How to Reach Majuli

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Erosion is likely to submerge the largest fresh water River Island in next 15-20 years.

Jorhat is well connected by air, with daily flights from Guwahati, and four flights a week from Calcutta. From Guwahati, Jorhat is a seven-hour bus ride. Buses leave early mornings and at nights.

From Jorhat it is only fourteen kilometers to Neemati Ghat. There are at least two ferry rides to Majuli every day, one around 10 a.m., the other around 3 p.m. Exact times can be ascertained from the private bus stand at Jorhat, from where buses leave for Neemati.

The first ferry ride lasts about an hour - after that transfer to a bus for a ten minute bus ride across Major Sapori, another island en route Majuli. Then a short ferry ride, and yet another bus ride to Kamalabari, the main town on the island. You can also hire a taxi, either from Jorhat or in Majuli. The taxi can cross over on the ferry.

Majuli does not have a developed infrastructure for tourism. There are no hotels. Some satras have guestrooms. If you write in advance, they would certainly be available. The Satras that have such facilities and can deal with visitors easily are Natun Kamalabari, Uttar Kamalabari, Auniati, Bhogpur and Dakhinpat. The first two are walking distance from Kamalabari. The second two are slightly further afield (about six kilometers away), and Dakhinpath is at one end of the island. In case you wish to go to Dakhinpath, there is a ferry from Neemati direct to Dakhinpath as well. In addition to the Satra facilities, there are Inspection Bungalows at some points on the island (the one at Kamalabari is well located), and a Circuit House at Garamur, which is the sub-divisional headquarters. For the Inspection Bunglows and Circuit House, you could write to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Garamur, Majuli, Assam. What to see: There are twenty-one Satras on the island - several of them still very active in the tradition and training of dance, drama, music, art and craft. You can hire a boat and cruise down the river in the early morning, bird-watching; and also visit fields and homes to see the cultivation and weaving for yourself first hand.

Majuli is to coincide with the rasleela, at the time of the full moon in the month of Kartik (November); but Majuli can be visited all year around. During the rainy season much of the island is flooded, but ironically, it makes getting around (by boat) easier. What you can do to save Majuli : Petition your Member of Parliament to raise the issue and insist that Government resources be brought in to study the problem and then devise remedies for protection; Visit Majuli as a concerned tourist, and document the story of the island. Share it with your friends, and create an awareness of this unique piece of heritage; Invest in developing the potential for Eco-tourism on Majuli; and Wear fabrics spun and woven in Majuli - this will directly increase incomes on the island.