Majuli Island Guide: How to Reach, Satras, Where to Stay and Best Time (2026)

Majuli is a river island in the Brahmaputra in upper Assam, often described as one of the largest river islands in the world. It's the centre of Assam's neo-Vaishnavite culture, with satras (monasteries) founded in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it's home to Mising villages built on stilts against the floods. It became India's first river-island district in 2016.

The island is slowly shrinking as the river erodes its banks, which is one reason people come now rather than later.

Where is Majuli, and how to reach it

Majuli lies across the Brahmaputra from Jorhat. There's no road bridge yet, so the last leg is by ferry.

Ferries run through the day, roughly from early morning to mid-afternoon, but timings change with the season and the river. Confirm at the ghat or with your stay, and aim for a morning ferry. Cars can sometimes go across on the larger vessels, but that service has had interruptions, so check before bringing a vehicle.

For the full plan from Jorhat, see our Jorhat and Majuli in 3 days.

What to see

The satras

Majuli's satras are monasteries of the Vaishnavite faith founded by Srimanta Sankardeva. Each has its own prayer hall (namghar), monks and traditions. The best known:

• Auniati Satra: known for its museum of old utensils, jewellery and manuscripts.
• Dakhinpat Satra: known for its Raas festival performances.
• Garamur Satra: one of the larger satras, central to the Raas celebrations.
• Kamalabari and Uttar Kamalabari: centres of the Sattriya dance tradition.
• Samaguri Satra: famous for its mask-making, the masks used in religious theatre.

Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering prayer halls.

Mising villages

The Mising community's stilt houses, rice fields and handlooms are found across the island. Some villages welcome visitors to homestays and weaving demonstrations.

Birds and the river

In winter, the wetlands around the island draw migratory birds, and sunsets over the Brahmaputra from the ghats are worth an evening.

Festivals

• Raas Mahotsav, usually in November, re-enacts the life of Krishna in all-night performances at the satras. It's the island's biggest event, and stays fill up early.
• Ali-Aye-Ligang, the Mising spring festival, is held in February.

Where to stay

Stays on Majuli are simple: bamboo cottages, homestays and small guesthouses around Garamur and Kamalabari. Book ahead for the Raas festival. Bring cash, because ATMs on the island are few.

Best time to visit

October to March. The weather is dry and pleasant, the river is calm and the festivals fall in this period. Avoid the monsoon, from June to September, when floods can cut parts of the island off and ferries may stop.

Is Majuli worth visiting?

Yes, if you want culture and slow travel rather than sightseeing. Majuli is about the satras, the people and the river. Give it at least one night, ideally two.