India's Best Wildlife: Kaziranga National Park

• You are a wildlife enthusiast. Where should you go? Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

• You love adventurous tours. Where should you head towards? Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

• One of the best tourist destinations in India? Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

• Beautiful Surroundings? Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary

Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The sanctuary is a natural habitat for varied flora, fauna and bird species. Because of its serene surroundings, it has been Included in UNESCO’ World Heritage Site List. But what factors one need to keep in mind to make his/her tour to Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary the tour of their lifetime? Read this travel guide and find out.

What is Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary famous for?

Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for housing a large number of endangered species of Indian one-horned rhinocerosas well as most number of tigers in terms of population density.

However, Ranthambore National Park with lesser tiger population density is more ideal place to be for spotting tigers in their natural habitat.

Kaziranga National Park is home to 2/3rd of world's Single-horned Rhinos

Wow… Rhinoceros! What is the story behind the creation of this wildlife sanctuary?

Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary was established since 1905, by Mary Victoria Leiter Curzon, on realizing that the population of rhinoceros is decreasing in the area.

In 1916, it was called as Kaziranga Game Sanctuary which was changed to Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary by P.D. Stracey in 1950 to remove any sort of linking to hunting activities.

Poaching in Park was banned but visitors were allowed to visit. By 1954, massive penalties were imposed on poachers and by 1968 it received the status of one of India’s National Park. In 1985, it earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Poachers, floods, rebels, nothing could bring the spirits of the Wildlife Sanctuary to a halt over the years, in 2005, and The Sanctuary celebrated her 100th anniversary.

That sounds very intriguing. Where is this popular Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Nagaon and Golaghat districts of Indian state of Assam.

Umm… Assam. I see. How can I reach Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary?

• By Bus: After reaching Assam, you can take a bus from Guwahati Bus stop (217 km), Jorhat Bus stand (96 km) or from Nawgaon, Dibrugarh and Tezpur bus stand (75 km). The fare for the bus varies Government service and private service.

• By Air: You can avail taxis, buses or autorickshaws from Guwahati airport (235km).

• By Rail: Nearest railway station is Furkating (80 km) from where you can avail any means of transport to reach the park.

You seem to know a lot. Any suggestion on what time is best to visit the sanctuary?

The Wildlife Sanctuary is open for tourists between 1st November and 31st April. Floods rampage the park during monsoon. Overcrowding of tourists during December and January hinders a private experience. Therefore, months of March and February are the best to visit Kaziranga National Park.

I do not want to spend lavishly. What is the Entry Fee to the Park? 

• Video cameras: INR 500 (Indians); INR 1000 (Foreigners)

• Elephant safari: INR 280 (Indians); INR 750 (Foreigners)

• Jeep safari: INR 1000 (Central range); INR 2000 (Burhapahar)

• Vehicle entry: INR 200

• Camera: INR 50 (Indians); INR 500 (Foreigners)

• Armed guard: INR 50

• Entrance: INR 50 (Indians); INR 250 (Foreigners)

Wow. That price totally works. What are the operating hours?

• Jeep safaris: 0730 to 1100 (Morning Hours); 1400 to 1630 (Afternoon Hours)

• Elephant safaris: 0530 to 0730 (Morning Hours); 1500 to 1600 (Afternoon Hours)

What all species of Fauna and Flora I can see on these safaris?

Mammals: Hoolock Gibbon, Eastern Swamp Deer, Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo, elephants, sambar, gaur, Indian Muntjac, hog deer, wild boar, Indian Tigers, Jungle Cat, Leopards, Fishing Cat, Hispid Hare, leopard Cats, Indian Gray Mongoose, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian Mongooses, Small Indian Civets, Golden Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Indian Pangolins, Chinese Pangolin, Hog Badger, Particolored flying squirrels, Chinese Ferret Badgers, Assamese Macaque, Golden Langur, Capped, Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros

Birds: Rufous-vented Prinia Baer's Pochard duck, Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Adjutant, Black-necked Stork, Greater Adjutant, Asian Openbill stork, White-bellied Heron, Blyth's Kingfisher, Dalmatian Pelican, Nordmann's Greenshank, Spot-billed Pelican, Black-bellied Tern, Greater Spotted, Eastern Imperial, White-tailed, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, the Lesser Kestrel, Indian Vulture, drug Diclofenac, Slender-billed Vulture, Swamp Francolin, Indian White-rumped Vulture, Bengal Florican, Pale-capped Pigeon, the Great Indian Hornbill, Old World babblers, Wreathed Hornbill, Baya Weaver, Hodgson's Bushchat, threatened Finn's Weavers, Old World warblers, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Bristled Grassbird, White-fronted Goose etc

Reptiles: Reticulated Python, Indian Cobra, Rock Python the King Cobra, Monocled Cobra, Common Krait, Russell's viper, Monitor lizard, the Water Monitor, Bengal monitor, the Brown Tortoise and Assam Roofed Turtle

Flora: Mimosa invisa Dillenia indica, Talauma hodgsonii, Garcinia tinctoria, Cinnamomum bejolghota, Ficus rumphii, Baguri, Haldibari, Bimali, Albizia procera, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Duabanga grandiflora, Crateva unilocularis, Grewia serrulata, Sterculia urens, Mallotus philippensis, Aphania rubra, Bridelia retusa, Leea indica, water hyacinth, Leea umbraculifera, Aphanamixis polystachya

What a range of Biodiversity! I am definitely going there. Any idea where I could stay?

There are a large numbers of hotels and wildlife resorts nearby at a very close distance to Kaziranga National Park. All these resorts are not very expensive and offer a very comfortable stay without lighting your pocket by a large margin.

The views outside these resorts are very exciting with amazing sceneries and picturesque landscapes all around. The rooms in these lodges and resorts are installed with all the amenities and services that are required by any modern day traveler.

The food served in all the resorts comprises mainly of vegetarian dishes, but is very scrumptious and you will keep licking your fingers after having the food. The food is a little expensive but it is so delicious, it more than makes up for the money spent for all foodies.

Some of the famous resorts are Unicorn Cottages, Wild Grass Lodge, Diphlu River Lodge, Nature-Hunt Eco Camp, Jupuri Ghar, Iora- the Retreat Resort.

My bags are packed and I am ready to go. Any more tips?

Loads of tips to be given:

• For the best experience of Elephant Safari, chose to do it in Central Range.
• If you are interested in boat rides in beautiful waters, head to North Eastern point of the park.
• Do not book private elephant safari riders. They cut your tour time to take on more tourists. Go in groups.
• Early morning safari in winters should be avoided as fog and mist restricts viewing.
• Private vehicle can be taken to the park if accompanied with a forest guide.

Thank you for all the Information.

No problem. Enjoy your Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary tour. Looking for more wildlife vacation inspiration...check out Periyar National Park, one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in South India and one of the only that remains open during monsoon.

Also check out some of the best national parks in India.

For more details, packages and booking of hotel to plan your wildlife excursion in Kajiranga, visit the website of Wildlife India Tours here: http://www.wildlifeindiatours.com/kaziranga-national-park

Contributed by Karan Saxena