The
Kaziranga National Park is the only National Park in the State situated in central
Assam with an area of 430sq. km. It is the home of the great Indian one horned
Rhinoceros (Unicornis). The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant
grass, rugged reeds, mellow marshes and shallow pools.
Kaziranga has
a history of its own. Lady Curzon first heard about the Rhinos of Kaziranga from
her British tea planter friends and came to Assam in 1904-05. Although she could
not see the animal, she spotted hoof prints with three toes and believed that
such an animal did exist. On her return, she persuaded lord Curzon to do something
to save this animal from total annihilation.
Lord Curzon set the wheels
of the British bureaucracy rolling, and on June 1, 1905, a preliminary notification
announcing the intention of the Government to declare 57,273.60 acres of Kaziranga
as a reserved forest was issued. Finally, Kaziranga was declared as reserved forest
on January 3, 1908, and was officially closed for shooting.
On January
28, 1913 the area of reserved forest was expanded with the inclusion of another
13,506 acres. Kaziranga was declared a Game Sanctuary on November10, 1916. In
1938, the then conservator of forest, A.J.W. Milroy stopped all poaching and opened
Kaziranga to visitors. Because the word 'game' connotated animals for hunting,
in 1950, the then senior conservator of forest Mr P D Stracey, changed the term
to 'wildlife sanctuary'.
Gradually the sanctuary, begun as a nucleus
encompassing a small area, expanded to its present size. Finally on February 11,
1974, the name was changed to Kaziranga National Park.
The one horned
Rhinoceros, Elephant, Indian bison, Swamp Deer, Samber, Hog Deer, Sloth Bear,
Tiger, Leopard cat, Jungle cat, Hog badger, Capped langur, Hollock gibbon, Jackal,
Goose, Hornbills, Ibis, Cormorants, Egret, Heron fishing eagle etc. all form a
part of the very complex ecological balance of the park. During Winter a large
number of migratory birds are also seen here.
How
To Reach :
Kaziranga
is 239 km from the Guwahati airport and 97 km from the Jorhat airport. Regular
bus services run by the State Transport Corporation, Travel Agencies, Tourist
taxis are available. The Bus stoppage for Kaziranga is known as Kohora. The nearest
railhead is Furkating at a distance of 75 km.
General Information :
The average temperature
around Kaziranga National Park in summer is 32.2° C and in winter 10°
C. The average rainfall is 160 cm. Tourists are advised to wear cotton in summer
and woolens in winter. The best season for visiting Kaziranga is November to April.
The off season is from May to October.
Click
Here for Reservation / More Information
Kaziranga
National Park
Introduction :: How
to Reach :: Genaral Information
:: Kaziranga National Park ::
Birds Species Record
Map of Kaziranga :: Kaziranga
Accommodation :: Mammals of Kaziranga
:: Flora and Fauna
Wildlife Conservation ::
Virtual Tour of Kaziranga :: Living
with Rhinos - A recent experience
