Kaziranga National Park is located 217km to the east of Guwahati, in the heart of
Assam on the bank of the majestic Brahmaputra. It set
against a backdrop of hills
like the Mikir and Karbi Anglong.
In 1940, the Kaziranga National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary
due to countless
poaching of this ancient survivor for the mythical aphrodisiac properties of its
horn. The main attractions are Elephant Safari and One-Horned Rhino.
The landscape consists of a land quite all over the park covering an area of approximately
430sq kms, mostly covered by dense and tall elephant grasses which are intermixed
by small wetlands left behind by the receding floodwaters of the Brahmaputra river
making it the most ideal habitat for the one-horned rhinoceros and other mammals
wildlife.
The flora with the picturesque wetland has an abundant of water lilies, waterhyacinth
and lotus. However the vegetation that breaks the monotony of these grasslands are
large clumps of semi-evergreen forest, mostly covered with elephant size grass.
The fauna includes Indian One-horned Rhinos, tigers, leopards, elephants, barasingha
or swamp deer, barking deer, wild boar, para or hog deer, bison, sambar, leopard
cats, otters, hoolock gibbons, golden langurs, wild buffaloes, slow loris, pygmy
hog, capped langur and bears.
Kaziranga National Park
The great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros population is over a thousand and is the
largest concentration in the subcontinent. They are animals of mammoth proportions,
next to Indian elephant with a particular distinctive black horn about 50cm long
and grey brown hide with skin folds which give it an armor-plated image. Male are
distinguish from female for their enormous development of the neck folds and semi-prehensile
upper lips. They live in tall grassland and riverine forests, although nowadays
they must to live in a cultivated land too. Rhinos are herbivores and grazes on
grasses, leaves, aquatic plants and fruits. Sometimes they get together at bathing
areas but in general they are ascetic animals with exception on the breeding session,
unlike elephants that always move in a herd.
After the successful effort of many
foundations, the waning population of rhinos began to gradually increase and the
conservation is a success story. The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found in the national reserves of Kaziranga, Manas and Jaldapara.
The abundant bird life includes egrets, herons, storks and a grey pelican colony
settled among the red cotton trees. Although the crested serpent eagle, swamp partridge,
red jungle fowl, Bengal florican, bar headed goose, whistling teal, and ducks are
among the major number of bird varieties visible in the park. However, wild animals
are under increasing threat because the domestic cattle encroaching upon the sanctuary
and introducing epidemics.
The reptiles include rock phytons and many more varieties of snakes, monitor lizards
and turtle are abundant in the park.
There are two available modes of transport in a trip within the Kaziranga National
Park: elephant rides and jeep safaris.
A ride on the elephant’s back could be the
best experience to see rhinoceroses. During around last one hour, visitors traveling
in a three or four kilometres circle, must be booked at the park offices in Kohora
the previous evening. Although jeeps penetrate deeper into forests than elephants,
they cannot get nearly as close to the wild animals, and can be booked at the various
lodges and through local operators.
The best time to visit is mid November to early April. During the monsoons, the
animals migrate from one area to another within the park. Often deer and even leopard
cross the main road, heading for the hills until the water recedes.
Visitors can to get there by air Assam has two airports at Guwahati and Jorhat;
by rail throughout the railhead, Furkating; by road, the main gate for Kaziranga,
at Kohora on the NH37. The majority of accommodation facilities
are along this road,
with a variety to choose from forest rest houses, bungalows, lodges and hotels.
People must to book with anticipation because the demand is more than the supply.