Heaven for One Horned Rhinoceros
Kaziranga National Park is located in the Nagaon and Golaghat districts of Assam. It is famous for preserving the One horned rhinoceros. It is one of the oldest national parks of Assam. Its strategic location is further beautified with the presence of Brahmaputra River flowing in its north while the Karbi Anglong hills tuck it in the South. It is also called as the Kazironga Rastriyo Uddan.
Impressively, it is also marked as one of the world heritage sites by UNESCO. It was also declared as a tiger reserve in 2006. The BirdLife International has also declared it as the Important Bird Area. According to history, the wife of Viceroy Lord Curzon, Mary Victoria Leiter Curzon, had visitied the Kaziranga river in 1904 and was very disappointed to not spot even one rhinoceros in the territory. It led to the establishment of Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest in 1905. It was officially declared as a the Kaziranga Game Sanctury in 1916. It was later in 1938 when it was finally opened for visitors. Forest conservationist P.D. Stracey called it as Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950.
Following are the main tourist attractions of Kaziranga National Park
Flora: The four distinct vegetations that are present in the Kaziranga National Park are Tropical Semi-Evergreen forests, Tropical Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests, Alluvial Savanna Woodlands and the Alluvial Innundated Grasslands. The green and tall, easily spotted elephant grass found in this national park helps in camouflaging tigers. The commonly spotted trees are cotton, kumbhi, elephant apple and Indian Gooseberry. Sugar canes and spear grasses are characterise the flora of the national park. Flowers like lotus, water hyacinth and water lilies are easily grown in the swamps.
Fauna: The Kaziranga National Park is known for the high density of One horned rhinoceros along with decent population of Indian Elephants and Wild Buffaloes. The probability of spotting herd of 200 elephants trailing from the Mikir Hills to the swamps is more in this national park. The other mammals present in the park are Royal Bengal Tiger, Pangolins, Barking deers, Indian gaur, Hog Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Eastern mole and others. Aviphiles can also find innumerable migratory birds, game birds, water birds and scavengers in the park. Few of the easily spotted birds include Black Necked Stork, Baer's Pochard, Asian Openbill Stork, Black Bellied Tern and others.
The excursions from the Kaziranga National Park
Tourists love gearing on for the jeep and elephant safaris in the Kaziranga National Park. It becomes easier to capture special moments with photography being allowed in the park. Tourists can also explore bird watching while walking on foot, especially on the National Highway 37.
Tourists can also explore the other near by places to the Kaziranga National Park:
Nameri National Park: It is located 90 km away from the Kaziranga National Park. Located in the Sonitpur district of Assam, this national park is considered as one of the best elephant reserves. Wildlife trekking, angling and river rafting are the main attractions of this national park.
Guwahati: It is 194 km away from the national park.It is known for the religious temples such as Kamakya Temple, Bhuvaneswari Temple, Basistha Ashram Temple and boating over the Brahmaputra river side.
When to Reach: The best time to visit the Kaziranga National Park is between November to April. The park is closed from 1st of May to 31st of October.
How to Reach
Air: The nearest airport to the national park is located at Rowraiah (Jorhat), which is at a distance of 97 km.
Rail: The nearest railway station is at Furkating, approximately 75 km away from the National Park.
Road: Regular buses connect the main gate of the national park, located at Kohara, with Tezpur, Guwahati and other cities in Upper Assam.
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