Is Majuli the world’s largest river island? Here’s the real story behind the claim, how the island formed, and why it’s shrinking every year.
Majuli is widely called “the world’s largest river island,” and you’ll see this claim on nearly every travel site. Here’s what’s actually true — and what’s more nuanced.
Where the Claim Comes From:
Majuli was formally recognized in 2016 by Assam’s government and widely reported in Indian media as the world’s largest river island, based on its size at the time — around 350 sq km in earlier records, though the island has shrunk considerably since.
The Catch: Majuli Is Shrinking:
Unlike islands formed from solid bedrock, Majuli is composed of silt and sand deposited by the Brahmaputra over centuries. That same river is now eroding it. Studies have tracked the island’s area shrinking from an estimated 1,250 sq km in the early 1900s to a fraction of that today, with some sources citing current size around 350 sq km — and continuing to shrink with each monsoon.
This means any “largest in the world” ranking is a moving target, and depends on what year’s measurement you’re comparing against.
So Is the Claim True?
It’s reasonable to call Majuli among the largest river islands in the world, even if the exact “largest” title is debated among geographers depending on measurement year and criteria. What’s undisputed is that it’s one of the most ecologically and culturally significant river islands anywhere — home to centuries-old Vaishnavite monasteries and indigenous Mising culture found nowhere else.
Why This Matters for Your Visit:
The erosion isn’t just a statistic — entire villages and satras have had to relocate in past decades. Visiting Majuli now means seeing a landscape and culture that may look different, or be in a different location entirely, within your lifetime.
See It While You Can
Our tours work directly with satras and villages that have been most affected by erosion — a chance to understand Majuli’s story, not just its scenery.
Explore our cultural tours:
