Majuli is situated in the Brahmaputra in Assam, has been a culture capital of the State since the 16th century. The island which is now a district (declared in 2016) had an area of 483 sq km but constant erosion by the mighty river has reduced the island’s size to 352 sq km. The 2011 Census says the population of the island is 1,67,304.
It isn’t very easy to reach this island district which is around 350 km from Guwahati. But the good part is that the nearest town — Jorhat — is well connected by train, bus and even has an airport. From Jorhat, it is a 14-km bus ride to the Neamati Ghat or Kamalabari Ghat. From there, a ferry ride is the only way to reach Majuli. There are different timings for the ferry. While the last ferry from Neamati Ghat leaves at 3 pm, it is 4:30 pm from Kamalabari Ghat. What is interesting about this ride is that one gets to see how the locals reach the island — 100 passengers, 50 bikes and at least 3 cars. You might end up taking the ferry with a horse as well. Ticket per passenger is Rs 15, no extra charge for luggage.
It is best to pre-book a stay in Majuli. Though the island is big, hotels are few and not so fancy. There is no Wi-Fi. Rooms at hotels like Prashanti Eco-Tourism Resort are nothing to rave about but if it is the rustic feel that you are looking for it may suit you. The place to be is the Ygdrasill Bamboo Cottage, again not very fancy but comes with an experience of living like an islander. The food on the island is homely. Caution: Stay away from eating Mising community thali, it only has non-veg items. But vegetarians can enjoy local veggies.