the island famous?
It is often described as the smallest inhabited river island, hosts a 1694 Shiva temple, and shelters the rare, endangered golden langur.
Who built the temple?
It was consecrated in 1694 under the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha, on the island in the middle of the Brahmaputra.
How long does the visit take?
About 1 to 2 hours including the ferry crossing each way, depending on river conditions.
More in Guwahati
Visit with us
See Umananda Temple, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Umananda Temple into a wider Guwahati and East India itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
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