Location : Assam
Major Attractions : Rhino, Tiger
Best time to Visit : November to March
About Kaziranga National Park
The
one horned Indian Rhino is one of the largest and most fierce bovine on the
planet. With a population of more than one thousand, Kaziranga National Park
in the north eastern state of Assam has the largest concentration of these
mammoth animals. A few years back, the rhino was in danger of getting
extinct, when the authorities at Kaziranga took initiative and transported a
few animals from nearby areas. The result has been impressive and since the
time there has been a steady growth in the number of these endangered
animals. Other animals found in the region include elephants, tigers and
wild boars.
Spread over an area of 430 sq. km, Kaziranga was declared a protective
region in 1926. The mighty Brahmaputra river, which flows along the southern
boundaries of the park, provides a perennial source of water for the
vegetation of the park, which mainly consists of tall patches of elephant
grass and evergreen forests. The marshy areas provide ideal breeding grounds
for a number of resident and migratory birds.
Wildlife Attractions in Kaziranga National Park
The mammoth one horned rhino is the most popular resident of Kaziranga,
besides around 15 other mammalian species listed as threatened. The rhino is
a peace loving animal which is not agitated by the presence of tourists and
keeps itself busy grazing in the wild while you can take a closer look at
this beautiful creature. Other animals commonly spotted at Kaziranga include
the barasingha, wild boar, hoolock gibbons, buffaloes and a few other
reptile species, often spotted basking under the sun on rocks.
Numerous water bodies criss
crossing the park have played a vital role in attracting birds and made
Kaziranga an ornithologist's delight with over 200 species of registered
bird species, some residents while others migratory. Some of the famed
avifaunal residents of the park include the grey pelican, lesser adjutant
stork, grey headed fish eagle, swamp partridge, great pied hornbill and
numerous other colorful avians.
Kaziranga with its acres of open areas makes it one of the best places to
observe wild animals. Elephant safaris let the tourists observe animals from
close quarters. Jeep safaris are also available, which let the tourists dig
deep into the thickly wooded areas of the jungle.
Stay At
Kaziranga National Park in the north eastern state of Assam is known for
the largest population of the one horned Indian Rhino. Numerous tourists
throng this wild habitat each year to catch a glimpse of this mammoth
bovine. A number of hotels and resorts have sprung up all over the area to
cater to the needs of the tourists, the prominent ones being the Wild Grass
Lodge (located just outside the park, the resort offers 18 double rooms in 2
lodges), Aranya Tourist Lodge (situated 3 km from the park, it offers 20
rooms and 4 cottages), Soil Inspection Bungalow (located on Kohora river, 1
km from the park) and GL Resort (the luxury resort offers 18 air conditioned
cottages).
Getting There
By Air : Jorhat, situated at a distance of 96 km is the
nearest airport, connected through a daily Indian Airlines flight from
Calcutta. Calcutta is further connected to most of the major Indian cities
as well as a few International destinations. Guwahati, as a distance of 230
km is another airport located nearby which is directly connected to most of
the Indian cities.
By Rail : The nearest railhead is located at Furkating,
at a distance of 75 km from Kaziranga. Furkating is connected to Delhi and
Chennai through daily trains.
By Road : Assam Road Transport Corporation operates
regular buses to Kohora (5 km from the entry gate to the park) from all the
neighbouring cities including Guwahati, Jorhat and Furkating.
Important Information for Visitors
- Park entry fee is Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.
- Park timings are 7:30 AM to 4 PM.
- Jeep safari timings are 7:30 to 9:30 AM and 2 to 3:30 PM
- Elephant safari timings are 5 to 6 AM and 6 to 7 PM.
- It is advised to reach the park half an hour before the entry gates
open to complete the required formalities.
