Home to the largest population of the one-horned rhino on earth, Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s national treasures in terms of flora and fauna. Located in the state of Assam in North-Eastern India, its total area is shared by the districts of Nagaon, Golaghat, and Karbi Anglong placing it roughly at the center of the state. Approximately around five hours by road from Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park stands tall as the epitome of successful wildlife conservation in India. In 1985, it was awarded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Lying on the floodplains of the mighty river Brahmaputra, rich vegetation covers almost the entirety of Kaziranga National Park. Receiving massive amounts of rainfall each year, at times even crossing dangerous levels, this national park is characterized by tall elephant grass, marshlands, and tall tropical broadleaf forests. Here, a wide variety of fauna thrives including the one-horned rhino, Asiatic elephants, wild water buffalo, leopards, and Royal Bengal Tigers. Kaziranga National Park is also listed officially as a Tiger reserve and is home to one of the world’s largest population of tigers.
Different types of birds can also be spotted here at the park. A popular migratory location for birds who fly down from the north, one can spot various birds such as the black-nested stork, the lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, and Baer's pochard duck to name a few. Other notable bird families that can be seen here include the great Indian hornbill and wreathed hornbill among many others.
Safaris can be undertaken both during the day and night during the open tourist season. Elephant rides are also very popular among tourists and wildlife journalists and enthusiasts. Hiking is one such activity that is prohibited here to avoid casualties. Great care is taken at this national park such that tourism and natural sustainability go hand in hand.
Best Time To Visit :
The best time to visit Kaziranga is anywhere from November to April. Since the whole of Assam receives a major rainfall in the monsoon and the pre-monsoon time of the year, the Kaziranga National Park floods in the months of June, July, and August. No wonder the rhinos love bathing and staying in water during these months. The water starts receding in September and October and the place is open to tourism from November again.
How To Reach :
Kaziranga is well-accessible by roads and has a lot of Airports and Railway stations nearby. The nearest Railway station being Furkating, from where Kaziranga is accessed in a matter of an hour. The nearest airport to Kaziranga is the Jorhat Airport, which is located 97 km away from Kaziranga. The road networks here are well-developed and make transport easy to Kaziranga by road.
1 . By Flight :
There are a total of 5 airports near Kaziranga. The nearest is Jorhat Airport, 97 km away. Others include the Tezpur Airport at Solanbari, which is the same distance as the Jorhat Airport. The nearest International Airport is the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.
2 . By Road :
Bus services, both local, private, and Govt. provided are available from most cities nearing Kaziranga. Be it Guwahati, Nagaon, Tezpur, or Furkating; or even cities like Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, bus services are ferociously available that connect Kaziranga to them. The gateway city to Assam, Kohora, too, has proper bus services to Kaziranga.
3 . By Train :
Guwahati Railway Station is the nearest broad gauge Railway station to Kaziranga and takes a 4-hour drive to reach Kaziranga by road. The nearest Railway Station, however, remains the Furkating Railway Station, which is 97 km from Kaziranga and should not take more than an hour's drive.
4 . Local Transport :
One can opt for safari rides in the park in either jeeps or SUVs and this is the best way to get around the park. Elephant rides can be arranged and they have to be booked in advance as they are popular.
