fbpx
loader image

All about Majuli Island, Assam

Majuli Island is the largest river island in the world and a lesser-known gem of the northeastern state of Assam. Not denying how exceptionally fancy the tagline, world’s largest river island, sounds. But the island has much more to its glory. Completely isolated from the chaotic 21st-century city life, this island sits slap bang in the middle of the majestic Brahmaputra River.

Majuli is uncharted territory for many and one of the best-kept secrets of Northeast India. It is a niche destination inhabited by people mainly belonging to the missing tribe. These tribes strive tirelessly to promote both a sustainable lifestyle and a responsible tourist outlook to preserve the originality of the island.

The island is damn gorgeous with a tranquil vibe. Everything is raw and hand-made, there is no quick fix, it is just as God had intended. :*

If youโ€™re looking for places to add on your Northeast India adventures, I would urge you to pen down Majuli Island at the top of your list. And trust me; it wonโ€™t disappoint you ๐Ÿ˜‰

Read here more about hidden gem of Himachal pradesh, Grahan village!

All about Majuli Island, Assam
WELCOME TO MAJULI ๐Ÿ˜Š

How to reach Majuli Island?

Commuting to the Island of Majuli is only possible via ferry ride, which is a thrilling and unique experience in itself.

You can reach Majuli from several parts of Assam; since Guwahati is the capital city and the key point of most visitors for North-East trip; so I will focus mainly on the route from Guwahati.

To reach Majuli from Guwahati, you have to first reach Jorhat city which is approximately around 306kms. From the Jorhat main town go to the Nimati Ghat which is the river bank. From Nimati Ghat a ferry will take you to the mainland of Majuli. (Guwahati— Jorhat— Nimati Ghat— Majuli)

There are ample bus and train services on the Guwahati-Jorhat route. The Shatabdi train is the most reliable one. Bus service to Jorhat is available all day from Guwahati ISBT with the last bus leaving at 9:30 pm.

From the Jorhat bus stand, take a shared auto/tempo to Nimati Ghat. Ferry service from the Nimati Ghat to Kalambari Ghat of Majuli is available almost every hour. The service commences at 7:00 am and the last ferry leaves the Ghat at 4:00 pm and is pretty cheap.

It takes almost an hour and a half to cross such a wide 12km river on a ferry. It is exhilarating to witness nature at its best- the strong current of Brahmaputra River, various deserted islands, and migratory birds pooping from the sky and aquatic weeds. 

how to reach majuli island
PINNED ๐Ÿ“
how to reach majuli island
A FERRY TO THE ISLAND:)

Where to stay in Majuli?

Majuli is inhabited by the people of the Mishing tribe. There are several homestays in Majuli which are built like the traditional Mishing style bamboo stilt huts. And they are built in such a manner so as not to lose the originality of the place and to avoid floodwater from entering the huts during monsoon.

The rooms are very basic with no luxury but are cute, comfortable and clean. The furniture too is bamboo made giving the place an earthy and rustic feeling. You can stay here and experience a sustainable tribal lifestyle.

The bamboo huts can be rented for as less as INR1000 per night for two people which makes it affordable and yet fun and can be booked easily from Airbnb or MakeMyTrip.

Among the other options for stay are some small hotels in Majuli and the Majuli resort which have pretty good reviews. Do confirm their availability in advance before visiting from booking.com.

where to stay in majuli island
EARTHY AND RUSTIC BAMBOO HUTS:)
Traditional Mishing style Bamboo Stilt Huts!!
Traditional Mishing style Bamboo Stilt Huts!!

Best time to visit Majuli Island

The winter months are the ideal time to visit this island from around September to march. around this time the weather is pleasant.

During the summer months, the island experiences heavy rainfalls hence the commute becomes a little tough and usually more than half of the island gets flooded.

Do check the weather updates before you head there to not ruin your touristy experience. 

Best time to visit Majuli Island
EXACTLY AS GOD HAD INTENDED

Things to do in Majuli

Majuli is one of those destinations that are more of a feeling and have serene ambience rather than a checklist of specific places to visit. Nevertheless, there are really interesting things that you can do on your trip to Majuli:

Visit Satras in Majuli

Majuli is one of the holy places of Vaishnavite religion and culture where Satras are built as a centre of learning traditional art and culture. There are twenty-two Satras which are the top places to visit in Majuli. The most famous Satras that we visited were the Auniati Satra, Kamalabari Satra, Garamurh Satra, Shamaguri Satra. Among these, Shamaguri Satra is the mask making Satra which is the most intriguing one. Here masks are made and imported all over the country to be used in various dramas and plays. The Satra heads are happy to share more about their work technique and tell you local tales.

the famous mask making satra in Majuli
the famous mask making satra

Enjoy the local cuisines

When in Majuli, do not forget to enjoy the native Mishing meal. The thali consists of rice, vegetables, fish and meat. The rice is cooked in a leaf called Tora pat that gives it a distinct flavor. Other delicacies include pamnam fish (fish baked in banana leaf), pamnam chicken (chicken baked in banana leaf) and mamsing, chutney of dry fish. They also serve chicken, fish, and pork cooked in bamboo pipes, a traditional way of cooking. It is not only the food but also the experience of the authentic tribal culture that you get.:)

TRY NATIVE MULBERRIES AND FRUITS ๐Ÿ˜‹ YUMM!!
TRY NATIVE MULBERRIES AND FRUITS ๐Ÿ˜‹ YUMM!!

Try the local beer

How exciting is the idea of trying a unique beer in an isolated land? Mishing people brew an amazingly aromatic beer from rice called the Apong. And I truly insist that it is a must-try thing if you visit the island. Feel free to visit any Mishing house and join them for the traditional beer.

Spend time in the lap of nature

Nature has blessed Majuli with lush green paddy fields extending till the horizon, fascinating skies, small and large lakes beside the bamboo hut, birds chirping, green lands and huge areas of wetlands. The sunsets at Majuli are incredible and out of a fairy tale. A unique variety of fauna grows on the wetlands and various migratory birds visit the island. You can also visit Beels i.e. lakes and spend time by them;*

Spend time in the lap of nature... AWWW ๐Ÿ˜Š
Spend time in the lap of nature… AWWW ๐Ÿ˜Š

Useful tips

  1. You can rent a bicycle and go around exploring the island. It is an enthralling experience to ride a bicycle here as the roads are well built and spread with green on all sides. It is economical as well, costing around INR100 per day
  2. Among the other facilities available for local commuting are private taxis and rickshaws though these aren’t that abundant since this island has recently started witnessing the advent of tourism.
  3. Do remember to carry enough cash as there are hardly any ATMs here, that too mostly without cash.
  4. Keep in mind that sunrise here is around 5.50 a.m. and about 5.30 pm it gets pitch dark, so plan the itinerary accordingly.
FROM MAJULI, WITH LOVE
FROM MAJULI, WITH LOVE

From Majuli, with love!

Majuli is overall a rustic destination created by God in full glory and of course, maintained by tribals to carry its legacy. Where the White sand of the island gets washed by the Brahmaputra River, the white desert looks exhilarating and fascinating.ย 

However, the river swallows the shores of this island every year during monsoon. It is a threat to the existence of the island and causing a continuous decrease in the area of the island, giving you all the more reason to visit it soon.ย 

Do add this exotic island to your North East India bucket list and experience the best of godโ€™s creation! And yeah! You can thank me later for it!!

Also Read: Grahan Village: an Offbeat Hike beyond Kasol

Also Read: A Local Guide to Bir Billing: The Paragliding Capital of India

Also Read: Mukteshwar Road Trip: An Unbelievable Drive in Uttarakhand

traditional Mishing style bamboo stilt huts in majuli island
traditional Mishing style bamboo stilt huts
A lesser known gem of Majuli Island
A lesser known gem of ASSAM
The culture of the tribal in majuli
Witness the culture of the tribal – cool isn’t it!!
OH MAJULI !! YOU BEAUTY
OH MAJULI !! YOU BEAUTY

14 Comments

  • Poonam
    Posted May 4, 2020 6:30 am 1Likes

    Aahhh, seeing through your eyes the place looks so mesmerizing. I bet, like me whosoever would check these pictures will surely like to visit the place as soon as possible.
    Like always, I know soon I would make a call to eat your head to make sure that what all I would need to visit the place.
    Thank you so much for always being there first ๐Ÿ˜‹

    • Navneet
      Posted May 7, 2020 1:16 pm 0Likes

      Thank you so much Poonam dii!! It’s totally my pleasure ๐Ÿ™‚
      Much Love :*

  • Ankita
    Posted May 4, 2020 6:08 pm 1Likes

    Some stories and some places make me wonder that how am i still unknown about such beauty if nature, i am astonished by the way you narrate your experience and pictorials drive me nuts and my heart is begging me to visit this place as soon as possible. Thankyou so much for letting us know a wonderful place to visit.

    • Navneet
      Posted May 7, 2020 1:18 pm 0Likes

      Thank you, Ankita for your kind words!! Such comments make my day ๐Ÿ™‚
      Much Love ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Trackback: The next level fun at Backpackers Inn, McLeodganj - Letterstoneet
  • Ayaan
    Posted May 10, 2020 4:30 am 0Likes

    This blog has been beautifully written!โ˜บ๏ธ

  • Simar
    Posted May 21, 2020 7:46 pm 0Likes

    I think this is the best blog of all. โค๏ธ๐ŸŒˆ Itโ€™s beautifully written with each and every detail ! I love these photographs..you look so cute in every picture๐Ÿ’˜๐Ÿ’˜. Your work can inspire anyone to travel. Looking forward to take your advice before planning my first trip. ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒธ

    • Navneet
      Posted June 5, 2020 1:05 pm 0Likes

      AWWW :*
      Thank you so much simar for such kind word of appreciation. It means a lot to me.
      And, yeah you can definitely contact me for your trips, I’d be happy to help !! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Trackback: 10 Go-To Places for a Post-Lockdown India - Letterstoneet
  • Trackback: How Can Travelling Makes You Wiser And Live Better?
  • Trackback: 5 Lessons from 5 Years of Travelling
  • y0QRuKqxPre0
    Posted September 10, 2020 4:50 pm 0Likes

    876603 272857I truly appreciated this amazing weblog. Make confident you maintain up the very good function. All of the very best !!!! 293007

    • Written by Navneet
      Posted October 20, 2020 2:38 pm 0Likes

      Such comments make my day ๐Ÿ™‚
      I am so glad you find this useful and informative!

Leave a comment

Copyright ยฉ 2020 Letterstoneet

x
x
See photos here
Contact me

Join Letters to Neet
family to hear about new adventures.


*We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.