The Molai Forest is situated in Assam India, to the north of the city of Jorhat, India. It lies along the Brahmaputra river, the tenth largest river in the world by discharge. The Brahmaputra River begins in Tibet, and spans as wide as 20km in Assam, where it braids and divides, forming river islands such as the Majuli Island.

During spring, when snow in the Himalayas melts, flooding often occurs along the Brahmaputra River. Occasional flooding does have an ecological benefit, as it facilitates the deposition of alluvium in the Brahmaputra valley and helps maintain the grasslands in low-lying areas. However, as human activity exacerbates flooding in the region, the resulting damage to local populations and environments have begun to outweigh these benefits.