Kaziranga National Park - home of the world famous one-horned rhino!

Situated in Nagaon and Golaghat districts of Assam on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, Kaziranga lies at the foot of the Mikir Hills that rise to a height of 1,220 m., some eight kilometres from Bokakhat. Wetlands, grasslands, forests and riverine habitats fed by the Brahmaputra River… Kaziranga has them all."No one can enter the place. It is all swamps and leeches and even elephants cannot go there", was the response of a British forest officer in 1930 to the famous naturalist E.P. Gee, author of Wildlife of India, who had requested permission to visit Kaziranga. Today, Kaziranga is a World Heritage Site and is probably one of the richest, most picturesque wildlife habitats of southern Asia. November to April is the best time to visit. These winter months are generally mild and dry with mean maximum and minimum temperatures at 25°C and 5°C respectively. The park is closed from June to September.The best distance visibility is between February and April when the tall elephant grass is burned. Dry and windy summers extend from mid-February to May with mean maximum temperatures at 37°C and minimum temperatures of 7°C. Accommodation Lodges, guesthouses and hotels owned by the Assam Tourism Department ensure a comfortable stay at Kohora. The tariff in these hotels suits every budget. Aranya is the most comfortable with large rooms-A/C and non A/C and room service. Bonani is smaller with five A/C rooms and a restaurant. Bonoshree has eight double rooms with attached baths. Kunjaban has a dormitory arrangement. Reservations must be made at the Tourist Office or Park Headquarters.For information on the tourist lodges, call the Joint Director Tourism Kaziranga, Dist. Golaghat, Assam 785109. Tel.:03776-4523/4529. At Kohora, Bagori and Bokaghat, government accommodation is available.The Kaziranga Forest Lodge is run by the ITDC and has a bar and A/C rooms. Permissions and bookings can be requested from the Director, Kaziranga National Park, Dist. Jorhat, Assam. Wild Grass ranks among the more special of the country's accommodation providers for natural area visitors. Located in the middle of Bochagoan village of Kaziranga, this attractive hotel is set in a rural setting with its grounds having more than 40 species of full-grown trees and over 200 species of climbers, creepers and shrubs.. There is an in-house naturalist as well as three excellent birdwatchers capable of identifying over 300 species of birds and local species of trees and plants. For reservations, contact the Wild Grass Lodge at Kaziranga. Tel.: 03776-624374 or the Head Office in Guwahati at Barua Bhavan, 107, M.C. Road, Uzanbazar, Guwahati - 781001. Tel.:0361 - 546827; Fax: 541186. Transport By Air: Jorhat is about 90 km away from Kaziranga and the closest airport. Transport should be arranged beforehand to receive one at the airport through the lodge. The drive from Guwahati airport is 220 km, but the road is picturesque and extremely motorable. Arrange a pickup and if not vehicles can be rented on the spot. By Rail: Jorhat (90 km.) Furketing (75 km.) and Guwahati (200 km.) are the nearest stations from where you must take a bus or hire a private vehicle. By Road: Bokakhat (23 km) is the closest town. State transport buses, A/C and non-A/C ply daily between Guwahati and Kaziranga. The Department of Tourism, Government of Assam, conducts package tours to Kaziranga from Guwahati everyday except Tuesdays and Fridays. The buses leave Guwahati at 10.30 am and return at 4.00 pm the following day. Reservations can be made at the Tourism office in Guwahati. Within the reserve: Four-wheeled vehicles that can handle rough, though motorable, roads make the most sense. These can be rented on a per kilometre basis plus a toll fee. Permission to enter the park must be obtained from the Range Forest Office and an armed forest guard must be present in every vehicle (personal vehicles are also allowed on payment of fees). Mihimukh near Kohora is the most popular starting point for most visitors. Early morning rides (5.30 and 7.00 a.m.) on Forest Department elephants can be booked here. Walking inside the park is strictly prohibited, but birdwatching on foot (take a guide) outside the park boundary or even along the national highway can be very rewarding.