The Umananda temple. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Dec. 9: The Umananda Shiva temple, after years of neglect, is all set for a facelift with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority embarking upon an ambitious project to beautify the 17th century island temple.

The Rs 25 lakh project includes measures to check soil erosion and landscaping of the island apart from renovation of the temple.

GMDA chief executive officer J. Shyamla Rao said the GMDA had proposed to turf the island to protect it from soil erosion. A special species of grass would be grown to help in checking soil erosion in the island. He said the grass was locally available.

The 17th century shrine was built by Ahom ruler Gadadhar Singh and renovated in the 20th century after it was destroyed in an earthquake.

The historic temple is located on top of Bhasmachal hill (hill of ashes) in an island located in the Brahmaputra river. Legend has it that Shiva had burned Kama, the god of lust, to ashes in the island.

Also known as Urvashi Island, it has, of late, been threatened by soil erosion. Urvashi kund — where it is believed that Urvashi, the celestial damsel, brings nectar for Kamakhya — is also located in the island. Hundreds of devotees throng the island to worship Shiva, who is also referred to as Umananda or Bhayananda.

The GMDA also plans to promote the temple and the island for tourism and meditation. It will construct at least two viewpoints for the tourists. It is also constructing meditation spots on the island as according to it, the serene and calm environment offers a perfect setting for meditation.

The project also envisages construction of a footbridge from foothill to hilltop, paving of marble steps and renovating of staircase railings. Rao said an attractive gate will also be constructed at the entrance of the temple, which at present has no gate. Accommodation facilities and toilets will be constructed for the priests.

Rao said the beautification and renovation of the shrine was part of a series of such projects taken up by the GMDA in the city from its own resources.

It is not known when the temple was last renovated. The priests claim that it has not been renovated in at least in the past 50 years. The dilapidated condition of the temple and the staircases bear testimony to a long neglect.