Kaziranga national park is an UNESCO World heritage site in
Assam, about 430 square km and house of
many wildlife. Specifically it ranges from over 40 kilometers or 25 miles in
length and 13 kilometre which is about 8 miles across. It is situated in the
state of Assam which is located in the north eastern part of India. This park
is known for housing various animals such as the one-horned rhinos and Indian
tigers.
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| Kaziranga National park, Assam |
Due to its large rhino population it is known to have around
two thirds of the entire world’s rhinos residing here. It is also a Tiger
reserve for the tigers it houses. Its terrain is swampy with occasional grass
patches making it perfect for a rhino habitat. There are around forty more
mammals that can be found such as the wild elephants, buffaloes, monkeys,
deers, otters, badgers and wild boards. Apart from animals it has a large
variety of birds that can be found here. Due to the migratory nature of such
birds a lot of species fly from as far was Siberia to rest here.
The initiation of this park was done in June 1905 where the
area was a measly 232 square kilometers. Over the years the area was extended
until it reached the banks of the river Brahmaputra. It passed through various
stages such as a Reserve Forest in 1908. Soon enough it was transformed into a
game sanctuary in around 1916. Later after several laws came into place it was
prohibited to hunt in the area. Visitors were however allowed to enter the park
around 1938. Due to the deteriorating nature of the rhinos, the government of
Assam passed a Bill in 1945 which banned the poaching of rhinos. This bill was
passed in 1945 and non compliance led to heavy penalties. In 1968, they passed
another act which renamed it to a designated national park under the Assam
National Park Act. Finally in 1985 it was declared as a World Heritage site by
UNESCO.
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| One Horned Rhino at Kaziranga |
The location of Kaziranga can be accessed from either Guwhati,
Jorhat or Furkating. The main entrance is located on the Kohora National
Highway 37. This stop also has a booking and tourist helpdesk on it. Buses from
the neighbouring towns ply to and fro to the park. Due to its large nature it
is divided into four zones: Central (Kazaringa), Western (Baguri), Eastern
(Agoratuli), and Burhapahar. Each range has its own specialty. The most popular
one is the Central that is accessible from the kohora. The western range is
located half an hour away with the highest population of rhinos. It is also the
shortest range, however has perfect rhino and buffalo sightings. The eastern
range is the longest and is located around 45 minutes away. The highlight of
this range is the bird watching facilities.
You can either fly to Guwhati or jorhat and then drive to
the Park. It is about 6 hours away from Guwhati and 2 hours from Jorhat. There
are private as well as public transportation modes available. Depending upon
your hotel you may even have pick up and drop facilities. If you want to travel
by rail you may choose to depart at Jakhalabandha or Furkating. The journey may
cost around 300-2500 rupees depending upon your mode of transportation. Its
opening season lasts from November to April every year. However the best time
to visit is undoubtedly between February and march as the heavy tourist season
gets over.
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| Kaziranga Wildlife |
Due to a large tourist rush visiting the park in peak season
may not provide you with the best experience that it can. Also February is host
to the that lasts about a week. The weather is slightly hot towards the summer
however remains cold at all other times. They have facilities for jeep and
elephant safaris all throughout as well as boat rides which can be availed of
from the north eastern section of the park.
The best area to hop onto an elephant safari is the central
region. This is due to the involvement of the Government in the activity. It
should be kept in mind that booking for all activities should be made prior at
the tourist complex to ensure minimum waiting time. Other ranges offer the
service but they are known to cut your time short in order to make more profits
from more customers.The safari is the perfect method for viewing the rhinos up
close.
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| feeding baby rhino |
The perfect time for a safari is barring the first rides as
they are hampered by the thick fog as well as the sunrise effects upon your
viewing.The elephants travel in groups and surround the rhinos who remain
unaffected by the regular presence of the animals. If you can find a forest
official to accompany you, they shall allow you to drive your own vehicle in
the park. The elephant safaris last for about an hour and the timings are from
5.30am-7.30am as well as 3pm-4pm. The jeep safaris function from 7.30am-11am
and 2pm-4.30pm.
Hiking is however not allowed due to the wild nature of the
animals. However visitors can make avail of the observation towers which are
located at certain points to observe the beauty from a distance with a view.
For more information an interpretation center is set up at the Bangor range.
They have enough data to answer any question the visitor may have about the
park. It is suggested that you carry a binocular for better viewing experience
along with you.
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| baby rhino with mom |
The entry fees for this park is not limited to entry itself.
It provides other things such as park entry, vehicle entry, jeep hire, elephant
safari, camera and armed guard accompaniment fees. So that all the aspects are
seen to and covered in it. For Indians the fees are a meager 50 rupees however
they are 250 rupees for foreign nationals. The jeep hire fee however is
fluctuating upon the hotel and zone of visit. It is usually ranging from
1000-2000 rupees per jeep. The elephant safari is 280 and 750 rupees for
Indians and foreigners respectively.
The armed guard however charges 50 rupees and taking your
own vehicle inside is 200 rupees which is a cheaper option as opposed to the
jeep. The camera prices depend upon the type still or video camera and also the
nationality. The prices go from 50 rupees to as high as 1000 rupees. For stay
you can choose any of the luxurious or budget hotels situated around the park.
The budget rooms range from 1000 rupees and the deluxe rooms are 3000 rupees
and above. They have air conditioning facilities as well as 24 hours coffee
shops.
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| Prashanti Cottage, Kaziranga |
You can also stay in one of the luxurious suites that cost
around 5000 rupees. Such hotels ensure royal treatment and have splendid view
of the sanctuary along with other basic requirements such as pool, bar, health
club etc. The park is therefore the perfect place to go to to get in touch with
the wild side as well as embrace nature during your summer vacation.
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