Teeming with verdant vegetation, unique bird species and cascading waterfalls, river islands in India offer an idyllic escape from the hustle of everyday life. We’ve rounded up a list of a few that you should canoe around. By Eshita Srinivas
India’s diverse topography is home to over a thousand isles, many uninhabited and underexplored. Island hopping has increasingly become a common travel experience in the country, featuring in the itineraries of seaside vacations in Goa and Andaman and Nicobar. That said, several freshwater islets are just as stunning as their saltwater counterparts. Often formed when large rivers cut through hills or masses of land, these are known to have fertile soils. Many house migratory birds, waterfalls, and cultural sites, offering a laid back, serene atmosphere for canoeing, swimming, and trekking. Some also have delectable local food and drinks that are a must-try. And while some river islands like Majuli, one of the world’s largest, are quite popular amongst travellers, others are highly underrated. If you’re down to explore these fascinating aspects of geography, we’ve rounded up a list of places that deserve a spot on your travel to-do lists.
Stunning river islands in India to add to your bucket list
Majuli
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Nestled amidst the Brahmaputra river, Majuli is currently the largest river island in India. It also happens to be one of the largest in the world. It has an expansive green cover, featuring rice fields, hyacinth blossoms, and bamboo, amongst other varieties of flora. Home to a large tribal population, Majuli hosts several cultural festivals, the most popular being Raas Lila which involves performing under the full moon during the autumn season. Many of these tribes, Deori, Mishing, and Sonowal Kachri, have been working towards preserving their land, which faces consistent erosion from the river. This gave birth to the Mulai Reserve, which spans 1,000 hectares. Majuli is frequented by several species of birds throughout the year. While here, go on a boat ride around the rice fields, buy local handicrafts, and indulge in bird watching.
Best time to visit: September-February
Dibru Saikhowa
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Located at the confluence of Siang, Dibang, and Lohit rivers, a unique junction near the borders of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve is known to be the second largest river island national park in the world. It’s marked by tropical semi-green forests, moist evergreen forests, grasslands, and the largest salix swamp forest in Northeast India. It houses several rare, endangered, and unique species of fauna, including white-winged wood ducks, South Asian river dolphins, and feral horses. It also has a considerable population of sloth bears, Indian civet, Hoolock gibbon, hog deer, and barking deer. There’s also a large tribal population in the villages of Dodhia and Lyka. Spending a day exploring the reserve through treks and boat safaris and staying the night at a houseboat nearby comes highly recommended.
Best time to visit: November-April
Munroe Island
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A stunning backwater destination, located at the confluence of the Kallada river and Astamudi lake, Munroe island is a group of eight small islets. The place hosts the Kallanda Boat race every Onam and is best known for hosting houseboat cruises. While there are a few churches and museums to explore here, popular activities include canoeing through narrow canals, passing by mangrove forests and low-lying bridges, and taking long walks by the river. The stunning, underrated place is rightfully known as the Hidden Venice of India and is preferred over the more popular Alleppey by experienced backpackers from around the world.
Best time to visit: October-February
Chorao Island
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River Mandovi is home to this island that’s quite close to Panaji, the capital of Goa. Known to be one of Goa’s best-kept secrets, the island features mangrove forests and Portuguese architecture. The only way to get here is to hop on a ferry from the outskirts of Panjim, with many heading to the spot every few minutes. The main attraction of this region is the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, home to pintail ducks, kingfishers, cormorants, sandpipers, and a host of migratory birds. Boating through the mangrove forests also comes highly recommended. While here, you could attend workshops on making feni and urrack, local alcoholic beverages. There are churches, manors, and temples you could drop by as well.
Best time to visit: November-February
Umananda Island
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The smallest inhabited islet in the Brahmaputra, Umananda island is also known as Peacock Island. Not far from the city of Guwahati, many people visit this island to head to the temple dedicated to the deity Shiva and the region is known to be one of five pilgrimage centres of Kamrup, preceding a visit to the popular Kamakhya temple. Other travellers throng to the region to spot the elusive and endangered golden langurs, whose population has been rising steadily over the past few years. There are a few stunning parks worth strolling through as well.
Best time to visit: October-March
Divar Island
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Located in the Mandovi river and a sister island to Chorao, Divar island is a highly underrated travel destination. Surrounded by dense woods and dotted with vintage Portuguese-style houses, the island sees visitors primarily during two popular festivals, namely Bonderam and Potekar. The former takes place on the fourth Saturday of August and is a carnival where locals of the village bring out their floats and host a parade. The latter, celebrated three days before Lent, is a lot like Halloween and includes wearing handmade masks and bells. While here, take long walks exploring the island, taking in the beauty of the paddy fields, and sampling tea from its many street-side spots. Stop by the Sao Mathias Church, a 400-year old structure and spend time at the ruins of the Kadamba Dynasty in Piedade.
Best time to visit: October-February
Srirangam
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Located at the confluence of the Kollidam and Cauvery rivers, Srirangam is unique in the sense that, unlike other river islands on this list, it is well frequented. In part, this is due to the fact that it is home to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, which won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Merit in 2017 for cultural heritage conservation and is the largest temple complex in India. There are several other temples and shrines dotted around the island. If you enjoy history, architecture, and spiritual destinations that come with stunning views of serene waters, head here.
Best time to visit: October-January
Nongkhnum Island
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Surrounded by breathtaking waterfalls, Nongkhnum is one of the largest fluvial islands in the country. Housed in Meghalaya’s largest river, Kynshi, this geographical marvel offers a host of photo opportunities. Trek through its lush landscapes, go camping to watch the starry skies at night or hop on a boat to familiarise yourself with its serene waters. A visit to the Weina, Thum, and Langshiang waterfalls comes highly recommended. It also hosts the annual Nongkhnum festival, which features traditional dances, local food booths, and bamboo-climbing competitions. This is not just one of the most stunning river islands in Meghalaya, but also India.
Best time to visit: November-February
Bhavani Island
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A 130-acre island in the Krishna river, Bhavani island is frequented by locals in Vijayawada for a laidback getaway. You could spend a weekend here dawdling by the river banks, watching seagulls look for their next meal, enjoying a picnic with loved ones, or challenging yourself to a few water sports. You could also hop on a boat and explore mangrove forests here. This spot might be underrated, but is one of the most picturesque river islands in India. Do shop for local handicrafts while you’re here.
Best time to visit: October-March
Feature and hero image: @vikaskapoor.aod/Instagram
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