Wildlife - Tour in Kaziranga National Park

Location : Situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river. Area : 688 sq. km.

Best Time to Visit : November to April.

Climate : Winter Temprature minimum 10°C and Summer Temprature maximum 30°C. Heavy rain between April and October.

Access : By Air : Nearest airport Jorhat (96 kms) is connected by Indian Airlines flights with Calcutta which in turn is connected with other cities in India. By Rail : Nearest railway station Furkating (75 kms from Kaziranga) on the metre guage line is directly connected to Guwahati which in turn is connected with the other major cities in India. By Road : Kaziranga (Kohora) to Guwahati 217 km, Jorhat 96 km, Furkating 75 kms.

Introduction : Kaziranga National Park, being the largest asylum of the one-horned Indian rhinocerous, is definitely one of the most famous among Indian National Parks. The sanctuary is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river. The national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The Sanctuary provides a unique setting for the sight of it''''s best known resident, the rhino. Kaziranga National Park became a game sanctuary in 1926, and by 1966 the rhino numbers had risen to about 400. Though they are still threatened by poachers and floods, the population of these great beasts is now touching 1500.

Wildlife Species : One-horned Indian rhinocerous, gaur(indian bison), deer, elephant, tiger, Assam macaque, golden jackal, asiatic black bear, smooth-coated otter, common palm civet, leopard, indian muntjac, sambar, indian pangolin, orange-bellied hoolock etc and water bird species which bread here. Rhinocerous Unicornis, of Assam remains the last citadel of the one-horned great Indian rhinocerous. Once widely distributed across the Northern flood plains of the sub-continent the rhino has been hunted and displaced by humans and is now restricted to only a handful of wildlife reserves. In India the greatest number are found in Kaziranga National Park. Attracting less attention than the tiger, it''''s numbers are few - barely 1500. The majority crowding just one area. Large and formidable, the rhino has no natural predators. The sole exception being armed men, Who coupled with the rhino''''s slow growth rate makes it pretty difficult for the animal to resist extinction. The rhino''''s preferred habitat coinciding with human habitation, political turmoil providing cover for the poachers, and ever present market for rhino products make things a little tougher for this tough-as-a-tank beast.

Park Safaris : Jeep and elephant safaris are available inside the park. It is essential for visitors to take a Forest Department guide with them to go around the park.