Guwahati is a beautiful location with a lot of historical relevance attached to it. Every location becomes special when the history and culture gets attached to it. And Guwahati is one such spot that is popular for its rich cultural history. However the Umananda Temple Guwahati is no exception. The Umananda Temple in Guwahati is a beautiful temple and is located at a beautiful location too. It is one of the places in Guwahati that a lot of people visit. This is a popular sightseeing spot as well as an important site of pilgrimage as well.
So if you are visiting Guwahati then make sure you are visiting this beautiful temple. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention each and every information that you might need to plan a trip to the Umananda Temple Guwahati. This will be a helpful read for you if you are visiting there.
Umananda Temple Guwahati
Location of Umananda Temple Guwahati: Peacock Island, Baruah Souk, North Guwahati, Guwahati
Umananda Temple timings: 5:30 am to 6 pm
Entry fee of Umananda Temple Guwahati: No entry fee
How to reach Umananda Temple Guwahati
By air
The nearest airport to reach the Umananda Temple is the Guwahati Airport and is 22 km away from the Ghat. From the Ghat you will have to take a ferry to reach the temple.
By train
Nearest railway station to reach this temple is the Guwahati Railway Station which is located only 3 km away from the station. You can easily take local transport like rickshaws to reach there from the station.
By Ferry
You can reach Peacock Island by ferries and steamers from North Guwahati. There is a ferry option available from the Sukleshwar Ghat or the Fancy Bazar Ghat. However this is a little expensive but you would get to enjoy the feel of the ride and the whole surrounding without any interference. This is more convenient for a large group or for family and couples. However there is another cheaper option available as well. The Inland Water Transport connects Peacock Island with Guwahati by a ferry ride. It is available from the Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat or the Kacheri Ghat. Umananda Temple Ferry Cost is only Rs. 20 per person. The ferry timings are from 7 am to 4:30 pm. After reaching there you will have to climb a flight of about 150 stairs to reach the temple.
Overview of Umananda Temple Guwahati
Located in the Umananda Island, this is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. On top of a hill this is an ancient temple from 1694. According to popular legends Lord Shiva used to reside here in the form of Bhayananda. Along with the deity of Lord Shiva you will also find deities of other Gods here like Surya Dev, Lord Ganesha etc. This temple is located just in the middle of Brahmaputra River in the Peacock Island. It is one of the most revered temples in Assam as well as in Guwahati.
Borphukan Garghanya Handique built this temple according to the orders of Gadadhar Singha who was one of the most powerful rulers of the Ahom dynasty in 1694 AD. However, by a devastating earthquake in 1897 the original temple was completely destroyed. Later a rich merchant again rebuilt this temple. The peacock island is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the whole world. Also the beauty of this area is unparalleled. Make sure you visit this temple in Guwahati at least once.
Legend of Umananda Temple
According to popular legend, Lord Shiva used to reside on this island in the form of Bhayananda. Also people believe that at the beginning of the creation Lord Shiva sprinkled some ashes and then imparted supreme knowledge to his wife Devi Parvati. According to other legends, once Lord Shiva was in a deep meditative state. However in that situation Kamadeva interrupted him. Due to this interruption Lord Shiva was furious and he burnt Kamadeva into ashes with the fire of his anger. From there the hillock got its name Bhasma Kuta.
According to Kalika Purana Usvashikunda is located here. It is said that Goddess Urvashi brought Amrit or nectar for the enjoyment of Kamakya and hence the island is also called the Urvashi Island.
Here Lord Shiva resides in the form of Umananda. Umananda comes from two words. One is Uma which is another name of Devi Parvati and Ananda means happiness. The deity here is very powerful and people follow him a lot. They believe that on Amavasya when it happens to fall on a Monday it brings the highest amount of bliss. The Shiva Chaturdashi is another festival that the temple celebrates with a lot of grandeur every year. This festival also marks the visit of more devotees in the temple. Another important festival here is the Maha Shivratri festival when a large number of devotees visit the temple.
Architecture of Umananda Temple
One of the most attractive features of this temple is the beautiful rock cut figures here. These structures are a fine specimen of Assamese craftsmanship. Also the temple houses sculptures of multiple Hindu Gods. You will find Surya Dev and Lord Ganesha along with the sculpture of Lord Vishnu. Here you will also get to see ten avatars or 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu as well. To reach the main shrine you will have to climb a flight of stairs. The temple looks really beautiful with its peaceful ambience. It is one of the popular sightseeing spots in Guwahati that showcases the beauty of Assam. Kamrup style of architecture is followed here with a red dome. Inside the temple on the inner sanctum sanctorum there is a small idol of Lord Shiva at the ground level.
Read More: TEMPLES OF ASSAM | ASSAM FAMOUS TEMPLES
Nearby places to visit from Umananda Temple Guwahati
Maa Kamakhya temple ( 4.80 km )
Nehru Stadium ( 5.62 km )
Assam State Museum ( 5.96 km )
Basistha Mandir ( 6.46 km)
Wrapping up!
The Umananda Temple Guwahati is one of the most beautiful temples in Guwahati Assam. Along with that it is a temple that holds with itself a lot of historical and cultural significance. Other than that the stories and legends associated with this temple makes it even more special as a location. Not just that this is also one of the beautiful sights in Guwahati. For nature lovers the whole journey along with the visit to this temple is going to be unique. There is Umananda Temple Ropeway as well that goes above the Umananda Island. However it is not possible to reach the temple via that ropeway. But you can surely try the experience of Guwahati Ropeway as well.
Check out the Umananda Temple photos to understand how splendid the site is. And when you visit Guwahati this is surely one location that you cannot miss out on. So let me know when you are planning a trip to Guwahati. Also don’t forget to let me know if this particular article is helpful for you in planning a successful trip to the Umananda Temple Guwahati.
