On the tiny Peacock Island in the midst of the mighty Brahmaputra at Guwahati in Assam stands the Umananda temple, a serene shrine of Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Umananda — 'the joy of Uma (Parvati).' Reached only by a ferry across the great river, the temple sits upon what is said to be one of the smallest inhabited river islands in the world, a hillock revered in tradition as the sacred Bhasmachala.
The island is also home to the rare golden langur. A place of natural beauty and deep devotion, Umananda draws pilgrims and visitors across the Brahmaputra, especially at Shivaratri, and is among the most cherished shrines of Assam.
