Home to tea plantations,silk bazar and Kamakhya Temple, Assam is a mesmerising northeastern state of India. Filled with diverse tribes, unique tradition, culture, dress, rich wildlife and gleaming beauty, it is heaven for nature lovers. One of the state’s most crowning glory is Kaziranga National Park with abundant wildlife, flora and fauna and natural beauty. It is the best place to see the untouched beauty of wildlife and nature. Plan your weekend to visit one of the best wildlife destinations in India.
Kaziranga National Park
Providing shelter to many wildlife animals, exotic birds, tropical trees and not to mention beautiful plains, Kaziranga National Park is among the top ten national parks in India and is rich in abundant flora and fauna. This untouched nature’s beauty is situated on the northern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra river covering an area of 430 sq km in the district of Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon, placing it roughly in the centre of the state and is surrounded by tea estate with abiding tea gardens. The national park is famous among wildlife journalists and photographers. This is one of the top most visited national parks among the tourists in the country.
Why is Kaziranga National Park Famous?
Kaziranga is one of the splendid wildlife refuges in the world. This park is famous for being adobe to the largest population of endangered species- The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, is a World Heritage site. It is also known as “Rhino home” in the country. The One horned Rhino also known as Indian Rhino, has habitat which contains wetlands and grasslands located in the headlands of Himalayas, Ganges and The Brahmaputra Valley. They are great swimmers and have an incredible sense of hearing and smell but their eyesight is extremely poor.
The national park is very famous for the conservation of One-horned Rhino which is itself a glorious conservation achievement. It hosts two-thirds of the world’s population of great Indian rhinoceros. Indian One-horned Rhino is the main rich jewel of this national park as it provides the natural view of these rhinoceros.
Apart from one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga is famous for being a haven to the Indian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Eastern Swamp Deer(also famously known as Barasingha) and Wild Water Buffalo. grey pelicans, Indian Hornbill etc. It is valued worldwide for its sight of rare wildlife and also for its vast scenic landscapes. The park is applauded as the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Assam, India.
Flora and Fauna found in Kaziranga National Park
Ample amount of vegetation, different types of birds and a wide variety of flora and fauna thrive in this park. Kaziranga is also adobe to 55 species of mammals, out of which some are endangered. Some of the mammals found here are Indian Leopard, Indian Wild Boar, Bengal Fox, Fishing Cat, Chinese Pangolin, Sambar, Indian Muntjac, Hog Deer, Sloth Bear and Hoolock Gibbon etc. The park has several species of snakes like King Cobra, Rock Python and Indian Python and also of vultures.
Birds who come under the category of globally threatened species are found here in a wide range. Birds like Black-Necked Stork, Greater White Fronted Goose, Grey Pelicans, Indian Hornbill etc can be found in the park and it is a very popular migratory location for the birds who fly down from the north.
Kaziranga National Park is also officially a Tiger Reserve and is home to one of the world’s largest populations of tigers which are protected here.. This National Park receives a massive amount of rainfall every year around July to September and is illustrated by marshlands, tropical broadleaf forest and leggy elephant grass.
Things to do in Kaziranga National Park
- When the season opens for tourists, Jeep safari can be taken during the daytime and night to see the rare sight of Bengal Tigers, Swamp Deers and other endangered species.
- Scenic views of the wetland in Kaziranga National Park can be enjoyed on the back of Elephants. Elephant safari is a fun, thrilling and exciting way to see the wildlife of the reserve forest.
- Migrated and threatened species of birds can be watched through binoculars soothing your ears with the chirpings in the grassland. Birdwatching is a popular activity among the tourists.
- Don’t forget to take in the sights of incredibly rare orchids in Kaziranga National Orchid Park, which has around 500 species of colourful orchids.
- While you are exploring the reserve forest, take your time to go out and explore the lush green tea gardens and the beautiful tribal villages nearby.
How to reach Kaziranga National Park?
The National Parkcan be easily accessed by the roadways, but by the railways and air one can reach the nearest point from the forest. One should know the railways, road and air connectivity to reach the Kaziranga reserve forest easily. Below are the ways you can easily reach the park.
By Air
The nearest airport to reach Kaziranga is Guwahati International Airport (217km) and Jorhat Airport (96km). At the airport, hire a taxi and cab to the Kaziranga National Park and at the same time enjoy the scenic view while travelling.
By Rail
The nearest railhead to Kaziranga is Helem railway station (30km), Jorhat railway station (90km) and Furkating railway station (75km). These railheads are connected with cities like Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi The nearest major railhead is Guwahati, which is connected by many trains to major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai etc. After reaching the stations, you can use the bus service or hire a private taxi or cab.
By Road
The National park’s main entry is in the small town Kohora which lies on National Highway (NH) 37. Kohora bus stop is the nearest to Kaziranga. Being located in this town, the park has connectivity to the major cities of Assam. Buses operate from Guwahati, Tezpur etc to Kohora to visit the park.
Best Season to visit Kaziranga National Park?
Kaziranga experiences tropical climate alot, so the best time to visit the wildlife of the national park is November to April as it remains open during these months . We have categorised the best seasons to visit the park.
Spring Season
The Spring season in Kaziranga starts from the month of March and ends during the month of May. May is said to be the hottest month in the place. During this season, the weather is moderate, it’s hot during the daytime but cools down as the day descends. The tourist activity increases during this season as the weather is pleasant and lovely to visit. You can find most of the animals swarmed near lakes or ponds during this season as it’s hot during the day.
It’s best to avoid visiting Kaziranga National Park in the rainy season as the park is closed for tourism during this time. Due to the heavy rainfall, the forest land gets flooded due to rising water of Brahmaputra river as the forest area is spread around the Brahmaputra river floodplains.
Winter Season
Winter season Starts from the mid month of November and lasts till the month of February. It is the best season to visit the reserve forest with the weather being dry and mild. During this season, the weather is cold but not too harsh. Over the period of December and January, the forest gets very cold so, if you are visiting during these months make sure to pack warm clothes and other necessary items to keep warm. This season is also best to watch birds in the reserve forest.
For those who want to avoid the cold weather, the best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park is April, November and February but those who just love cold and chilly weather can visit around December and January.
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