 Kaziranga
National Park is the most popular wildlife tourist destination
of North East. The Kaziranga National Park is most famous
for its one horned rhino population, which is the largest
in the world. The total number of rhino in this national park
is about 1600.
This is the first National Park in Assam
and is spread over an area of 400 sq. km. The Kaziranga
National Park is located along the river Branmaputra boarding
the Karbi Anglong hills. National
Highway 37 passes through the park and the park is spread
over the two districts of Assam namely Golaghat
and Nagaon.
The area is declared by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site and is home to some of the most fascinating
wildlife. Apart from rhinoceros, other large mammals that
dwell this National Park include the Asiatic elephant, Wild
buffalo, tiger and swamp deer.
The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest
known as the Burma Monsoon Forests. The area is part of the
flood plains of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The habitat
consists primarily of tall, dense grasslands interspersed
with cane brakes, open woodlands, interconnecting streams
and lakes. The primary vegetation include alluvial grasslands,
tropical wet semi-evergreen and evergreen forests.
 Kaziranga
National Park is divided into 4 ranges, the Agoratoli range
in the eastern part, The Kohora range covering the central
part, the Baguri range in the western part (with highest rhinoceros
density) and the Burhapahar range covering the additional
area attached to the Park.
History
It is said that the number of one horned rhino in Kaziranga
was fast dwindling when Lady Curzon visited this area in 1904.
She persuaded her husband and the then viceroy of India Lord
Curzon to do something to save the rhinos of Kaziranga. As
a result in 1905 Kaziranga was notified to become a reserved
forest. It was declared a reserve forest and animal killing
stopped in 1908. In 1916 Kaziranga was declared a game sanctuary.
In 1938 Kaziranga was opened to visitors. In 1950 the term
changed to ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’. Finally in 1974
the designation was changed to “Kaziranga National Park”.
Flora and Fauna
The Kaziranga National Park is mostly covered with wet savanna
grassland which covers as much as 65 – 70 per cent of
the total area. The grassland comprises mostly of tall elephant-grass.
 The
avifauna variety includes 479 names which is the largest for
any single park in the world. Large birds include Greater
Adjutants, Bengal Floricans, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Black-necked
Storks. Other species include Swamp Francolin, Pale-capped
Pigeon, Great and Wreathed Hornbill, Jerdon's Baza, Slender-billed
Vulture, Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Pied Harrier,
Pied Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Hodgson’s Bushchat, White-vented
Myna, Rufous-vented Prinia, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s
Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Finn’s Weaver.
Birds like Pelican, Duck, Geese, Hornbill, Ibis, Cormorant,
Egret, Heron, Black necked stork, Lesser adjutants, Ring-tailed
fishing eagles, etc. are plenty in the National Park.
Among the mammals the Rhino, Elephant, Wild
Buffalo, Tigers and Swamp deer are the largest. There are
52 mammalian species in the Park including Gangetic Dolphin,
Chinese Pangolin, Hoodlock Gibbon, Hog-Badger, Parti-coloured
Flying Squirrel, Sambhar, Hog deer, Sloth bear, Leopard, Jungle
Cat, Hog badger, Capped langur, Hoolock gibbon and many others.
The Park also has 39 species of reptiles
such as the endangered Gharial and the Assam Roofed Turtle.
Kaziranga being located on the mighty Brahmaputra is also
home to 42 fish species.
How to go there
Kaziranga is 240 kms from Guwahati
which is well connected to the rest of the country. Travel
time varies on road condition but is normally within 5 hours.
Trips Inside the Park
Trip inside the National Park is organized on elephant back
or in a jeep or by car. There are several entry points and
several rides available in the park. There are trips covering:
Mihimukh, Bagori, Holal Path, Arimarah, Kohora Central Path-Bagro
and Kohora Central Path-Bimoli and others.
Typically you should be getting up at 4
in the morning for an Elephant ride which start between 5.00
am and 6.00 am from Kohora. This ride is highly recommended
for tourists as it gives you a real feel of the National Park.
Sighting of rhino is very common during this trip.
Four-wheel drive is also available in three
ranges. Car safari is available almost throughout the day.
Walking inside the National Park area is not permitted.
When to visit
The Park is generally closed between June and October. Anytime
during the rest of the year if fine for a trip to Kaziranga. |
