Umananda Temple
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Umananda Temple

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Umananda Temple Travel Guide

Umananda is a river-island shrine, so the state of the Brahmaputra matters as much as the calendar. The kind months are the cooler, drier ones, roughly October to April , when...

GUWAHATIUMANANDAPEACOCK ISLANDUPDATED JUN 2026
01When to go

The best time to visit Umananda temple

Umananda is a river-island shrine, so the state of the Brahmaputra matters as much as the calendar. The kind months are the cooler, drier ones, roughly October to April, when the river is calmer, the crossing gentle, the air pleasant and the light lovely for the boat ride and the views of Guwahati from the water. This is the classic season, and the easiest for families and elders. The monsoon, roughly June to September, greens everything and fills the Brahmaputra to a wide, powerful flood, which is a sight in itself, but the river runs high and swift, the crossing can be rougher, and the ferry is sometimes reduced or held back in spate. Whatever the month, the early morning and the late afternoon are the loveliest hours to cross, cool and soft-lit, and a sunset return over the broad river is one of the quiet pleasures of a Guwahati trip.

  • October to April for the calm riverThe cooler, drier months of about October to April give the gentlest crossing and the most pleasant weather. The Brahmaputra is calmer, the boat ride easy, and the light on the river and the city is at its best. This is the simplest season for a relaxed visit, especially with children or elderly parents.
  • The monsoon and the high riverIn the monsoon, roughly June to September, the Brahmaputra swells to a vast, powerful flood. It is dramatic and green, but the river runs high and fast, the crossing can be choppier, and the ferry is sometimes cut back or suspended in high water. If you come in the rains, keep your plans flexible and check the boats on the day.
  • Cross in the soft hoursWhatever the season, the loveliest times to cross are the early morning and the late afternoon, when the light is soft and the heat gentle. A sunset crossing and return over the wide river is a special part of the trip, though for the very earliest and latest hours you will usually need a private motorboat rather than the government ferry.
Cooler, drier months are best

Umananda is easiest and loveliest in the cooler, drier months of about October to April, when the Brahmaputra is calm and the crossing gentle. The monsoon swells the river to a powerful flood and can make the crossing rougher or the ferry reduced, so come in the rains only with flexible plans. Cross in the soft light of morning or late afternoon, and enjoy a sunset return over the broad river.

02Getting there

How to reach Umananda temple, and the ferry across

Umananda sits on Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra, so the last stretch is always by water. Almost everyone crosses from Kachari Ghat, near the city waterfront and the Deputy Commissioner's office by Uzan Bazar, a short boat ride of roughly ten minutes to the island. Guwahati itself is easy to reach: the airport, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International, code GAU, is about 25 km from the waterfront, and Guwahati railway station at Paltan Bazaar is only about 4 km from the ghat, both well connected across India. From the ghat there are two ways to cross, the cheap government ferry and the pricier private motorboats, and which you take shapes your timing and your cost. The little island shrine, reached by this short, pleasant crossing over the great river, is one of the most distinctive temple visits in the country.

To Guwahati by air and rail

Fly into Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Borjhar, code GAU, about 25 km from the waterfront, with wide domestic links and some international flights. Or take the train to Guwahati railway station at Paltan Bazaar, only about 4 km from Kachari Ghat, a major railhead for the whole region. From either, a short taxi or app cab brings you to the ghat for the crossing.

The crossing from Kachari Ghat

The usual crossing point is Kachari Ghat, near the city waterfront and the Deputy Commissioner's office by Uzan Bazar. From here boats run the short hop of roughly ten minutes to Peacock Island. Reach the ghat by taxi, app cab or auto from anywhere in the city; it is central and easy to find, and boatmen and the ferry point are right at the water's edge.

Government ferry or private boat

Two boats serve the island. The government ferry, run by the Inland Water Transport department, is cheap and shared and runs through the day until around sundown. Private motorboats cost more but leave on your schedule, which suits early sunrise or late sunset trips and small groups who do not want to wait. Choose the ferry for value, the private boat for flexibility.

A short river crossing from Kachari Ghat

Reach Guwahati by air (GAU airport, about 25 km) or rail (Guwahati station, about 4 km from the ghat), then cross to Peacock Island from Kachari Ghat, a boat ride of roughly ten minutes. The cheap government ferry runs through the day until around sundown; private motorboats cost more but leave when you like, which is the way to catch a sunrise or sunset crossing. It is one of the few temples you reach only by water.

03What to see

The island, the Shiva shrine and the great river

The heart of a visit is the Umananda temple itself, the Shiva shrine that the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha raised in 1694 on the little wooded hill of Peacock Island, damaged in the great earthquake of 1897 and lovingly restored since. The presiding deity is Umananda, a form of Shiva, and the darshan is close and quiet, in a small old shrine set among trees on the smallest inhabited river island in the world. Around the temple, the island is a green knoll to wander, with fine views up and down the broad Brahmaputra and back to the Guwahati waterfront and hills. Overhead crosses India's longest river ropeway, opened in 2020, its cabins passing high over the water near the island. The whole scene, a small ancient shrine on a green island in a vast river, is the real sight here.

  • The temple Gadadhar Singha builtThe shrine was raised in 1694 under the Ahom king Gadadhar Singha, damaged in the 1897 earthquake and restored since, so you stand before an old temple that has been cared for across the centuries. The deity is Umananda, a form of Shiva, and there are other carved figures about the shrine. Give the darshan and the carvings a slow, quiet moment.
  • The smallest inhabited river islandPeacock Island, Umananda Dwip, is widely described as the smallest inhabited river island in the world, a green wooded knoll in the middle of the Brahmaputra. Walk its short paths for lovely views up and down the great river and back to the Guwahati bank and hills. The setting, small and green in a vast river, is as much the draw as the shrine.
  • The river and the ropewayThe broad Brahmaputra all around is the grand sight, and the crossing itself gives fine views of the water, the city waterfront and the far bank. High above, India's longest river ropeway, opened in 2020, crosses the river near the island, its cabins gliding over the water. The mix of ancient shrine and modern ropeway over one of the world's great rivers is a memorable scene.
An old shrine on a tiny green island

The sight at Umananda is the whole scene: the Shiva shrine of 1694 on the little wooded hill of Peacock Island, said to be the smallest inhabited river island in the world, set in the middle of the vast Brahmaputra, with wide river views, the Guwahati waterfront beyond, and the long river ropeway crossing high overhead. Give time to the quiet darshan, the carvings and a slow wander of the green island before you cross back.

04Things to do

The experiences that make an Umananda visit

The pleasures of Umananda are simple and lie as much in the journey as the shrine. The boat crossing over the Brahmaputra is the first joy, a short, breezy ride with the city and the hills spread behind you and the green island growing ahead. Then comes the darshan in the small, old Shiva shrine among the trees, close and calm, a very different feeling from a big mainland temple. Around it you can wander the little island, sit by the water, and take in the wide river views. The island was long famous for its endangered golden langurs, though the introduced group has all but vanished, so treat any sighting as a rare bonus rather than a promise. Best of all, for many, is a crossing timed for sunrise or sunset, when the light on the great river turns soft and golden.

  • The boat crossingThe crossing itself is half the experience, a short, breezy ride of roughly ten minutes over the broad Brahmaputra, with the Guwahati waterfront and hills behind and the green island ahead. Sit on the open deck if you can, hold on where it is busy, and enjoy the wide river and the fresh air. It is a lovely, easy river ride that lifts the whole visit.
  • Darshan in the island shrineOn the island, the darshan in the small old Shiva shrine among the trees is quiet and close, a gentle, unhurried worship far from the crush of a big temple. Take a slow moment before the deity Umananda, look at the carvings, and enjoy the calm of a shrine set on a green island in the middle of a great river.
  • The langurs, honestlyThe island was long famous for its endangered golden langurs, but the small introduced group has dwindled almost to nothing over the years, with some moved to the state zoo. You may see none at all. Treat any sighting as a rare bonus, never feed or crowd any animal you do see, and enjoy the island for its shrine and its river views.
  • A sunrise or sunset crossingFor many the finest experience is a crossing timed for sunrise or sunset, when the light on the wide Brahmaputra turns soft and golden and the return ride is unforgettable. The government ferry keeps daytime hours, so for the very early or very late crossings hire a private motorboat, agree the trip and the wait, and give yourself time for the light.
The journey is half the joy

An Umananda visit is about the breezy boat crossing over the Brahmaputra as much as the quiet darshan in the small island shrine. Wander the green island, take in the wide river views, and, for the loveliest light, time a crossing for sunrise or sunset with a private motorboat. Enjoy the island honestly, without expecting the golden langurs that have all but gone, and let the simple river ride and calm worship be the reward.

05Base and days

Where to stay, and how long to give it

Peacock Island has only the shrine, so you stay in Guwahati city and cross for a visit. The city has the full range, from budget lodges near Paltan Bazaar and the railway station to comfortable mid-range and business hotels, many along or near the river and the central areas close to Kachari Ghat. Staying near the waterfront or the station keeps you handy for the ghat and for the wider Guwahati sights. As for how long, Umananda itself needs only a couple of hours, the crossing, the darshan and a wander, so most travellers fold it into a broader Guwahati day rather than giving it a day of its own. Give Guwahati two or three days and you can pair Umananda with Kamakhya, the river cruises, the museums and the markets, and use the city as the gateway to the rest of Assam.

  • Stay in Guwahati cityBase yourself in Guwahati, which has the full range of stays, from budget lodges near Paltan Bazaar and the railway station to comfortable mid-range and business hotels. Choosing something near the waterfront or the station keeps you close to Kachari Ghat for the crossing and central for Kamakhya and the rest of the city.
  • Umananda needs only a couple of hoursThe island visit itself, the crossing, the darshan and a wander, takes only about two hours including the ferry wait. So rather than a whole day, most travellers slot Umananda into a broader Guwahati day, often alongside Kamakhya, and keep the rest of the time for the city and Assam beyond.
  • Give Guwahati two or three daysGive the city two or three days and you can pair Umananda with the great Kamakhya temple, a Brahmaputra sunset cruise, the state museum and zoo, and the markets, and still use Guwahati as the springboard for Kaziranga, Shillong and the wider North East. Umananda is a lovely half-hour of that fuller trip.
Stay in the city, visit for a morning

There is no stay on the island, so base yourself in Guwahati, ideally near the waterfront or the railway station for easy reach of Kachari Ghat. Umananda itself needs only a couple of hours, so fold it into a wider Guwahati day, usually with Kamakhya. Give the city two or three days for the temples, the river cruise, the museums and the markets, and treat Umananda as a gem within that fuller Assam trip.

06What it costs

A gentle guide to the cost of an Umananda visit

Umananda is one of the cheapest temple visits you will make, because darshan is free and the only real cost is the boat. There is no entry ticket for the shrine and no compulsory charge to stand before the deity. The government ferry from Kachari Ghat is very cheap, and a private motorboat costs more but leaves on your schedule, so your budget depends almost entirely on which boat you choose and whether you want a flexible or a sunset trip. Beyond the boat, you need only a little for any offering you wish to make, a small tip for a private boatman, and your taxi or auto to and from the ghat. A family can do the whole Umananda visit for very little, which makes it one of the best-value experiences in Guwahati, a great river and a great shrine for the price of a short boat ride.

  • Darshan is freeThere is no entry ticket for the temple and no compulsory charge to see the deity. Any offering you make is yours to decide, given at the shrine. Be wary of anyone who asks for a set fee for a faster darshan, because the darshan itself is free and open to all who come respectfully to the island.
  • The boat is the real costYour one real cost is the crossing. The government ferry is only about 20 rupees one way, roughly 40 rupees for a return trip. A private motorboat runs about 300 to 800 rupees for the boat, or about 100 to 150 rupees a head, depending on the boat and your bargaining, and is worth it for flexible or sunset timings.
  • A little extra to budgetBeyond the boat, keep a small amount for any offering at the shrine, a modest tip for a private boatman who waits for you, and the taxi or auto to and from Kachari Ghat. Carry small notes and coins, as the ghat, the boats and small offerings all work best with cash rather than cards.
07Good to know

Practical tips: the boat, the timings and the crowds

A few facts make an Umananda visit smooth. First, plan around the boat: the government ferry keeps daytime hours and stops around sundown, so for a sunrise or sunset crossing you will need a private motorboat, agreed in advance. Second, allow for the wait: the shared ferry can be busy and you may queue a little, so keep about two hours in hand for the whole visit. Third, carry cash in small notes for the boat and any offering, as cards are little use at the ghat. Fourth, dress and behave as at any temple, modestly and respectfully, remove footwear where asked at the shrine, and keep the small island clean. Finally, be honest with yourself about the golden langurs, which have all but gone, and come for the shrine, the river and the crossing rather than the wildlife.

  • Match the boat to your hourThe government ferry runs through the day and stops around sundown, so it is fine for a daytime visit but not for the earliest or latest light. For a sunrise or sunset crossing, arrange a private motorboat in advance, agree the fare and the waiting time, and reach the ghat in good time so you do not miss the light.
  • Allow for the wait and carry cashThe shared government ferry can be crowded and you may queue, so keep about two hours in hand for the crossing, the darshan and the return. Carry small notes and coins for the boat, any offering and a boatman's tip, as the ghat and the island work on cash, not cards.
  • Temple manners and a clean islandDress modestly and behave respectfully as at any shrine, remove footwear where asked at the temple, and keep your voice and your group gentle in the small space. Carry your litter back with you and do not disturb any animals or trees; the island is tiny and fragile, and keeping it clean is part of a respectful visit.
Plan the boat and the timings

The government ferry keeps daytime hours only and can be crowded, so allow about two hours for the whole visit and arrange a private motorboat in advance if you want a sunrise or sunset crossing. Carry small cash for the boat and offerings, dress and behave respectfully at the shrine, keep the small island clean, and come for the temple, the river and the crossing rather than the golden langurs, which have all but vanished.

08River and boat sense

Safety on the water at Umananda

Umananda is a gentle visit, but it is a river crossing, so a little water sense keeps it safe. The Brahmaputra is a very large, powerful river, and the real cares are the boarding and the boat rather than the island itself. Board and step off carefully, as the ghat and the deck can be slippery and the boat can shift; keep a firm hold, and do not rush. Keep children held close at the ghat and on the water, and take extra care with elderly travellers on the steps and the gangway. Do not overload a private boat or let one set off overpacked, sit still once aboard, and wear a life jacket if one is offered. In the monsoon the river runs high and swift and the crossing can be rougher or the ferry reduced, so in the rains take the safest boat, avoid a choppy crossing, and never pressure a boatman to go out in bad water.

  • Board and step off with careMost mishaps are at the edge, not on the water. The ghat and the deck can be wet and slippery, and the boat can shift as you step, so board and disembark slowly, keep a firm hold, and let elders and children go steadily with a hand to help. Do not jump or rush the gangway.
  • Do not overload the boatDo not let a private boat set off overpacked, and do not overload it with too many in your group. Sit still and evenly once aboard, keep children held close, and wear a life jacket if one is offered. A calm, sensibly loaded boat with everyone seated is a safe boat on a big river.
  • Respect the monsoon riverIn the monsoon the Brahmaputra runs high and fast and the crossing can be choppier, with the ferry sometimes reduced or held back in high water. In the rains, take the safest, sturdiest boat, avoid crossing in rough water, and never pressure a boatman to go out when the river is dangerous. When in doubt, wait for calmer water.
Mind the boarding and the high river

The crossing is short and generally safe, but it is a big, powerful river, so take care where it counts: board and step off slowly on the slippery ghat and deck, keep children and elders close and helped, do not overload a private boat, sit still once aboard, and wear a life jacket if offered. In the monsoon the river runs high and swift, so take the safest boat, avoid rough water, and never push a boatman to cross in dangerous conditions.

09Who it suits

Umananda for every kind of traveller

Umananda suits very different travellers, and a little care lets each enjoy it. For pilgrims and Shiva devotees, this is a beloved old shrine on a sacred river island, a quiet, close darshan and a special place to worship, above all at Mahashivaratri. For families and seniors, it is a short, gentle outing, the boat ride a delight for children and the visit easy on elders, though the boarding on the moving boat needs a helping hand and a close watch. For river and photography lovers, the crossing, the wide Brahmaputra, the little green island and the sunset light are a joy. And for offbeat and heritage travellers, the temple that Gadadhar Singha built in 1694 on the smallest inhabited river island in the world is a genuinely unusual and memorable stop, unlike any other temple visit, best enjoyed unhurried and paired with the great Kamakhya shrine.

  • Pilgrims and Shiva devoteesFor devotees this is a loved Shiva shrine on a sacred river island, a quiet, close darshan and a special place to worship, most powerfully at Mahashivaratri when the island fills with all-night prayer. Give the darshan a slow, unhurried moment and enjoy a form of worship set apart on its green island in the great river.
  • Families and seniorsFor families the short boat ride is a real treat for children and the visit is quick and gentle, and for seniors it is an easy outing, but the boarding on and off the moving boat needs a helping hand and a close watch. Come in the calm season, hold children close, and help elders steadily on the steps and gangway.
  • River, photography and heritage loversFor those who love rivers, light and the unusual, Umananda is a gift: the breezy crossing, the vast Brahmaputra, the tiny green island and the golden sunset light make fine pictures and memories, and the shrine of 1694 on the smallest inhabited river island is a heritage stop unlike any other. Enjoy it unhurried and pair it with Kamakhya.
10A sensible plan

A suggested plan for Umananda with Kamakhya

The easiest way to enjoy Umananda is to fold it into a calm Guwahati day with Kamakhya, the two great temples of the city, one on a hill and one on a river island. A gentle plan is to do the famous Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, about 7 km from the waterfront, in the earlier part of the day when the darshan queues are freshest, then come down to Kachari Ghat and cross to Umananda for a quieter darshan and a wander of the little island, timing the return for the soft afternoon or sunset light on the river. Umananda itself needs only about two hours, so it slots neatly around Kamakhya, a river cruise or the city sights. With two or three days in Guwahati you can add a Brahmaputra sunset cruise, the state museum and zoo and the markets, and use the city as your gateway to Kaziranga, Shillong and the wider North East.

  • Kamakhya first, Umananda afterDo the great Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, about 7 km from the waterfront, in the earlier hours when the queues are freshest, then come down to Kachari Ghat and cross to Umananda for a quieter darshan and a wander of the island. Timing the island return for the soft afternoon or sunset light makes a calm, satisfying temple day.
  • Keep Umananda to a couple of hoursThe island visit, the crossing, the darshan and a stroll, takes only about two hours including the ferry wait, so it fits easily around Kamakhya, a river cruise or the city sights. Do not over-plan it; the joy is in an unhurried crossing and a quiet darshan rather than a long stay.
  • Give Guwahati two or three daysWith two or three days in the city you can add a Brahmaputra sunset cruise, the state museum and zoo, and the markets, and use Guwahati as the springboard for Kaziranga, Shillong and the wider North East. Umananda and Kamakhya make the temple heart of that fuller, easy-paced Assam trip.
11Honest answers

The real questions travellers ask about Umananda

Travellers planning Umananda tend to ask the same practical questions, and the honest answers are simple. You reach the island only by boat, crossing from Kachari Ghat in roughly ten minutes. There are two boats: the cheap government ferry that keeps daytime hours, and pricier private motorboats that leave on your schedule for sunrise or sunset trips. Temple darshan is free; the boat is the only real cost. Yes, the island was famous for golden langurs, but the small introduced group has all but vanished, so do not count on seeing them. The crossing is safe with ordinary water sense, though the boarding needs care and the monsoon river runs high. The best months are the cooler, drier October to April, and you can easily see Umananda and Kamakhya on the same Guwahati day, needing only about two hours for the island itself.

  • Which boat, and what does it cost?You cross from Kachari Ghat in roughly ten minutes. The government ferry is very cheap and keeps daytime hours; a private motorboat costs more but leaves when you like, which suits sunrise, sunset and off-hours trips. Darshan is free, so the boat is your only real cost. Choose the ferry for value and the private boat for flexibility.
  • Will I see the golden langurs?Probably not. The island was famous for a small group of endangered golden langurs, but the introduced group has dwindled almost to nothing over the years, with some moved to the state zoo. Treat any sighting as a rare bonus, never feed or crowd an animal, and come for the shrine, the river and the crossing.
  • Is it safe, and when should I go?The crossing is safe with ordinary water sense: take care boarding, keep children and elders close, do not overload a boat, and respect the high monsoon river. The best months are the cooler, drier October to April. You can pair Umananda with Kamakhya on one day, needing only about two hours for the island itself.
12For NRIs and OCIs

Planning Umananda from abroad

For an overseas or NRI family, Umananda is an easy and rewarding half-day within a Guwahati trip, and it asks nothing unusual of a foreign passport. Fly into Guwahati (GAU), Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, about 25 km from the waterfront, usually via a metro hub such as Delhi or Kolkata, and base yourself in the city. Darshan at the shrine is free and open to all respectful visitors, and there is no special permit for this temple, though Assam is the gateway to a region where some further North East states do need permits, so check those separately if you travel on. The one thing to plan is the crossing: the government ferry keeps daytime hours, so for a gentle sunrise or sunset trip arrange a private motorboat. Come in the cooler, drier season, pair Umananda with Kamakhya, and let a trusted local operator smooth the boats and the timings.

  • Route in through Guwahati (GAU)Fly into Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, code GAU, about 25 km from the waterfront, usually via Delhi or Kolkata, and stay in Guwahati city. From there the temple is a short taxi to Kachari Ghat and a ten-minute crossing. Guwahati is also the natural base for Kamakhya, Kaziranga and the wider North East.
  • Free darshan, and permits only beyondDarshan at Umananda is free and open to all respectful visitors, with no special permit for the temple. Assam itself needs no inner-line permit, but some other North East states do, so if you travel on from Guwahati, check those requirements separately and in good time before you go.
  • Plan the crossing and the seasonThe government ferry keeps daytime hours, so for a gentle sunrise or sunset crossing arrange a private motorboat in advance. Come in the cooler, drier months of about October to April for a calm river, pair Umananda with Kamakhya on one day, and let a trusted local operator handle the boats and timings for an easy visit.
An easy half-day for an overseas family

For visitors from abroad, Umananda folds neatly into a Guwahati trip: fly into GAU (about 25 km from the waterfront), stay in the city, and cross from Kachari Ghat in about ten minutes. Darshan is free and needs no permit, though some other North East states do, so check those if you travel on. Arrange a private motorboat for a sunrise or sunset crossing, come in the cooler season, and pair the island shrine with the great Kamakhya temple.

13Practical for visitors from abroad

Money, connectivity and timing for overseas visitors

The practical logistics for a foreign visitor to Umananda are gentle. Carry some cash in rupees, because the boat, any offering and a boatman's tip all work best with small notes and coins, even though cards and phone payments are common in the city hotels and restaurants. Mobile signal is good across Guwahati and generally fine at the ghat and on the river, so navigation and booking are easy, though it is worth an Indian prepaid SIM for the wider Assam trip. For timing, build the island visit around the daytime ferry, or around a private motorboat for a sunrise or sunset crossing, and keep only about two hours for the island so it slots around Kamakhya and the city. Come in the cooler, drier months for a calm river, and if you visit at Mahashivaratri expect very large, joyful crowds and give yourself extra time and patience.

  • Carry small cash for the boatKeep rupee notes and coins for the ferry or private boat, any offering at the shrine and a boatman's tip, as the ghat and the island run on cash rather than cards. City hotels and restaurants take cards and phone payments, but do not rely on them at the water's edge; a little cash in a pocket keeps the visit smooth.
  • Signal, SIM and seasonMobile coverage is good across Guwahati and generally fine at the ghat and on the river, so maps and bookings are easy, though an Indian prepaid SIM helps for the wider Assam trip. Come in the cooler, drier months of about October to April for a calm crossing, and expect very large, joyful crowds if you visit at Mahashivaratri.
A shrine in the river

A king's island temple, a lonely golden langur, and the smallest inhabited isle in the world

In the middle of the Brahmaputra, that vast grey-brown god of a river that slides past Guwahati a mile wide, there is a small green hill that the water has never managed to swallow. They call it Umananda Dwip, and the boatmen call it Peacock Island, and it is said to be the smallest inhabited river island in the world. On it stands a Shiva temple, low and old, that an Ahom king named Gadadhar Singha raised in 1694, on a hill the old books call Bhasmachala, the hill of ashes, where Shiva is said to have burned Kama, the god of love, to cinders with a glance. The great earthquake of 1897 shook it, and patient hands built it up again. To reach it you go down to Kachari Ghat, opposite the Deputy Commissioner's office, and you take a boat, a cheap crowded government ferry or a private motorboat that costs a little more and leaves when you like, and for ten breezy minutes you are out on the enormous river with the city and the blue hills falling away behind you and the green island growing ahead. And then you climb up to the little shrine among the trees and stand before the deity in a quiet you will not find in any mainland temple, a small calm island of worship in the middle of a moving world. For years the island had another fame, a troop of rare golden langurs, gold-furred and black-faced, given long ago as a gift and left to breed on the isle, but they dwindled year by year until, the newspapers said, a single lonely langur was left, and even that story is fading now. So come for the shrine and the river and the crossing, and if a flash of gold moves in the trees, count it a blessing you were not promised. At sunset, when you cross back and the whole broad Brahmaputra turns to beaten copper under the sky, you will understand why the Ahom kings chose this tiny hill in the middle of the water to build a house for their god.

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