Kaziranga National Park - Home of one horned Rhino
Kaziranga National Park, the home-land of one-horned rhinoceros and many endangered species. It is known for its mesmerizing beauty and offers an unforgettable experience where wildlife can be seen in their natural habitat roaming fearlessly.
The State Government of Assam passed the National Park Act in 1968 declaring Kaziranga as National Park and got its approval from the Central Government in 1974.
It is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its distinctive ecosystem. In 2006, it is also designated as Tiger Reserve due to the increase in the population of the tiger in the reserve. According to the latest census, it has a population of about 118 tigers.
The area of the Kaziranga national park is about 430 square meters which are divided into four zones-Mihimukh in Central Zone in Kohra, Bagori in the western zone at Bagori, Agoratoli in the Eastern zone at Agaratoli, and Ghorakati in Burapahar zone at Ghorakati.
It is the pride of India as the National Park is the horde for 1/3rd of the world’s population of endangered one-horned rhinoceros and habitat of numerous endangered species.
It is a tropical moist broadleaf forest. The Brahmaputra River encircles the park making the soil fertile for the growth of unique species of flora which makes it an attraction for tourists to visit from all over the world.
Where is Kaziranga national park located?
It is located in the heart of Assam in the districts of Golaghat and Nagaon. This attractive sanctuary was created back in 1905 by Mary Curzon after visiting it. In 1908, Kaziranga was established as a "Reserve Forest".
Kaziranga national park is famous for?
The Kaziranga National park is famous for endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Species like Indian Elephant, Wild water buffalo, Hoolock Gibbon, Leopard, Sloth Bear, swamp deer, swamp Francolin, etc. can also be found. Though Indian tigers are rare to sight through the tall grass if one is lucky enough can come across through the tour.
Best time to visit Kaziranga national park
The best time to visit Kaziranga is during the month of November till April as it is winter and dry during this period one can explore the Park without much difficulty. The park is closed during monsoon i.e. May to October as it suffers from the overflow of the Brahmaputra River. Every year Kaziranga suffers from floods affecting the species of the area.
Kaziranga national park Safari
Tourists can avail of two types of safari according to convenience.
Jeep Safari in Kaziranga:
In this one can look around by hiring a jeep which the park authorities will organize for them. Through jeep, you have to follow the road and one cannot enter dense forests. The time schedule for jeep safari is –
• Morning Jeep Safari: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
• Afternoon Jeep Safari: 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM
Elephant Safari in Kaziranga
In this safari, one can visit the jungles also where jeep cannot reach. One can avail Elephant Safari in Kaziranga only in the morning time i.e. 5:30 AM/6:30 AM/7:30 AM. but have to pre-book it. Elephant safari is available only in two zones i.e. Central zone at Kohra and the western zone at Bagori.
How to reach Kaziranga National Park?
One can reach the Kaziranga National Park by air, road, and railway.
• By Air:
There are two nearby airports to the National Park one is Guwahati International Airport which is 217 km and Jorhat Airport located at a distance of 97 km.
Though Jorhat Airport is the closest airport it is suggested to come through Guwahati Airport as it is more convenient. Tourists can also deplane at Tezpur Airport which is 59.9km from the Kaziranga National Park.
• By Rail: The nearest railway station is the Furkating Junction railway station which is a two-hour drive from Kaziranga National Park.
• By Road: One can also travel by road from Guwahati or Jorhat as cabs and buses are available to reach the park.
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You can also visit places
Manas National Park: It is the biodiversity hotspot situated at the foothills of Bhutan-Himalayas in Assam. It is one of the Tiger Reserves found in India. It is a habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
It has an area of 950 Square kilometers. It was declared as a World Heritage site in 1985. It is known for its rich biodiversity, unique environment and can site many endangered species. It is about 176 km from Guwahati by road.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park: This National Park is located in the districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia at the south bank of Brahmaputra River. It was established in 1999 and has an area of 349 square kilometers. It is famous for feral horses and rare white-winged wood ducks.
Nameri National Park: In 1998 a sanctuary was established in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in the district of Sonitpur in Assam named Nameri National Park. It has an area of 200 square kilometers.
It is known as the paradise of birds with more than 300 species and is enchanted with the beautiful winged butterflies. It is the habitat of the rarest species white-winged duck. Every winter two migratory birds i.e. Ibisbill and Merganser visit the Park.