Tiger Reserves In India

Assam Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

Introduction

The Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest, well known and the most successful protected areas in India. The Tiger Reserve is a part of the Kaziranga National Park and is home to more than 60 percent of the world’s One Horned Rhinos. This reserve located in the Nagaon and Golashat districts of Assam has turned out to be the most successful wildlife sanctuary in India and has highest tiger density in the world, in the 430 sq km area of the National Park.

Apart from these, the Kaziranga area is a haven for many rare and common birds and hoofed animals. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and is on the southern fringe of the Eastern Himalayas Biodiversity Hotspot.

History

The Kaziranga region was first protected as a Forest Reserve by the British Government of India in 1905, which is mainly credited to Mary Curzon, the wife of the then Viceroy of India - Lord Gorge Curzon. The original area of 232 sq km of Kaziranga Reserve was increased by 152 sq km in 1908 and later in 1916, was made into a Game Reserve.

The area was then turned into a Wildlife Sanctuary during 1950 and 1954. The government raised its status from a sanctuary to a National Park in 1968 by increasing its area to the present one by 1974. UNESCO recognized the Kaziranga National Park in 1985 and was included in the Project Tiger in 2006.

Weather And Best Time To Visit

The weather in Kaziranga is damp and hot in summers. There is destructive and extensive flooding in the monsoons. The best time to visit Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is between November and April.

Places To Visit

There are two nearby places of interest for visitors, namely the Buxa Tiger Reserve and the Manas National Park.

How To Reach

By Air

Closest domestic and international airports are Rowriah (97 km) and Guwahati (217 km) respectively.

By Train

The Furkating Frontier Railway (75 km) is the nearest from where one can travel to Bokakhat (23 km) to reach Kaziranga

By Bus

The National Highway No. 37 connects the Kaziranga National Park directly to Guwahati and other nearby towns and cities. State run bus services from Tezpur and Guwahati run shuttles to Kaziranga.

Flora And Fauna

Flora

The vegetation in Kaziranga National Park is a mixture of Low-lying Grasslands, tropical deciduous and semi-evergreen forests and savannah forests. This is further supported by the satellite data.

There are many different varieties of common and rare plants and trees in the Kazirangan plains and forests.

Fauna

Birds

Many birds are resident in this reserve and many others migrate here for winter or mating. There are several species of rare and threatened birds that are reported in Kaziranga.

Herpatofauna

The Reserve is home to a large variety of snakes, amphibians and other reptiles, and includes some of the rarest and endangered species in India.

Mammals

Kazirang Tiger Reserve records indicate 15 threatened animals among the 35 prominent mammal species. Apart from the Rhino and Tiger, the animals like Wild Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer and Deer Hog are important species of this Range.

Wildlife

The wildlife of Kaziranga is most astounding and is one of the most diverse a regular tourist can ever see. The Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is the best place to spot a Tiger, resting or hunting and even if one does not spot a Tiger, there are other majestic creatures that are worth the visit.

Timings

Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is open during November-April

Daily schedule is from 5.15 AM to 3.30 PM.

Closing time varies according to circumstances.

Where To Stay

There are many options from accommodation in Forest rest houses to comfortable hotels in nearby cities.

Map

Photo Gallery