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When you think about Assam, lush green forests and tea gardens probably come to mind. But there is more to Assam than this! Assam is full of all sorts of interesting plant and animal life. It has some national parks that showcase these natural wonders. One such park is the Kaziranga national park.
The best of Kaziranga National Park
This natural beauty and wonder are situated near the great Brahmaputra River. It lies in Assam’s Golaghat, Karbi, Anglong, and Nagaon districts. You’ll find lots of wildlife that is unique to India here. For example, this part is home to 66% of all of the rhinoceroses in the world. The fact that it contains a vast diversity of wildlife and flora over a fairly large piece of land is why the UN declared it a World Heritage Site long ago.
Endangered species are safe here.
Indeed, endangered species like the tiger call this sanctuary home. Because they are safe here, their numbers have increased. This is what prompted Kaziranga to be designated as a tiger reserve more than fourteen years ago. The park is also home to other threatened species like the Asian elephant, the water buffalo, and the swamp deer. Kaziranga has many breeding programs for these types of species. This explains why their numbers have increased dramatically in recent years.
Kaziranga’s achievements
The organization BirdLife International has officially recognized Kaziranga as being an important bird area. The park is home to some of the largest populations of protected waterfowl in Asia! Indeed, Kaziranga is one of India’s successes in terms of wildlife conservation efforts. The fact that it occupies a place in East Asia with a large concentration of the most diverse flora and fauna in Asia contributes to this. If you visit this national park, you’ll indeed be blown away by all of the different wildlife species in terms of plants and animals that live in harmony.
Terrain
Visit Kaziranga, and the first thing you’ll notice is the diversity in its terrain. For example, a walk throughout the park will reveal the plains of waist-length elephant grass. You’ll see marshlands and dense, moist broadleaf forests that are typical in tropical climates.
History
The British government designated Kaziranga as a national park in 1905. The park celebrated its centennial anniversary 15 years ago. The concept of Kaziranga National Park first materialized in 1904 when the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, visited the area that would become the national park with his wife Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston. The two hoped to see lots of rhinoceroses there because the area was this species’ homeland. However, they still saw no rhinoceroses even after exploring the area extensively. It was then that Mary asked her husband to create a park to help protect the threatened species.
Kaziranga National Park was officially created on June 1, 1905. It was initially only 232 square kilometers. It has since expanded.
Activities
You won’t be disappointed if you visit this huge park. Its vast size makes it possible for Indian and foreign tourists to participate in and enjoy various activities. For example, they can:
Safari with the elephants
Exploring the park on the back of a huge Asian elephant is perhaps one of the most unforgettable things to do! You’ll get to see the best of wildlife in India and South-East Asia up close. However, you’ll still be a comfortable distance away and on a large animal that can easily protect itself and you! Since the park is huge, the best time to begin your safari is early in the morning. Places of interest to tour include the Bagori Range, the Agoratoli Range, the Burapahar Range, the Kohora Range, and the Central Forest.
Go on a traditional jeep safari.
Going by jeep may be the best and safest way to view animals in their natural environments. They’ll be too afraid of the jeep to get right in your face, but you’ll be able to take pictures of them foraging for food or just plain living. The jeep will take you through all of the park’s four zones.
Watch the birds
Many people love to go bird watching when they visit a new place. There is a reason for this; birds are interesting species to watch. The fact that Kaziranga National Forest lies on the Brahmaputra River’s edges means that many different bird species call its forests home. A trip to the Eastern end of the park will allow you to see the greatest species of birds, including the water lagoon. Other commonly spotted bird species include the Pelican, the Great Adjutant Stork, and the Whistling Teal.
See the orchards
If you travel 2 kilometers away from the Central Range, you’ll see a vast orchard park. It spans approximately 5.95 acres and contains more than 500 different species of orchards. But there is more to the orchard park than an opportunity to take pictures and selfies of different species of unique flowers. You’ll find 132 species of leafy and sour vegetables, 46 bamboo species, and 12 sugar cane species.
Take a bath
Kaziranga National Park has many rivers, and you can do what your ancestors used to do centuries ago and take a bath in some of them. One such river is the one that is beneath the sparkling waters of the Kakochang Waterfall. It’s calm and placid there, and you’ll just love the crystal clean and clear waters. Just make sure not to drink it!
See a tea plantation.
You can see the Tocklai Tea Research Institute. It’s about 116 km from Kaziranga. The institute is close to the Tocklai River. You’ll get to know why people love Assam so much by touring this place – Assam is green, beautiful, peaceful, and full of unique plants, trees, and wildlife. You’ll also understand why Assamese tea is so rich and delicious – it’s because of all of the research that goes into producing the perfect teas.
How to g0 to Kaziranga National Park
You can fly there.
The Guwahati International Airport and the Jorhat Airport are close to the national park. Once you land, you can easily drive there via the vast network of good roads that lead to the park.
Take the train there.
Furkating train station is 75 km away. Its trains will lead you to Guwahati and Jorhat train stations. You can drive a short distance to Kaziranga from there.
Driving
The National Highway 37 connects Kaziranga with all of Assam’s major cities. It’s not that far of a drive.
Kaziranga National Park is a unique experience.
Indeed, Kaziranga has a lot of diversity in terms of plants and wildlife. It also has many activities that you can participate in to enjoy and explore this diversity. This is what makes Kaziranga National park a unique experience. It also makes it the reason why you need to visit it now!
