Kaziranga – The Home of One-Horned Rhino Should be On Your Bucket List

By Siddhartha

If you are a wildlife enthusiast and are yet to visit this beautiful gem nestled in the state of Assam, you don’t know what you are missing. With 70% of world’s one-horned rhinoceros population located here, Kaziranga National Park is one of the best places to see these endangered species. If you are looking for details for planning your trip you are in luck. You can find all details about Kaziranga National Park here.

How to reach?

NH 27 road leads you to the national park. From Guwahati, it takes 4 hours to reach Kaziranga. You can either opt for a private cab or take a private/ASTC government bus to reach your destination. The main bus stand is at Paltan Bazar from where buses run at regular intervals. You can take a shuttle bus from here to the main bus stand 10 km out of the city to reach Kaziranag National Park. Alternately, you could make prior bookings on one of the private air-conditioned buses.

Where to stay?

For having a great experience, you should stay in a town close to the national park. There are several reasonably priced options where you can enjoy traditional cuisines and excellent hospitality.

Safaris available at Kaziranga National Park

There are two options available for seeing the natural beauty of Kaziranga National Park:

• Elephant safari – Every morning elephant safari is available for tourists; 5.30 a.m. in summers and 6.30 a.m. in winters. This is a great way to explore the region, though responsible travellers might not prefer it.
• Jeep safari –An excellent way to see wildlife of the region. You need to pay for the entire jeep, thus join a group if you are travelling alone.

Booking safari at Kaziranga

Limited number of safaris take place in a day hence prior booking is recommended. Separate counters are available for jeep and elephant safaris. If you want to take an elephant safari to explore the region, you need to book one day prior from Kaziranga National Park. However, you will need to arrange a transfer to Elephant Point for safari. This can be arranged by your hotel or you could walk the 2 km distance.The charges for jeep and elephant safari are different for Indian and foreign nationals.

What to expect during your safari?

Apart from the one-horned rhinoceros, Kaziranga is also home to several other animals including swamp deer, sambhar, gaur, tigers, elephants, Asiatic water buffalo, tortoise, wild boar, hog deer, and several varieties of birds including migratory birds, scavengers, predators, and water birds.

Other attractions available at Kaziranga

Apart from exploring the wildlife available at the national park, other things to do while in the region include:

• Tea gardens – Assam tea is famous worldwide, and it would be a crime to not explore the tea gardens of the region. During the summer and rainy season, tea pickers can be seen plucking the tender leaves.
• Shopping – What trip is complete without shopping for local knick-knacks? You can buy rhino souvenirs as a reminder of the wonderful time spent in the wild. Several handicraft options are available to buy in local shops.
• Enjoy traditional dance – Some night-time entertainment in the form of traditional Assamese dance can be seen. Local workers at tea plantations near safari booking office can be seen performing traditional dance and instruments. The show starts at 6.30 p.m. every evening and is full on enjoyment.