Kaziranga National Park located in the state of Assam in Northeast India ; covers an area of 430 square kilometers and is home to the unique one horned rhinoceros. Although the name Kaziranga is almost synonymous with the rhino, this park is home to a variety of wildlife including elephants, swamp deer, sambar , wild boar ,water buffalo and tigers. It is also an important birding location and is congruous to the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity hotspot. Outside of Africa, it is one of the few wild breeding ground of tigers and leopards. The Indian python, one of the largest snakes in the world inhabits this park.
The park was established as a reserve forest in 1905 and became a national park in 1974. The establishment of this park is attributed to Mary Curzon, wife of Lord Curzon ; the then Viceroy of India. During her visit, she was unable to spot any rhino and this alerted the Viceroy to have a protected zone. This beginning was followed by several changes to the area covered and the status of this park changed over several years from reserve forest to game sanctuary to wildlife sanctuary to national park and became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985.
It is a vast expanse of tall grass, marshland, several water bodies and moist broad leaf forests. Kaziranga has also faced natural calamities like floods as the Brahmaputra and other rivers crisscross this park. Several animals have drowned in unprecedented floods.
The monsoon season is between May and August and the park is closed to visitors at that time.
Rhino poaching was a big challenge faced during the early years and the strict enforcement of the anti poaching act has led to increase in rhino population over the years.
Safari Zones
Kaziranga is split into four safari zones : Central at Kohora, Western at Bhagori, Eastern a Agaratoli and Burhapahar at Ghorakati
The main attraction here of course are the safaris that take you into the park for wildlife viewing. Jeep safaris and Elephant safaris are available. Jeep safaris are hired per family and not shared. They take you through the regular tracks in the forest for about two hours . Rhinos are easily spotted in addition to elephants and deer. These safaris are available both in the morning and evening. Elephant safaris are more unique and are available only early morning. Four people sit on a seat fitted on the elephant’s back and the mahout will take you up close to wildlife; mainly rhinos. Elephant safaris need to be booked well in advance as the number is limited.
Our Trip
We undertook a trip to Kaziranga from Guwahati on our return from Meghalaya. There was another couple from the Meghalaya tour with whom we did this tour. More as we look at the pictures….
The drive to Kaziranga took about four hours and after the initial part of the drive through the city, we were on winding roads, partly in Assam and partly in Meghalaya. As we reached Kaziranga, there were lush green paddy fields at places and tea gardens elsewhere.
Paddy fields and tea gardens as we neared Kaziranga
There are strict speed restrictions as we near the park and so it takes a long time even though the distance is around 200 kms only.
The welcome board with speed alerts
Soon we were at Kaziranga town and we checked into our hotel for a quick lunch before heading for the safari.
The jeep safari started at 2 pm and we saw plenty of rhinos right from the entrance.
All set for the jeep safari.
The Ecoshop just as you enter the park
The jeeps going along the tracks
The general landscape is of tall grass interspersed with trees and plenty of water bodies.
The general landscape
One rhino grazes while another lazes!!!
Almost posing….
A rhino and cub with some deer in the backdrop
The elephants
It was our safari jeep driver Sameer who pointed out an interesting sight…a python resting inside a hole in the tree…take a look..
A python having his siesta!!!
Deer
Water birds
A chestnut headed Bee eater
And this was probably the cutest of all….a group of turtles on a log…
Turtles on a log….
A very positive sight were these watch towers scattered all over for preventing poaching…
An anti poaching watch tower
Elephant safari
The morning elephant safari takes one close up to wildlife and here are some pictures….
The elephant safari
As close as one can get!!!
I hope you enjoyed this virtual Kaziranga safari. Let me leave you with a video of a rhino as he walks away into the bushes…
The giant slowly retreats ….
Hope you enjoyed the tour of Kaziranga.
See you next week at another interesting destination in Meghalaya. Till then, do subscribe, like and comment.
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