Nearest Access : Bokakhat
Main Wildlife Found : Rhinos, Tigers, Leopards
Coverage Area : 430-sq-kms
Kaziranga National Park in Assam has to be the most beautiful and attractive place you can choose to visit in north-eastern India. An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga's 470 sq kms of lush green flood plains is home to some of the most fascinating wildlife in Asia.
The Burma Monsoon Forests of Kaziranga lies in the flood plains of the mighty Brahmaputra river at an altitude of 50 -80m . The habitat consists primarily of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with cane brakes, open woodlands, interconnecting streams and numerous lakes or 'beels'. The three primary types of vegetation are alluvial grasslands, tropical wet semi-evergreen and evergreen forests.
The Park is divided into four ranges. The Agoratoli range covers the eastern part and covers woodland interspersed with grassland and water-bodies. The Kohora range covers the central part and is the most easily accessible from the range office at Kohora. The Baguri range covers the western part of the Park and has the highest rhinoceros density. Burhapahar, 4th range, covers the first additional area attached to the Park.
Park Speciality -One Horned Rhinos
Kaziranga National Park is the only national park reserve in India where the rhinoceros can be seen in its natural habitat for Rhinos. One Horned Rhinos Internationally known as Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros is heavily built beast of mammoth proportions, next to the Indian Elephant. It is the largest of the three Asian rhinos. It has single distinctive black horn about 50 cm 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. These rhinos basically prefers living in tall grassland and riverine forests but now a days they are forced to live in a cultivated land. Unlike elephants who always move in a herd, rhinos are ascetic animal with the exception on the breeding session. Although they sometimes get together at bathing areas. Rhinos are herbivores and grazes on grasses, leaves, aquatic plants and fruits. They generally eat during dawn and evening with help of their prehensile lip to grip grass stems. Interestingly, rhinos are "landscape architects" of their habitat. It take rhino more than three days to digest a meal therefore, whatever seed they eat, it can be transported to significant distance before they are deposited in droppings. Conservation of rhinos is a success story but they are in demand for the mythical aphrodisiac properties of its horn. After the successful effort of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), the waning population of rhino began to gradually increase. Also WWF(World Wide Fund) is working both in India and Nepal to conserve this species. Translocation Projects are under operation, and the survival of the rhinos at all odds is the final goal. The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros can be found in the national reserves of Kaziranga, Manas and Jaldapara.
Vegetation: Wet savanna grassland covers 65 - 70% of Kaziranga. The grassland comprises of tall elephant-grass, chief amongst which are Erianthus ravannae, Phragmites karka, Arundo donax, Saccharum elephantinus, Saccharum arundinaceum, Imperata cylindrica and Poinia ciliata. The forested portions consist of species such as Bombax ceiba, Albizzia odorotissima, Carreya arborea, Lagerstromia parviflora, Dillenia pentagyna and Zizyphus jujuba.
Fauna: Everything about Kaziranga is large. From 5 meter tall elephant-grass to Greater Adjutants, Bengal Floricans, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Black-necked Storks, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and Asian Elephants, size dominates the vast grasslands. The rarity and restricted range of most of these giants adds to the excitement and experience.
Birds: Kaziranga is a birding paradise with a checklist of almost 500 species. Key species include Swamp Francolin, Pale-capped Pigeon, Bengal Florican, Great and Wreathed Hornbill, Jerdon's Baza, Slender-billed Vulture, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle , Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Pied Harrier, Pied Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Black-necked Stork, Greater Adjutant, Hodgson’s Bushchat, White-vented Myna, Rufous-vented Prinia , Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Finn’s Weaver . There is a breeding colony of Spot-billed Pelicans near Koladuar in the Agoratoli area.
Mammals and reptiles: Kaziranga is popularly known as the home of the "Big Five" - the elephant, rhinoceros, wild buffalo, tiger and Swamp Deer. A total of 52 mammalian species has been recorded in the Park itself and include such rarities like Gangetic Dolphin, Chinese Pangolin, Hoolock Gibbon, Hog-Badger and Parti-coloured Flying Squirrel. 39 reptiles make the list and include the endangered Gharial and the rare Assam Roofed Turtle. Both the Reticulated and Rock Pythons occur in the area.
Where to stay: Wild Grass Lodge is strongly recommended. I stayed with them on 2 recent visits and could not have asked for more. They arrange for everything and can provide top class forest guides. Tel no. 91-3776-2662011, 91-3776-2662085.
Forest Dept. run Tourist Bungalows are also available and should be booked in advance. The Arayan Lodge (91-3776-2662423) and Bonani Lodge ( 91-3776-2662444) will provide comfortable quarters.
How to Get there
Air : The nearest airport is situated at Guwahati, which is 217-km away from the park. The other airport is located at Jorhat, 97-km from Kaziranga.
Rail : The nearest railhead is Furkating, situated 75-km away from Kaziranga National Park.
Road : The main gate for Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary, at Kohora on the NH-37, consists of a handful of cafes and a small local market. ASTC and private buses stop here on their way to and from Guwahati, Tezpur and Upper Assam. Some private buses also retain a seat quota for Kaziranga passengers.
General Info / Tips
Reservation Authority :Joint Director of Tourism, Kaziranga, P.O Kaziranga National Park, District Jorhat, Assam - 785612
Best Season:
November to April. The Park is generally closed between May and October. Temperatures range from 80c in winter to 380C in summer.
Tips:
1) Elephant rides are available between 5.00am and 6.00am from Kohora. One ride is recommended to get a feel of the place and, if lucky, to get up close to the Bengal Florican, an endangered rarity.
2) Four-wheel drive vehicles are available for hire to tour the 3 ranges. The Eastern Range is about 30 kms from Kohora. Factor in the travel time plus the fact that this is the longest trip inside the forest before you set off. The Western range is the shortest circuit but great for rhinos and buffalos.
3) Walking is not permitted in the Park area. Given the number of potentially dangerous mammals found in the area it is a foolhardy risk.
4) The Panbari Reserve Forest on the south of National Highway 37 is a great place to see some woodland rarities. Birds like Asian Fairy Bluebird, Pale-capped Pigeon, Pied Falconet, Sultan Tit and Silver-breasted Broadbill are relatively easy to find here. A lone male Hoolock is also a star attraction as are the Capped Langurs.
5) The tea gardens near Panbari are a good place to look for Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush and White-browed Scimitar Babblers.
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