Majuli Island, Assam

Majuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra river, Assam and in 2016 became the first island to be made a district in India. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. While it is often claimed to be the world's largest river island, IIha do Bananal and many other river islands around the world are significantly larger.

The island is formed by the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north. Mājuli island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat. The island is about 300–400 kilometres (186–249 mi) east from the state's largest city —Guwahati. It was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly the Lohit. Mājuli is the abode of the Assamese neo-Vaishnacite culture. 

 Among one of the most surreal places in India, Majuli is also a strong contender for a place in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Mostly inhabited by Tribals, the culture of Majuli is unique and quite interesting and is one of the key reasons why people love this place so much. It is also called the cultural capital of Assam. The festivals celebrated here are all joyous and vibrant. The main festival in the town of Majuli is called Raas and witnessing it is an interesting spectacle."

If you're looking for places to add on your North East India adventures, I would urge you to bump Majuli Island to the top of your list. This beautiful oasis won't be here forever, it's slowly eroding away and in 15-20 years it will completely disappear.

As it is a river island which is relatively new to mass tourism and not highly written about in travel guides I feel there is quite a few important things to know before you visit.

You can only access the island by ferry...and it's not 24 hours. The only way to reach Majuli Island is to catch the ferry that runs 20 kms out of the main nearby city of Jorhat.

To make your way over to the Neemati Ghat ferry dock, you need to catch one of the many government rickshaws (30 rupees) or a private taxi. From here, you can catch the ferry with locals and vehicles all crammed in. You're not paying for luxury though, it's 15 rupees a passenger!

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As it is a river island which is relatively new to mass tourism and not highly written about in travel guides I feel there is quite a few important things to know before you visit.

Majuli is pitching to be Assam's capital of culture as it hasn't really got with time times yet. The island preserves a lot of its heritage through Satras which are home to traditional religious practices, art, literature, dancing and theatre. Here, you can see the ancient art of hand looming to make Assamese tribal patterns, Clay pottery being made by hand, masks made by world famous craftsmen and wander around the unqiue Hindu monasteries.

You won't find sky high buildings, TV dishes, wifi or wires just a natural oasis full of nature, wildlife and untouched villages.

You won't find 5* hotels or luxury on this island but you will find friendly, cosy, traditional bamboo huts to stay in for a while and that's so much better in my opinion!

It's the largest river island in the world and it's recently been declared Assam's 35th district

Did you know that Guiness world records class Majuli Island as the world's largest river island?! It's huge at 352 kilometres squared.

Quite honestly, when you're travelling around the island, it's hard to believe you're in the middle of the Brahmaputra river! It totally feels like you're just in another town in India. Some parts of the island have well laid roads and others are just dirt tracks.

The top 5 places to visit in Majuli are :

1. Kamalabari Satra : One of the other famous site of the island, Kamalabari Satra, this religious site too houses significant articles related to art, culture, literature and classical studies.

The North Satr, another portion of the Kamalabari Satra participates in several cultural events of satria art in various Indian cities.

2. Garmur : One of the important attractions of Majuli, Gamur is among the many holy seats. Other prominent holy seats in the destination are Auniati, Daksinpath and Kamlabari. This Vaishnavite spot preserves ancient artifacts and articles, the most prominent among these being Bortop.

3. Tengapania : Located on the banks of river Brahmaputra, Tengapania is a spectacular and popular picnic spot of the region. It is bounded by Dhakuakhana, Machkhoa and Disangmukh and is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike.

The site is located at a distance of 24 km from Sibsagar, which is well connected with Majuli and Jorhat. Simaluguri Junction is the closest railhead that provides easy access to Tengapania.

4. Dakhinpat Satra : This was the chief satra patronized by the Ahom Ruler. This ancient educational centre is visited by thousand of devotees all throughout the year. Rasotsava, a prime festival of Assam, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and passion here.

The highlight of this festival is the performance of Rasleela on a full moon night.

5. Auniati Satra : Famous for its Apsara and Paalnaam dance, this centre was founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva and features a wide collection of traditional Assamese utensils, jewellery and handicrafts. Old utensils, jewellery and handicrafts are also housed in the centre.

6. Masks : The masks made here are world famous. Mr. Hemchandra Goswami is well known for his amazing crafting process of masks and religious characters for festivals and events. His workshop is Natun Samaguri Satra. The mask designs, depending on the complexity, can take anything from a few weeks to months. They're firstly made out of paper and clay, then painted. People from all over the world write in for orders due to the quality and history of the profession and Mr. Goswami’s amazing skills.

What was even more amazing is that Mr. Goswami doesn’t draw any designs down, it’s all in his head!

You have to visit this amazing workshop while you're here. It's fascinating. To see them in action, try and visit for Rasleela festival when they all come out to play!

It has a certain magic that will stay with you forever. Majuli is captivating in every way. It just goes to show that some places don't need to speed up and get with the times. Why change something that has worked for hundreds of years? The traditional values that run through this Island are strong and aren't leaving anytime soon. There is a certain magic here and you'll fall in love with the vibe. You can switch off, relax and bask in the beauty of it's natural surroundings.

We can also hire cycles from Majuli Cycle Cafe. Its fun cycling in the silent roads. Sunset point is a must see place but you cannot reach there on other vehicles. You have to cross a bridge which is made up of wooden sticks and bamboos.

Make sure you add this jewel of an island on your North East India bucket list!