Kaziranga National Park is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India. It is a World Heritage Site and two-third of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses live in the park. Kaziranga has the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park has large breeding populations of Elephants, water buffalo and swamp Deer. Kaziranga is recognised as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species. The park has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation compared to other protected areas in India. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high-species diversity and visibility. Due to limitless poaching of this prehistoric survivor, the Kaziranga National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1940. Kaziranga has a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests crisscrossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra. It also has numerous small other bodies of water. The park celebrated its centenary in 2005 after its establishment in 1905 as a reserve forest. The languages spoken here are Hindi, Assamese and English.
Kaziranga Park is best known for its Rhiniceros spotting Safari. It is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for multiple species of large cats such as Indian Tigers and Leopards. Kaziranga's river is also home to the endangered Ganges Dolphin .
Kaziranga's visiting season is from mid-November to early April. During the monsoons, the Brahmaputra River bursts its banks, flooding the low-lying grasslands and causing animals to migrate from one area to another within the Park. The climate at the Wildlife Sanctuary is pleasant throughout the year. There are no extremities in terms of temperature variation. The winters are cool and summers warm (temperature does not exceed 38°C). The Monsoon is dominant and lasts for a long time in this area. Mild showers may be experienced throughout the year.Light cotton in summer and woolen clothing in winter is advisable.
There is no requirement of any kind of permit to travel in Assam for Indian tourists. However foreign nationals are required to obtain a valid Indian Visa while traveling.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Visa exemptions include Bhutanese and Nepalese who are staying for less than 3 months and Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.
The nearest town is Bokakhat 23 kms away.
By Air:
The nearest airports are located at Jorhat, 97-kms from Kaziranga and Salonibari (approx 100 kms) Direct flights are available between Kolkatta and Jorhat (Rowriah) airport. However the preferred airport is the one at Guwahati which is 217-kms away from the park and connects well to the rest of the country.
By Rail:
The nearest railhead is Furkating situated 75-kms away from Kaziranga National Park. Jorhat too is close by Railhead which connects to the major cities of Kolkatta and Guwahati.
By Road:
ASTC and private buses from Guwahati, Tezpur, Jorhat and upper Assam all pass through Kohora on the NH37. The main gate for Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is at Kohora on the NH-37 consisting of a handful of cafes and a small local market. Some private buses also retain a seat quota for Kaziranga passengers. The park can also be approached by road from the nearest town of Bokakhat which is about 23 km away.Overnight tours run regularly from Kaziranga to Guwahati.
By Motorcycle ride-Best way to reach Kaziranga from Guwahati and Kohima is by riding a motorcycle in a group, which is conducted as guided motorcycle tours in the state of Assam and adjoining states. Tours are operated by Kickstart Adventures- an adventure tourism firm, which has pioneered motorcycle tours in Assam. This adventure motorbike tour covers the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, giving a traveller to visit to not only popular places but also rural parts of the region to experience first-hand of tribal cultures and traditions.
Local Transport:
Authorised guides of the forest department accompany all travellers inside the park.
Mahout-guided elephant rides and Jeep or other vehicle rides are booked in advance. Starting from the Park Administrative Centre at Kohora, these rides can follow the three motorable trails under the jurisdiction of three ranges — Kohora, Bagori and Agaratoli. These trails are open for light vehicles from November to mid May. Visitors are allowed to take in their own vehicles only when accompanied by guides.
The park has a wide range of accommodation including rest houses, bungalows, dormitory and lodges maintained by the Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Assam and the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). Numerous private resorts are also available outside the borders of the park. Rest houses and hotels are perched beside the main road at Kohora. One can have a panoramic view of the Himalayas from there.
A few recommended places are: Wild Grass lodge, Bonhabi Resort, Prashanti Cottage and Bonani lodge.
Located on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River in the far North East of India, Kaziranga National Park covers an area of approximately 430-sq-kms with its swamps and tall thickets of elephant grass making it the ideal habitat for the Indian One-Horned Rhino. Beside the great one horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild attractions include a large population of Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards, etc. The grasslands that can be seen on safari makes a remarkable experience.
Kaziranga National Park is a twitchers paradise too. The birds that can be spotted are the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-Shouldered Kite, Black Kite, White Tailed Eagle, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, Himalayan Griffon and many more. Huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the park’s lakes and marshy areas during winter, including Greylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller. Here one can leave in the early hours of the dawn for an elephant-back-ride. Authorized and trained Mahouts who guide visitors through the park train the Elephants. One can see wild Elephant herds roaming around or Indian Rhinos browse past visitors unconcernedly. Since Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible, it provides a chance to see animals in the wild at such close quarters, thus making a trip here a very rewarding experience.
Other tourist attractions include touring through the lush coffee and rubber plantations of the nearby Karbi Anglong. A visit to the Karbi villages and meeting the Karbi people, observing their way of living is also an interesting experience. One can also venture through the tea gardens that Assam is so famous for and watch how one gets one's daily cup of tea. Film shows on wildlife can be arranged at the various tourist lodges in Kaziranga on request.
Shopping:
Different forest products are sold near Mihimukh entrance of Kaziranga NP. In Kohora, there are many shops, selling different kinds of forest products and local handicrafts.
Visiting Kaziranga as a solo trip can be expensive due to the two-tier price system with different entry costs for Indian nationals and foreigners. This can be covered as a destination in the tour of the North-East Assam. It is not recommended as a stand alone destination.
