'''[http://www.kaziranga-national-park.com/ Kaziranga National park]''' is in Assam, India and is famous as the home of the rhinoceros.thumb|Group of Rhinos

==Understand==[http://www.kazirangatours.net] Kaziranga is one of the oldest National parks in India and it is the largest habitat for Indian single horned rhinos (rhinoceros unicornis). Kaziranga is also a World Heritage Site.

History

Kaziranga National Park was said to be first recognized around 1940, but was established in 1974.

In the heart of Assam, located on the banks of the mighty Brahamputra River, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds. With Open country covered mostly with elephant grass, Kaziranga gives visitors a chance to see the fauna at fairly close quarters.

Situated in Golaghat and Nagaon district, the Kaziranga National Park extends over an area of 430 sq. km. It is bounded by the Mikir Hills on the South and Bramhaputra River on the north. The park, 217 km from the capital of Assam, Guwahati was declared a Wildlife sanctuary in 1950 and accorded the status of a National Park in 1974. The park divided into central, eastern and western sectors consists of semi- evergreen-forested highlands, rivulets, marshes and extensive plains covered with tall elephant grass up to 6 metres high.

The park is famous for Indian one horned rhinoceros, which can reach a height of over two metres and weigh more than two tonnes. The area was declared a game reserve in 1908 to save the one-horned rhino. The total number of rhinoceros in the park totals more than a thousand which is 70 percent of the total population of this species in the country.

The park also has elephants, swamp or wild buffalo (Over 70% of the world population), swamp deer, hog deer, barking deer, sambar/ Hoolock gibbon, pythons, civet cat, wild boar and tigers. There is a rich variety of fresh water fowls, over 450 species of woodland and grassland birds of which 18 species are globally threatened. Birds like the egrets, pond herons, river tern, black necked storks, pelican, partridges, Bengal florican stork, pied hornbill, fishing eagle are found in abundance. The river here has the gharial (fish eating crocodile) and dolphins.

March - April is best for animal sightings. Trained elephants are available as mounts for seeing the rhinos at close range. Elephant rides which last around one hour, should be booked the previous evening at the park administrative Centre in Kohora.

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Kaziranga hosts a rich and diverse population of almost 42 species of fish, 9 species of amphibians, 27 species of reptiles, more than491 species of birds and 35 species of mammals. Among the larger mammals, there are almost 86 tigers (2000 census), 1048 elephants (2002 census), 1552 rhinos (1999 census), 1431 buffalo (2001 census) and 486 swamp deer. Kaziranga also houses more than 546 species of flora. Kaziranga is said to have about 86 tigers, which is the highest density of tigers in the world (1 every 5 km, 2000 census)

Visitors seldom see tigers due to the dense, tall grass. The rhinoceros is the real star of the park. Kaziranga also has one of the very last populations of truly wild Asian water buffalo, but even here there are many feral descendants of domesticated water buffalo, and hybridization occurs. The park is also the last haven for greater adjutant storks, with fewer than one hundred nesting pairs.

Climate

Climate is typically tropical. Varies from very hot and humid in summer (April to June) and cold nights and warm days in winter (from November to January). Kaziranga gets flooded by the water of Brahmaputra almost every year, during monsoon. The rainy season prevails from June to August. During rain, Kaziranga becomes inaccessible. Best time to visit Kaziranga is in September - October or February/March.

Get in

'''By Bus''' form Guwahati, Jorhat, Nawgaon, Dibrugarh or Tinsukia. Get down at Kohora in Guwahat-Jorhat route. Bus fare varies between private service and Government service.

'''By Air'''- Nearest airport is in Jorhat town, which is 96 km away from Kaziranga. Jorhat is connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati by regular flights.

'''By Rail'''- The nearest railway station to Kaziranga is Furkating, which is 80 km away. Furkating is connected by trains from Delhi and Kolkata.

'''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 [http://www.kickstartadventures.com/ 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.

Fees/Permits

Jeep Ride: Rs.650-1200/-.

Elephant Ride: Rs.300/- for Indian National,International - 1000/- per person.

There is an extra charge of Rs. 50/-(indian)-500/-(international) for carrying a still camera (which is a basic equipment for visiting such places).

Get around

See

Watch wildlife either from elephant back or from jeep. All the plain lands are infested by tall elephant grass, so it is more convenient to watch wildlife from elephant back. Rhinos, wild buffalo, hog deer etc can be easily seen from elephant back. Most of the animals are habituated with human presence and don't feel shy. Keeping a good binocular is a must on jeep or elephant back.

Do

  • Stay at one of the local lodges, such as Wild Grass Resort or Diphlu River Lodge. A evening of music and great food rounds off the day so nicely.
  • Take an elephant ride into the grassland for up-close encounters with the famous one-horned rhinocerous. Elephant rides take place very early in the morning and last about an hour.
  • Take a jeep tour of the park to see other wildlife such as storks, fish-eagles, and barasingha (swamp deer).
  • Buy

    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.

    Eat

    Number of restaurants are limited in that area. All the tourist lodges have their own facility for food. Most of the time the food is little expensive. There is a office cum resting place for Network Buses, there food is available for non passengers too. Only few rice hotel is there at Kohora near National highway.

    Drink

    There are several wine shops at Kohora. Though liqueur is not cheap. Getting chilled bottle is not possible every time because there is acute power shortage in that area.

    Sleep

    The places in Kaziranga to stay comfortably are,WILD GRASS,COTTAGE HRISHIKESH,EMMERALD,IORA,DHONSIRI as they have specialist guides and very beautiful grounds.

    For further information contact

    Wild Grass, Kaziranga Ph: 0091 3776 262085 email: wildgrasskaziranga@gmail.com website: [www.oldassam.com]

    Cottage Hrishikesh ph:0091 3776 262420,009954364952 email:hrishikeshtravels@gmail.com web:[[www.hrishikeshtravels.info/cottege.html]

    Government Tourist lodges like Bonoshree, Bonani and Prantik are there. Contact information for Government accommodations are as follows- Bonani- 03776-262423, Aranya- 03776-262429, Kohora forest IB-03776-262428, Bagori - 03672-283463

    Director of Tourism can be also contacted: Guwahati : 0361-2547102, 2542748 Email: astdcorpn@sancharnet.in

    Private resorts like Landmark Woods - a world class resort near the western range of the park. Ph.: +91 9957189228, 9957189229 Email : landmarktours@sify.com

    Camping

    Backcountry

    Stay safe

    Hiking in Kaziranga is prohibited to stop man-animal conflicts, so going on a jeep or elephant-back tour are the only options. There is malaria in the region, but night-flying mosquitos are not active during the winter months which are the ideal time for visiting. Most local cases of malaria occur in the summer, when the park is closed anyway.

    Get out

    Hills of Karby Anglong district is a nice place for an outing. Drive down to Shiv Sagar, in Upper Assam, to visit the famed "Rong Ghor", an Amphitheatre built by Ahom Kings for their entertainmant.