With five national parks, two of which are designated World Natural Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and several wildlfe and bird sanctuaries, Assam is a blessed land for wildlife enthusiasts. At the heart of it's mind boggling biodiveristy is the rich topography of Assam with it's lush hills and valleys dissected by the majestic Brahmaputra and it's many tributaries. Assam is home to over 180 species of mammals, including rare and endangered species like the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, the royal Bengal tiger, the golden langur and hoolock gibbon, and a spectacular range of avifauna.
Assam's most famous parks are Kaziranga and Manas. Both were conferred Worl Heritage Status in 1985..
Kaziranga National Park is spread over 858 sq.kms and is located in the floodplains on both sides of the Brahmaputra. Patches of mixed deciduous forests are interspersed with vast stretches of savannah grasslands, wetlands and chars of river islands formed by the shifting course of the Brahmaputra..
The park is divided into five ranges - Central (entry point at Kohora), Western (entry point at Bagori), Eastern (at Agratoli), Western-most Burha Pahar (at Ghorakati) and Northern. The first four lie on the southern side of the river while the last is on the northern bank..
A memorable way of exploring Kaziranga is on elephant-back as these gentle creatures tread through the tall grass. The park's prized possessions, the rhinos, are usually found in good numbers grazing with deer and buffaloes..
Another option is to see the park is to take the jeep safari which is also highly recommended, as it offers the added benefit of covering a vast expanse in a relatively short span of time..
While on safari, visitors to the park are well advised not only to abide by park etiquettes but also to bear in mind its conserbation history, officially counted as the most successful conservation initiative in the sub continent in the 20th century (Kaziranga Centenary: Celebrating the Century's Greatest Success Story, 2005).
Originally established as a reserve forest in 1908, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary in 1916 to counter extensive poaching of the rhinoceros. In 1974, the Indian Government demarcated the present area as a national park. Then, in 2007, it was declared a tiger reserve under the Central Government's Project Tiger scheme..
The Park is the abode to more than 70% of One Horned Rhinoceros in the world. Highest density of tigers' prey including the large prey biomass of tiger found in the country. Harbours more than 60% of India's wild buffalo population along with the only population of the Eastern Swamp deer and seven species of turtles and tortoises. The other important wildlife found are - Leopard, Fishing Cat, other Lesser cats, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian Civet, Sambar, Barking deer, Hog deer, Gaur, Hog Badger, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Sloth Bear, Gangetic Dolphin and Otter etc.
The park also has a sizeable population of birds. Home to 25 Globally Threatened and 21 Near Threatened species of birds. Huge flocks of pelicans and rose-ringed parakeets can be spotted here besides crested serpent eagles, grey-headed fishing eagles, red jungle fowl, Bengal floricans, bar-headed geese and whistling teals..
More than 150 perennial water bodies are located inside the Park, where water level fluctuates temporally resulting in the generation of a very rich aquatic floral diversity. More than 32 species of flora have so far been identified. More than 60 species of fishes have been recorded and is the breeding ground of many of the local species..
How to reach : Rowraiah (Jorhat) is the nearest Airport which is 97 Kms. away and LGBI Airport (Guwahati) is 239 Kms. away. The road distances from nearest cities & towns to Kohora are : from Jorhat is 89 Kms., from Nagaon is 96 Kms., from Guwahati is 219 Kms., from Golaghat is 73 Kms. and from Bokakhat is 21 Kms.
Best season to visit: November to April.
Located in the Himalayan foothill bhabararea in the western Assam, Manas was originally a game reserve since 1928 and became a Tiger Reserve in 1974, a World Heritage Site in 1985, a Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Then declared as a National Park in 1990.
The park is contiguous with the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bangal and in 2003, it was declared part of Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve which serves as the international corrdior for elephant migration between Indian and Bhutan. Spread over an area of 500 sq. kms., the park has extensive grasslands and is famous for its unique scenic beauty. The park harbours more than 20 endangered species.
Considered one of the the world's rarest simian species, the golden langur was first spotted in Manas in the mid 20th century. Other mammals commonly found here are Rhino, Elephant, Tiger, Pygmy hog, Hispid hare, Assamese Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard, Golden Cat, Clouded leopard, Fishing cat, Leopard cat, Jungle Cat, the Large Indian civet, the Small Indian civet, Common palm civet or Toddy cat, Himalaya palm civet, Binturong, Common mongoose, Small Indian mongoose, Himalayan black bear, Sloth bear, Gaur, Water buffalo, Sambar, Hog deer, Barking deer, Swamp deer, Wild pigs etc.
How to reach : Located 176 kms from Guwahati and Barpeta Road Railway Station is 20 Kms. away.
Best season to visit: November to April
Nameri National Park covers an area of 200 sq. kms. and is located in the Sonitpur district, bordering Arunachal Pradesh. It is also the core area of Nameri Tiger Reserve (344 Sq. km). It's beautiful deciduous forests and the adjacent river jia Bhoreli, fringe the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This is therefore a popular stop en route to Bhalukpung in Arunachal, where anglers congregate to fish for the famous golden Mahseer.
Animals found here are Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Hispid hare, Slow Loris, Capped Langur, Dhole, Sloth Bear,Burmese ferret Badger, Binturong etc.
The park is home to several rare bird species including the endangered White Winged Wood duck and a huge variety of butterflies, including the prized Atlas Moth, considered the largest moth in the world with a wing surface area of 400 sqcms and a 25-30cm wingspan.
How to reach - Nameri National Park is 210 kms from Guwahati, 40 kms from Tezpur, 215 kms from Jorhat, 110 kms from Nowgong and 125 kms from Kaziranga. The nearest airport, Salonibari Airport in Tezpur is 34 kms away.
Best season for visit : November to April
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve having an area of 340 sq. kms. in Tinsukia district. An unique habitat endemic to Dibru-Saikhowa only, a habitat which has undergone radical transformation after the great earthquake of 1950. It is famous for it's feral horses and Gangetic dolphins. The migratory birds are also a major attraction.
It is an identified Important Bird Area (IBA) having more than 382 species of Birds, some of which are Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Crested Grebe. Large Cormorant, Open bill Stork, Black necked Stork, Large Whistling Teal. Grey leg Goose, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Spot Billed Pelican, White Winged Wood Duck, Baer's Pochard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Pale Capped Pigeon, Great Pied Hornbill, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Black Breasted Parrot bill, etc. The Park is renowned for natural regeneration of Salix trees.
How to reach : The Park can be visited by staying at Tinsukia town. Mohanbari (Dibrugarh) Airport is the nearest Airport, which is about 40 kms. away from Tinsukia. The distance between Guwahati and Tinsukia is 500 kms. Tinsukia is well connected with Dibrugarh town by NH. 37 and the distance is 55 kms. Dholla is the nearest township of Saikhowaghat entry point.
Best season to visit : November to April
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park is spread over 78.81sq kms and is the oldest game reserve of the State just on the northern bank of river Brahmaputra. It is an important breeding ground for many fish varieties.
Mammals found here are Rhinoceros, Tiger, Maljuria Elephants (male elephants in group), Hog Deer, Wild Pig, Civet Cat, Porcupine and Gangetic Dolphin.
222 species of Birds have so far been recorded, some of which are Spot Billed Pelican, White Pelican, Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Brahminy Duck, Pintail Duck, Bengal Florican(2nd.highest concentration) etc.
How to reach : The nearest Airport Salonibari (Tezpur) is 80 kms. and the LGBI Guwahati Airport is 150 kms. The National Park is located 18 kms. south of the N.H. 52 at Dhansirighat and the distance to Mangaldai is 70 kms. and Guwahati is 150 kms.