Tehri — the lake in the hills that works like a battery
Tehri's pumped-storage plant stores spare power as water: it pumps the Bhagirathi up into the Tehri lake, then lets it fall back through turbines when needed.
Article
Majuli, Assam — the river island that keeps shrinking, and the satras on it
Majuli in the Brahmaputra: the Guinness river-island record and the Brazil caveat, 1,255 km² down to about 880 km², the satras, the masks, and the ferry.
Checked on
Majuli is a long, slender island in the Brahmaputra, and the river is taking it back. The story of the place is a record, a loss, and a way of life that has held on.
The record, and the caveat
Guinness World Records recognises Majuli as the world's largest inland river island. That title is not settled. Wikipedia calls Bananal Island in Brazil, on the Araguaia River, the largest river island without an ocean coastline, and Bananal is many times bigger. Which island wins depends on how a river island is defined, so we give Guinness as the source and leave it there.
An island that shrinks
The numbers tell the story. Majuli covered about 1,255 km² in the early 20th century. By 2024, continuous erosion had cut it to about 880 km², by Wikipedia's account. Roughly a third of its land was eroded in the latter half of the 20th century, and since 1991 more than 35 villages have been washed away.
The erosion goes on, so a figure for Majuli's area is always a figure for a year.
Photos: Nayan j Nath (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Rumi Borah~aswiki (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Afughat (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The satras
Majuli became a cultural and religious centre of Assam in the 16th century, after a visit by the social reformer Srimanta Sankardev. In time 65 satras, the monasteries of his neo-Vaishnavite tradition, were founded on the island. Wikipedia says 23 are still active.
The Samaguri satra, spelled Shamaguri in some sources, is famous for its mask-making, like the Garuda mask pictured here.
An island that is a district
In 2016 Majuli became the first island in India to be made a district. It is still reached the old way, by water. Wikipedia says boats and ferries run from Jorhat, and visitors combine a bus with the ferry from the Nimati steamer ghat.
Jorhat is also the airport for Kaziranga, so the island and the rhino park fit in one trip to Assam. Read the best time to visit Kaziranga for the flood months, which matter on the river too.
Planning a trip?
Reels from these places: follow @himlocal.in on Instagram
Places to visit
All destinations →More stories to read
All stories →
Skiing in Himachal — Solang, Narkanda and Kufri, and when the snow holds
Where to ski in Himachal: Solang above Manali, Narkanda and Kufri above Shimla, the state institute's courses, and the January–February snow.
How to reach Uttarakhand from Delhi — road distances, the railheads at Haridwar, Dehradun and Kathgodam, and the two airports
Delhi to Uttarakhand by road in km for Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, Almora and Badrinath, plus the railheads at Haridwar, Dehradun, Kathgodam and the airports.
Nainital or Mussoorie — which hill town, for whom, and when
Nainital or Mussoorie: a lake town in Kumaon or a ridge town above Dehradun. Distance from Delhi, what each is for, winter snow, and the plans that cover both.
Best time to visit Kalimpong — the five seasons, the monsoon and the Kanchenjunga view
When to go to Kalimpong: the spring and summer season visitors prefer, the severe monsoon of June to September, the cold of December to February, and fog.
How to reach Barot — distances and drive times
How to reach Barot by road from Joginder Nagar, Mandi, Bir, Palampur and Chandigarh, with measured distances and drive times and the nearest airport.
Destinations to explore
All destinations →
Today on HimLocal
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.
Questions people ask
Is Majuli the largest river island in the world?
Guinness World Records recognises Majuli as the world's largest inland river island. Other references disagree: Wikipedia calls Bananal Island in Brazil, on the Araguaia River, the largest river island without an ocean coastline, and it is many times bigger. So the title depends on whose definition you use.
How much of Majuli has been lost to erosion?
A great deal. Wikipedia gives about 1,255 km² in the early 20th century and about 880 km² as of 2024. Roughly a third of its landmass was eroded in the latter half of the 20th century, and since 1991 more than 35 villages have been washed away.
What are the satras of Majuli?
Monasteries of Assam's neo-Vaishnavite tradition. Majuli became a cultural and religious centre in the 16th century after the visit of the reformer Srimanta Sankardev, and 65 satras were founded on the island. Wikipedia says 23 are still active. The Samaguri satra is known for its masks.
How do you reach Majuli?
By road to the river, then by ferry. Wikipedia says the island is reached by ferry or boat from Jorhat, and that visitors combine a bus with the ferry from the Nimati steamer ghat. Jorhat also has the airport for Kaziranga, so the two make one trip in Assam.