Area
: 688 sq. km/ 42,996 hectares. Established : 1926 as a reserve forest,
1940 as a wild life sanctuary,
1974 as a national park.
Description :
Kaziranga National Park lies to the south of
the mighty Brahmaputra river and being on the floodplains
is inundated heavily by the monsoon rains. The predominant
vegetation is a mixture of tall grasslands and riverine
forests. There are many marshes, interconnecting
streams and ox-bow lakes, known locally as 'bheels'
or 'bils'. To the south of the park lie the Mikir
Hills which rise to over 1,000 metres elevation.
Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary is famous for
its Indian Rhinoceros population which is estimated
at 1,100 + and is by far the best place to see them
in India. (this species in unique to the subcontinent,
with the second largest population of 400+ found
in Chitwan, Nepal). Other large mammals include
the Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer and Gangetic Dolphin.
The park may be explored by riding elephant or 4-wheel
drive motor vehicles. There are several watch towers.
The nearby Panbari Reserve Forest is the best place
to see the Hoolock Gibbon. Kaziranga national
park has a rich birdlife. There is a colony
of Spot-billed pelicans and the rare Bengal Floricans
inhabit the grasslands. This area is also known
for the famous Assam tea and during the winter and
spring it is worthwhile visiting the nearby tea
plantations to see tea leaves being picked and processed.
Season :
November-May; the best period being January-April
Access :
Drive to the park from Guwahati (219 km, 6 hours)
or Jorhat (96 km, 2 hours) airport accessible by
flights from Delhi and Calcutta respectively. The
nearest railway station is Jakhalabandha ( 43 km).
Nearby Attractions:
There are many places which can be visited while
you are staying at Kaziranga. The Kakochang
waterfalls is 13 kms from Bokakhat. Not far
from the park are the ruins of the ancient Numaligarh.
These ruins are of great archaeological importance.
The tea gardens of Hathkhuli, Methoni, Difalu, Behora
Borchapori are also other local attractions. Also
visit the coffee and rubber plantations behind the
tourist lodge.
Park visits:
The park can be visited on an Elephant back or in
a Jeep. There are trips covering Mihimukh, Baguri,
Hole path, Arimarah, Kohora Central path-Baguri
all areas teeming with wildlife-all authentically
wild.
Climate:
The climate of Kaziranga national park is
tropical. Summers are hot and winters cold. Take
cotton clothes for summers and do not forget to
pack woollens during winters. The average rainfall
is 160 cms. But the monsoon months bring heavy downpours
which often flood the park
Accommodation and facilities :
The Aranya Forest Lodge and two tourist lodges run
by the Assam government are 3 km from the park entrance
at Mihimukh. The Wild Grass Lodge is located a little
further. Riding elephants are available at the Mihimukh
entrance.
WILD GRASS LODGE - KAZIRANGA
With an accommodation of
21 rooms, Wild Grass Lodge is a private modern resort.
It is situated by a stream in the paddy fields and
forest. The lodge has the facility of arranging elephant
rides and walks through the forest and tea plantations.
There is wide range of accommodation facility at the
park. There are rest houses, dormitory and lodges
maintained by the forest department and the ITDC.
The forest department has two rest houses and one
dormitory. ITDC has three lodges, one dormitory and
two cottages. The lodges have A/C and non A/C rooms
furnished with modern accessories.
Suggested
Itinerary : Day 01 : Fly to Guwahati. Upon arrival in
Guwahati, met & transferred to Kaziranga
(250 km - 07 hrs driving time approx.). Later, check-in
to your hotel Wild Grass resort for five nights.
Overnight at the resort.
Day 02-05 : Enjoy your morning and afternoon
game drives along with an elephant ride in the
Kaziranga National Park. Overnight at the resort.
Day 06 : Morning depart by surface to Guwahati
airport. Fly to Delhi/ Calcutta. Arrive Delhi/ Calcutta.
Transfer to a hotel for day use. Later in the evening
transfer to the International airport to connect
your flight for your onward destination.
Eastern Himalayan Mangrove
Tigers Best time to visit - November to March
Day 1:: Arrive Delhi
Arrival in New Delhi before or after midnight. Overnight
in the hotel.
Day 2:: Delhi
Morning free. Afternoon guided tour of New Delhi.
Visit India Gate, drive past President House, Qutab
Minar & Humayun's tomb. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 3:: Delhi
Morning guided tour of old Delhi covering Red Fort,
Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat etc. After lunch go for shopping
or additional sight-seeing. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 4:: Delhi-Guwahati-Kaziranga
Fly Delhi-Guwahati in the morning and transfer to
Kaziranga National Park (4 hr.). In the evening
tribal or Bihu dance by log fire under bamboo grove
along with dinner. Overnight at Wild Grass Resort.
Suggested Itinerary : Day
01 : Fly to Guwahati. Upon arrival in Guwahati,
met & transferred to Kaziranga (250 km
- 07 hrs driving time approx.). Later, check-in to
your hotel Wild Grass resort for five nights. Overnight
at the resort.
Day 02-05 : Enjoy your
morning and afternoon game drives along with an elephant
ride in the Kaziranga National Park. Overnight
at the resort.
Day 06 : Morning depart
by surface to Guwahati airport. Fly to Delhi/ Calcutta.
Arrive Delhi/ Calcutta. Transfer to a hotel for day
use. Later in the evening transfer to the International
airport to connect your flight for your onward destination.
Eastern
Himalayan Mangrove Tigers Best time to visit - November to March
Day 1:: Arrive Delhi
Arrival in New Delhi before or after midnight. Overnight
in the hotel.
Day 2:: Delhi
Morning free. Afternoon guided tour of New Delhi.
Visit India Gate, drive past President House, Qutab
Minar & Humayun's tomb. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 3:: Delhi
Morning guided tour of old Delhi covering Red Fort,
Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat etc. After lunch go for shopping
or additional sight-seeing. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 4:: Delhi-Guwahati-Kaziranga
Fly Delhi-Guwahati in the morning and transfer to
Kaziranga National Park (4 hr.). In the evening
tribal or Bihu dance by log fire under bamboo grove
along with dinner. Overnight at Wild Grass Resort.
Day 5:: Kaziranga National Park
Wildlife viewing and nature watch in the park. Late
afternoon tribal village visit, Assamese village
visit to see silk worm rearing. Dinner and overnight
at Wild Grass.
Day 6:: Kaziranga National Park
Early morning visit to the National Park on elephants
(subject to availability). Late afternoon visit
to tea garden and tea factory. British Raj nostalgia
as dinner is served in a tea garden bungalow. Overnight
at Wild Grass.
Day 7:: Kaziranga-Guwahati-Bagdogra- Kalimpong
Drive to Guwahati to connect flight to Bagdogra
at noon. Arrive Bagdogra and drive to Kalimpong.
Overnight in Hotel Himalaya or similar.
Day 8:: Kalimpong
Morning at leisure. Afternoon guided tour of Kalimpong.
Overnight in Hotel Himalaya or similar.
Day 9:: Kalimpong-Siliguri-Calcutta
Morning rafting on river Teesta and drive down to
Siliguri. Connect overnight train to Calcutta at
2000 hr. Overnight in the train.
Day 10:: Calcutta
Arrive Calcutta and transfer to the hotel. Full
day guided tour of Calcutta. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11:: Calcutta-Sunderbans National Park
Departure from Calcutta to Basanti port (3 ½ hr.).
Cruise to Sajnekhali by a dedicated motorised launch
(2 ½ hr.). Overnight in the launch. Dinner &
night stay on the boat.
Day 12:: Sunderbans National Park
Full day cruise through mangrove creeks for wildlife
viewing & birding. Lunch on boat. Anchor at
Sajnekhali by sunset. Slide show (optional) on wildlife
in Mangrove Interpretation Centre in the evening
with tea & snacks. Dinner & night stay on
the boat.
Day 13:: Sunderbans-Calcutta
Morning visit in cycle rickshaws to Rangabeloa Tagore
Society to see the rural development project. Return
to Basanti by the afternoon. Transfer to Calcutta
by car. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 14:: Calcutta-Delhi-onward destination
Fly Calcutta-Delhi in the morning. Day free in Delhi.
Transfer to the airport to connect flight to onward
destination.
