Majuli - the largest riverine island in the world

Do you know, the largest riverine island in the world is in Assam. You must have read it in quiz books but not really known about it. Well, this is a place of pristine beauty where you can say God has been generous to bestow upon us.

• Majuli, at 800 sq km this is the largest riverine island in the world, in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra river.
• Majuli is a civil sub-division of Jorhat District. It is located 20 km. off Jorhat town.
• Total area of the island was 1250 sq.km., now it is about 650 sq.km.
  
• Its length from east to west is about 90 km. & width from north to south is avg. 16 km.
• It is a pollution free fresh water island.
  Majuli is a natural & cultural heritage site - the land of Mediaval saint Sankardev, who propagated the Satria culture in Assam.
  
• With water bodies covering most of the areas , Majuli attracts plenty of birds both local & migratory.

Majuli is indeed the pride of Assam. But,there has not been much effort to project this World's largest riverine island with an intent to generate tourism. Majuli has been the cultural capital and the cradle of Assamese civilization for the past five hundred years. The satras set up preserve antiques like weapons, utensils, jewellery and other items of cultural significance.

Pottery is made in Majuli from beaten clay and burnt in driftwood fired kilns in the same mode carried out by the peoples of the ancient Harrappan Civilisation. Sociologists have stressed on the preservation of these unique peoples, whose culture and dance forms are untouched by modernism. The handloom work of these tribes is also internationally famous.

Anyone from Majuli here?/ Have you heard about Majuli?

Thanks for sharing this information. I recently saw 2 days back on a news channel, about a film based and shot in this world's largest riverine island - Majuli. The name of the film is 'As the river flows'.

As far as I remember, the film's main protagonist is a journalist (played by Sanjay Suri) who goes to Majuli, but was abducted by militants. It also stars the veteran actor Victor Banerjee. The film as report goes is based on Majuli and its people. The place looked beautiful...would love to see the film.

How big is the place? Is it well connected to the rest of Assam? Please let us know of the tourism facilities for Majuli.

Happy posting!
Sonia

Hi Sonia, you have heard it right.

As the River Flows is a bilingual film being made in Hindi and Assamese. While the Hindi version will be named as As The River Flows, its Assamese version will be called Ekhon Nedhekha Nadir Shipaare.

As The River Flows tells the story of a journalist named Abhijit Shandilya who is caught in a multi-layered world of intriguing happenings in the largest inhabited river island in the world, Majuli, in Assam. The movie, a socio-political thriller, talks of social conflicts and individual commitments in an age where being self centered is the norm.

The film stars Victor Banerjee, Sanjay Suri, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam and newcomer Bidita Bag. The film is written and directed by National Award winning filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky.

Doesn't that sound interesting?

A still from the film

Thanks for the information. I really look forward to this film. At least I hope the film will be aesthetically shot, so as to generate some tourism for Majuli and Assam.

Don't you think, a place like Majuli with the tag of being the 'largest riverine island in the world' has not got its worth and share of fame? Why do you think north eastern states are not able to generate revenue through state tourism, in spite of having a bountiful of resources?

Is it politics, insurgency or sheer lack of interest? Share your views.