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Lying
along
the mighty Brahmaputra River, the Kaziranga National
Park covers an area of about 430 sq. km. Its swamps and
grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and
patches of evergreen forest, support the largest number
of rhino in the subcontinent. It was an alarming
depletion in their numbers, due to hunting and poaching
that led to the conservation of this area in 1926.
In 1940,
Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary. Though poaching
still constitutes a major threat to the rhino
population, the numbers of this species are fairly
healthy.
At Kaziranga, the open country makes wildlife viewing
fairly easy. A day's outing is often sufficient for
visitors to see most of the major species here.
Elephants take them into the Park at dawn. As the mist
lifts and the rising sun touches the hills in the
distance, herds of barasingha and wild buffalo are to be
seen in the marshes.
The most ferocious bovine in the world, the massive wild
buffalo is impressive and can weigh up to 915 kg. Rhinos
browse unconcernedly as the visitors pass by and an
occasional herd of elephants or wild boar is also
sighted.
The grasslands are raptor country and the crested
serpent eagle, the Pallas fishing eagle and grey headed
fishing eagle can be seen circling over the marshes.
The water-bird variety includes swamp partridge,
bar-headed goose, whistling teal, the Bengal florican,
storks, herons and even pelicans.
Located along the main highway, Kaziranga is easily
accessible and the chance to see animals in the wild at
such close quarters makes a visit to the Park a very
rewarding experience.
Best Time to
Visit - Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga's visiting season is from
mid-November to early April months. 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 Kaziranga National Park.
How to Get there
Air :
The nearest airport is situated at Guwahati,
which is 217-km away from the park. The other airport is
located at Jorhat, 97-km from Kaziranga.
Rail : The nearest railhead is
Furkating, situated 75-km away from Kaziranga National
Park.
Road : The main gate for Kaziranga
Wildlife Sanctuary, at Kohora on the NH-37, consists of a
handful of cafes and a small local market. ASTC and private
buses stop here on their way to and from Guwahati, Tezpur
and Upper Assam. Some private buses also retain a seat
quota for Kaziranga passengers.
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