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.
Where to stay:
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.
When to visit:
The best time to visit 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.