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A few
centuries ago, the Indian one horned rhinoceros ranged across the northern Indian
plains, in the wetlands of the rivers Indus, Ganga and the
Brahmaputra
. Today, this survivor from prehistoric times is found only in pockets in the
north-eastern state of
Assam
and in
Nepal
. In
Assam
, their habitat is limited to the two National Parks – Kaziranga and Manas
While
Kaziranga
National Park
, along the main highway between Jorhat and Guwahati, is easily visited, the Manas
Reserve in the foothills of the
Himalayas
is more remote.
Kaziranga
National Park
Lying along
the mighty
Brahmaputra
River
, the
Kaziranga
National Park
covers an area of about 430 sq. km. Its swamps
and grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of evergreen
forest, support the largest number of rhino in the subcontinent. It
Was an
alarming depletion in their numbers, due to hunting and poaching that led to the
conservation of this area in 1926. In 1940, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary.
Though poaching still constitutes a major threat to the rhino population, the
numbers of this species are fairly healthy.
At
Kaziranga,
the open country makes wildlife viewing fairly easy. A day’s outing is often
sufficient for visitors to see most of the major species here. Elephants take them
into the Park at dawn. As the mist lifts and the rising sun touches the hills in
the distance, herds of barasingha and wild buffalo are to be seen in the marshes.
The most ferocious bovine in the world, the massive wild buffalo is impressive and
can weigh up to 915 kg.
| Rhinos browse unconcernedly as the visitors pass by and an
occasional herd of elephants or wild boar is also sighted. The grasslands are
raptor country and the crested serpent eagle, the Pallas fishing eagle and grey
headed fishing eagle can be seen circling over the marshes.
The water-bird
variety includes swamp partridge, bar-headed goose, whistling teal, the
Bengal
florican, storks, herons and even pelicans.
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Located
along the main highway, Kaziranga is easily accessible and the chance to see
animals in the wild at such close quarters, makes a visit to the Park a very
rewarding experience.
| Best time to visit |
November-April |
| Accommodation |
Forest
Rest Houses and Tourist Lodge ( ITDC) |
| Nearest town |
Bokakhat (23 km) |
| Species found |
Great Indian
one-homed rhino, wild buffalo, elephant, gaur, leopard cat, wild
boar, civet, otter, swamp deer, sambar, tiger, python,
pelicanpartridge, florican. |
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How To Get
There
There are several ways of getting
to Kaziranga: you can either fly to Jorhat and then drive to Kaziranga or rent a
car or take a bus from Guwahati. The route to this national park, which is full of
wetlands and some forests apart from the tall elephant grass, is scenic: one will
find men and women fishing in the beels or ponds, children diving into the
inviting water on a warm day, coconut sellers hawking their wares by the roadside
and boys on buffalo blue hills of Arunachal Pradesh beckon.
You will pass the town of
Jagiroad
, where the Assam Silk Mill has an outlet, and the town of
Nogaon
. 14 km. From Nagaon is Bordoa, the birth place of the Assamese saint and
reformer, Sankardeva, who led a 16th century revival movement of
Vaishnavism.
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How To Get
There |
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| By
Air |
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| By
Train |
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