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Sightseeing Highlights
Some of
the main ‘satras’ in the island are Dakhinpat Satra, Garamurh Satra, Auniati
Satra, Kamalabari Satra, Bengenaati Satra and Samaguri Satra. These communities
are the treasure house of folk culture, song and dance that has evolved from
the days of Shri Shankardeva. You may also stay in the simple guest-houses or
ashrams run by them, to get a real taste of the lifestyle of these people.
Majuli Island is a bird-watcher’s paradise and is visited by flocks of migratory birds
each year. Among several species of water birds and ducks, you can also see
Pelicans, Cranes, and Adjutant Stork here.
The Majuli
Festival is organized each year at the end of November. Special cultural
programmes are organized and troupes from all over Assam
perform here. Exhibitions of Assamese art and handicrafts are also organized,
and you can shop for ethnic items and souvenirs at the stalls. There are also
food stalls set up where you can sample Assamese and tribal dishes
Majuli is
one of the most unique tourism destinations in Assam, 12 km north of Jorhat, and
310 km away from Guwahati. It is the largest riverine island in the world, and
is a patch of 800 sq km of land in the middle of the Brahmaputra River.
A visit to Majuli unfolds a variety of interesting traditional handicrafts,
ethnic music and dance forms, and an experience of real village life and tribal
culture. The island is inhabited by tribes in the north, and Vaishnaviite
‘satras’ or monasteries, who preserve a unique lifestyle. Founded in the 15th
century by Shankardeva, a renowned spiritual guru of Assam, Majuli is a living museum.
The rich
500-year-old ‘Satriya traditions’, combined
with colourful tribal culture, as well as the surrounding natural beauty make
Majuli a soul-enriching experience. The main tribes residing here are the
Misings, Deoris and Sonowal Kacharis. The island and river are also home to
unique flora and fauna, including rare species of migratory birds, and have
been declared a bird sanctuary. |
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