Indian Talent, Global Content
|
Indian Talent, Global Content |
November 2008: What's in the breeze |
A journey to Kaziranga, Home to the One-Horned Rhinoceros, is an Awe Inspiring Experience
Kaziranga - The kingdom of RhinosThe Northeastern states of India, commonly referred to as the ‘Seven Sisters’, offer some exclusive tourist destinations. High mountain ranges, beautiful hills, sprawling tea gardens, waterfalls, lakes, lush green fields and breathtaking scenery are hallmarks of this area. But, apart from all this one of the ‘Seven Sisters’ has something very unique to offer; the natural habitat of one of the world’s most rare and fascinating creatures. The one-horned rhinos (unicornis) are found only in this part of the world. Kaziranga National Park has managed to survive the onslaught of poachers, urbanization and a burgeoning human population. Ever since its formation in 1940, Kaziranga National Park has entertained wildlife and nature lovers to the fullest. Location…Situated in Assam, one of the beautiful Northeastern states, Kaziranga National Park is surrounded by the Brahamaputra River in the north and the Karbi Anglong Hills in the south, which run along the national highway 37. The park covers approximately 430 square kilometers and is a mix of deep thick jungles, tall elephant grass, marshes and shallow pools. A drive of about 5-6 hours from Guwahati will take you to Kaziranga. As you drive through the highway, chains of sprawling tea gardens, bamboo huts and betel nut plants give you the essence of this part of the country. Greenery starved urban dwellers will rejoice in the rich hues of nature. Try to reach before evening as it will help you get bookings for the next day’s safari. The Safari…The journey to this fascinating world starts at the crack of dawn. A twenty minute drive from the hotel takes you to the entry point of the park. On the way you might catch a glimpse of a deer or a rabbit amidst the tall grass on either side of the road. At the entry point there are few formalities that need to be completed and then the fabulous tour begins. There are two safaris, which allow you to explore the area - an elephant safari and a jeep safari. The Elephant Safari…I have enjoyed safaris at several national parks, but Kaziranga’s elephant safari stole the show. It can be scary initially when the elephant lumbers through the puddles before entering the grassland. However, the mahouts put you at ease and are good company throughout the ride as they narrate some interesting stories and facts about the animals. As you venture deeper into the tall grass it’s time to take out your camera as the scene gets more exciting. You get to see rhinos, not one or two, but many. However, before you share your excitement with someone by screaming, the mahout will shut you up - be quiet or else they will run away. These one-horned rhinos are found only in Kaziranga, which makes you’re experience very special. Some of them are oblivious of your presence, and some might stare back at you, but they are quite used to visitors so they don’t mind being photographed. The rhinos are not the only attractions at the park. Wild boar, sambars, herds of elephants, deer and bands of jumping langoors also inhabit the park. As the sun blazes, most of the animals start seeking shelter in the grass. However, the wild buffaloes will surely oblige you. This is the precise reason why early morning trips are the best when it comes to the elephant safari. The hour and a half long ride comes to an end much too quickly and leaves you with a sense of awe. You just cannot get enough of it. When I got off the elephant and looked at the grassland, I was taken aback. Did I really go inside such a deep forest? From the road it’s hard to imagine that this grassland is the habitat of some of the most beautiful animals and that you have actually seen them all. Jeep Safari…A jeep safari takes you to the core areas of the forest. After the elephant safari, you can take a jeep safari along with a driver and a forest guard, who doubles as a guide. To get the maximum out of this jeep safari the mantra is to keep your senses on high alert. You might not see them, but at times sounds will help you spot the animals. The jeep stops near a few water bodies where tigers and leopards might be. Apart from viewing the animals, the journey inside the forest itself is a breathtaking experience. Lush greenery, beautiful flowers, hills in the background and the sunlight piercing in through the bushes makes Kaziranga an absolute visual treat. What does the little birdie say?Well, the little birdie says a lot in Kaziranga. Apart from the wild animals, birds are also something to look out for. There are about 5000 different species of birds at the sanctuary and there are a large number of tourists who visit Kaziranga exclusively for bird watching. Some of the species include Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, some rare species of Blackbuck and others. Huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the park lakes during the winter season. Some of them are Greylag Gees, Bar Headed Geese and Ruddy Shedluck. Time to Visit…The summer and monsoons are a big no-no for Kaziranga. The Brahamaputra flows furiously during this time of year and floods these areas extensively. The park is closed to visitors during this season. Kaziranga is at its best in winter and the park is fully operational from November to April. Prior booking is preferable because of the huge rush. An adventurous destination with unmatched beauty is how I would like to describe Kaziranga. I will probably never be able to get over the hangover I have from this amazing experience and will cherish it throughout my life. Kaziranga is awesome! Important FactsAirway: The nearest airport is Guwahati, which is 250-km from the park. The other airport is located at Jorhat, 97-km from Kaziranga. Road: Well connected with all the parts of Assam. From Guwahati it is around 5-6 hrs drive. Reservation Authority : Joint Director of Tourism, Kaziranga, P.O Kaziranga National Park, District Jorhat, Assam – 785612 Entry RequirementsVisitors to the Kaziranga National Park are required to register at the Tourist Centre while entering the park. The entry fee for foreigners is about Rs 200; for Indians it’s Rs 10. Charges for cameras and vehicles are additional (even if you bring your own vehicle, you’ll pay a fee for it). Rented vehicles and elephant rides cost between Rs 750 to 800 for a ride of about an hour and a half. The fees for Indian visitors are appreciably less- generally between Rs 50 for an elephant ride and Rs 150 for a hired jeep. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article... Does wildlife excite you?
Chillibreeze writers can write travel articles about any destination in India or abroad. Contact us for your content requirements.
>> Read more articles written by our chillibreeze staff and writers network:1. Chillibreeze Top Rated Articles
|
Services Content Development FAQ Expat eBooks India Centric Reports e-publishing
|
Copyright 2004 - 2008 Chillibreeze Solutions Pvt. Ltd. |
.gif)
Developing India-centric content for a new web portal targeted at NRIs
