Majuli District

Majuli district is located on Majuli, the world's largest river island, situated on the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam. Majuli is a famous island on the Brahmaputra River flowing in the state of Assam. It is also the largest district island in the country and is very close to the city of Jorhat. It was formed due to the change of course of the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, mainly Lohit. 

Majuli is the abode of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture. The district was established on 8 September 2016. It was carved out of the northern parts of Jorhat. It was earlier known as "Majali", which was situated between the "Dihing" and the Brahmaputra. Pre-historic references mention that the original name of present-day Majuli was known either as "Majali" or "Mojali" and later in 1562, it was also called "Luiter Majuli". The district headquarters are located at Garmur.

Area

The district is spread over an area of ​​880 km2. The district is divided into 1 sub-division, 2 revenue circles, 2 development blocks, 21 panchayats and 139 revenue villages. Majuli, Ujhani are the blocks of Majuli district.

Population

According to the 2011 census, Majuli district has a population of 1,67,304. The sex ratio in Majuli is 955 females per 1000 males. Assamese is the first major language of the district.

Economy

The economy of the district is mainly dependent on the agricultural sector. More than half of its population is engaged in agriculture to earn their livelihood. The main crop of the district is paddy. Majuli has a rich and diverse agricultural tradition, with about 100 varieties of rice grown, and that too without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers.

Education

The literacy rate of the district is 77.2%. The district is known for its many prestigious educational institutions. Auniati High School, Keshab Ram Bora High School, Shri Lohit High School, Karatipar High School, Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Island Academy, Majuli College, Jengremukh College, Pub Majuli College and Majuli University of Culture are some of the best educational institutions in the district.

Why visit Majuli?

The district has many centers of attraction that attract many travelers coming from different parts of the country and the world. Majuli is famous throughout Assam for its large number of Satras such as Shri Auniati Satras, Shri Dakhinpat Satras, Shri Garmur Satras, Shri Uttar Kamalabari Satras, Shri Bengena Ati Satras, Shri Samaguri Satras, Shri Bhogpur Satras, etc. Majuli is also a hotspot for flora and fauna, sheltering many rare and endangered avifauna species including migratory birds that come in the winter season.

You can witness the Vaishnava Satra established by Shankardev, Majuli Raas Festival, Pal Naam and Ali-Ai-Ligang Festival, culture of tribes, Folgu Festival and Porag Festival, mask making and pottery making culture during your visit here. The best time to visit Majuli is from October to March.

How to reach Majuli

Majuli is well connected to Jorhat and Lakhimpur district of Assam. You have to board a ferry to reach Majuli Island from Jorhat city. Nimatighat is the nearest port which is located in Jorhat district, it takes 1.00 hour to reach Majuli from Nimatighat. Ferry service is available from 7 am to 3.30 pm. Jorhat also serves as the nearest road connectivity to Majuli. You can also reach Majuli from Lakhimpur district via Dhakuakhana by road. There are no railway stations in Majuli. To reach Majuli by train, tourists have to take a train from Guwahati to reach Jorhat, the nearest railway station to Majuli. The nearest airport to Majuli is at Jorhat.