Here’s a quick guide on how to get from Sivsagar to Jorhat to Majuli island in Assam, India. It’s all you need to know to reach Majuli island on the cheap.
Majuli is a magnificent island on the Brahmaputra river. It is (was?) one of the largest river islands in the world, and definitely worth visiting for a couple of days.
The main approach is from Jorhat. But, since Jorhat isn’t of much interest to tourists, many will approach from either Guwahati or Sivsagar. Getting from Sivsagar to Jorhat to Majuli is easy… if you know where to go.
Going to Majuli? Check out our Majuli travel guide here!
Getting from Sivsagar to Jorhat
Buses from Sivsagar to Jorhat leave every hour, starting around 6 in the morning. Tickets cost 50 Rs per person, and the ride takes about 2 hours.
Make sure to tell the ticket hawker you want to go to Majuli, as there are several drop-off points in Jorhat. We got off at the interstate bus stand, which is several kilometers down the road from where you can get transport to the ferry. In other words, we missed our stop!
TL;DR: Depending on where you’re dropped off, you might have to walk for a bit to get transport onwards.
Getting from Jorhat to Nimanighat
From Jorhat, you have to go Nimanighat, where ferries leave to Majuli.
Shared tempos and rickshaws leaving from Jorhat when full. Getting to the Tempo stand via rickshaw costs around 20 Rs from the interstate bus stand. The Tempo stand is located around 300 meters before the local bus stand (Public bus stand old on Google Maps) if you come from Sivsagar. If you’re not sure where to go, ask a transport hawker, they’ll show you the way.
A Tempo or shared rickshaw to Nimanighat costs 30 Rs per person and takes roughly 20 minutes.
Getting from Nimanighat to Majuli
Plenty of ferries leave for Majuli from Nimanighat. Supposedly there are only three a day, but timing depends on the weather and the river tide. We found there were far more than three—something closer to one an hour.
A ticket costs 15 Rs per person, and the boat ride takes about one hour.
Looking for inspiration? Check out our article on why you must visit Northeast India!
Getting around on Majuli
Once the ferry arrives, you’ll be greeted by taxis and shared tempos. Ignore the taxis, as they charge an arm and a leg. Just walk up to the shared Tempos and mention the place you want to stay. There are only a few accommodation options in Majuli, so it’s likely the driver will know. If not, mention the nearest town, and walk from there. A shared tempo costs 20 – 30 Rs per person.
Early mornings at Ygdrasill Bamboo Cottage
Where to stay in Majuli
Majuli offers several homestay experiences. Accommodation is basic but pleasant, although bugs can be a real menace pre-monsoon. Bring bug repellent!
We stayed at Ygdrasill Bamboo Cottage, which is located on a small lake, and we can’t recommend it enough. The owner and his friends are really helpful, and you can rent bikes (100 Rs per day) or scooters (500 Rs per day) to get around the island. Some of their revenues are invested in women’s self-help groups on the island, and other conservation projects on Majuli.
Talk to the manager if you want to learn more about this, as tours are available and we highly recommend you go on one. Huts at Bamboo Cottage go for 500 Rs a person, but there is room for negotiation depending on the season. We paid 700 Rs per night for both of us. Breakfast and dinner will add another 250 Rs per day to your expenses, including plenty of chai and bottled water throughout the day.
There are several other homestays, including La Maison de Anand, which starts at 500 Rs per hut.
And there you have it, a quick guide on getting from Sivsagar to Jorhat to Majuli island in Assam, India. Let us know in the comments if anything changes.
Very helpful! I am a solo female traveller in the NE at the moment and your NE guides are the most helpful on the Internet or in print. Also your photos are lovely what camera and lens did you use?
Thanks