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Majuli: Majuli, globally known for its satras, Vaishnavite heritage and riverine beauty, has now entered Assam’s tea map with the island’s first registered tea garden.
Brothers Dulal Saikia and Tilak Saikia, founders of Chenimai Tea Garden, have successfully introduced tea cultivation in the world’s largest inhabited river island an idea once dismissed because of Majuli’s sandy terrain and flood-prone geography.
Determined to test the possibility scientifically, the duo conducted soil analysis through Assam Agricultural University in Jorhat. The findings revealed that beneath the sandy surface, Majuli’s clay-rich soil could support tea cultivation.
Encouraged by the results, the brothers planted their first tea saplings on September 27, 2021, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Their vision combined agriculture with tourism, hoping to create a new identity for the island alongside its cultural legacy. Their efforts paid off in 2025 when the Tea Board of India officially recognised Chenimai Tea Garden as Majuli’s first registered tea estate.
“Many people believed tea could never grow in Majuli, but we wanted to challenge that assumption,” said Dulal Saikia. “This can encourage more farmers on the island to explore tea cultivation.”The brothers are now planning to expand the plantation and develop tourism-linked infrastructure around the estate.
The development marks a significant shift for Majuli, adding tea cultivation and potential tea tourism to its centuries-old cultural reputation.
