Explore Kaziranga National Park Assam

Are you a wildlife lover? Do you love to explore new places and experience new cultures? Then Assam is the place to go. Blessed with an abundance of national parks like the Manas National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park, Nameri National Park, and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, it is a wildlife lover’s dream destination. Among the many, Kaziranga National Park, Assam is the most popular. It is spread over an area of 430 sq km, is the habitat of the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses as well as many mammals including tigers, elephants, panthers, and bears. Kaziranga National Park, Assam, is also home to thousands of bird species. No wonder, Kaziranga National Park, Assam, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment.

Kaziranga National Park is about a 5-hour drive from Guwahati in Golaghat in the Nagaon district of Assam. There are many hotels, lodges and, resorts in Kaziranga that you can check into a day before your safari, which tends to start early in the morning. If you are an early riser, do opt for the Elephant safari which begins as early as 5 am. If not, you can always get on a jeep safari which is equally exciting. The park is divided into 4 zones and the jeep takes you through them all. The safaris are regulated and controlled by the Forest Department (Government of Assam) and can be booked through them directly or through travel agents, or even hotel desks.

The next day you can enjoy a scenic drive along, and a ferry ride across the Brahmaputra river to visit Majuli, the cultural capital of Assam and also the largest river island in the world. It is home to tribals with a unique culture. You can experience this through a visit to the Satras, institutional centers for the preservation of traditional indigenous practices and culture of the Assamese society, which is still practiced here. You can spend the night at a homestay to accentuate your cultural immersion with good hospitality. You can choose to return back to Kaziranga the next day and take a spa day at some wonderful resorts here before you head back or take a longer drive down to Guwahati and spend the evening indulging in shopping for souvenirs and local goodies.

You can plan an exciting trip to Kaziranga. Know more here: https://www.tourgenie.com/assam-tour-packages/explore-kaziranga-national-park-assam

Kamakhya Mandir in Guwahati to Wonderful Meghalaya

Have you ever wanted to go on a holiday that fulfills your parent’s religious wants, your brother’s thirst for adventure and your love for serene picturesque locales? Then a trip to Guwahati, Shillong and Cherrapunjee will do the trick.

Begin as most of the trips to North-East India do, at Guwahati, which also happens to be the ‘City of Temples’ and the largest metropolis in North-East India. The main attraction for anyone visiting Guwahati is Kamakhya Mandir, a 16^th-century temple complex dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya. The best time to visit Kamakhya Mandir, Guwahati, to see a special occurrence in this temple, is in June, when the river turns red around the temple. There are many other temples in and around Guwahati like the Umananda Temple on Peacock Island which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, The Bhimasankar Jyotirling temple ot the recent addition of the Sree Balaji Temple. You can also enjoy a visit to the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, which is the largest of its kind in the North East region and is spread across 432 acres or take a delightful evening cruise on the Brahmaputra. You can also choose to indulge in some od fashioned shopping at Paan Bazaar.

The next day, you will take a scenic drive down to the hill station of Shillong. En-route, you will visit the Umiam Lake, a delightful man-made lake with amazing views. On reaching Shillong you can visit the Nan Polok or Ward’s Lake, Lady hyderi Park and the Don Bosco Musuem. There is also an amazing Butterfly Museum, if that interests you. In the evening, you can shop for souvenirs or local goodies at the Police Bazaar.

The next day, head towards Cherapunjee, which once was the wettest place on earth. En-route, visit the fourth highest waterfall in the world, Nohkalikai Falls, Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, and Mawkdowk view point where you can go for zip lining if you choose to. Later visit more exciting places like the Seven Sister Falls, Dainthellen Falls , Eco Park and, the Mawsmai Cave and Arwah Cave which involve a bit of short trekking. You can then return back to Shillong from where you can proceed towards your onward destination the next morning.

You can plan an exciting trip to Kamahya, Shillong and Cherrapunjee. Know more here: https://www.tourgenie.com/assam-tour-packages/leisure-tour-to-kamakhya-shillong-cheerapunjee

Explore Guwahati to Shillong

From the land of the one-horned rhinoceros to the home of clouds and rain, a journey to Assam and Meghalaya is always refreshing. While Assam boasts of tea gardens, the mighty Brahmaputra, the Kaziranga National Park and a host of temples, Meghalaya is home to rolling highlands, innumerable waterfalls, caves and even the cleanest village in India.

A trip to these two fascinating states starts at Guwahati, which is a base for entering any of the other 6 north-eastern states in India. In the heart of Assam, close to Guwahati, lies the Kaziranga National Park, a world heritage site as declared by UNESCO. You can reach Guwahati and take a 5-hour drive down to this National Park. As safaris only take place in the mornings, you can relax and absorb the surroundings as you prepare for an exciting day. The next day, you can take a jeep-safari or even an Elephant ride, which is controlled by the Forest Department of the Govt. of Assam, into the sanctuary and experience the exotic wildlife this place has to offer. The rest of the day can be enjoyed by visiting a tea garden and local communities in villages nearby.

The next day, drive down to Shillong, the charming hill-station capital of Meghalaya and fondly called the ‘Scotland of the East’. Indulge in good old-fashioned sightseeing in and around Shillong which offers museums, waterfalls, lake, and picturesque view points. After a day at Shillong, move towards Cherrapunjee, which was at one time, the wettest place on earth. Explore the Living Root Bridge and a short trek which will be around 3.5 km from the resort you can put up at. The next day is for an excursion to Mwallynong which is a 3 hrs drive from Cherrapunjee. It is dubbed the cleanest village in India by Discover India Magazine. Have an insight into Khasi culture and way of life here and return back to Shillong.

For your final stop, you will head back to Guwahati because the next day, you will be visiting the famous Kamakhya Mandir on the Nilachal hill. You can also visit the Sankardev Kalakshetra, a cultural institution in the Panjabari area of Guwahati or take a cruise down the Brahamputra river before you bid adieu this fascinating land. Don’t forget to indulge in some shopping at Paan bazaar to pick up curios and souvenirs.

Plan your dream visit to Guwahati and Shillong at: https://www.tourgenie.com/assam-tour-packages/explore-guwahati-to-shillong

National Parks in Assam: Manas National Park

Situated at the foothills of the mighty Eastern Himalayas, Manas National Park is a densely forested area at an average elevation of 85m above sea-level. It got its name from the Manas River, which, in turn, is a great tributary of the river Brahmaputra that passes through the park. It is interesting to note that in 1992, UNESCO had declared this national park as a world heritage site in danger, owing to heavy poaching and terrorist activities. Manas National Park is flooded by tourists from all over the world who visit to catch glimpses of many wildlife species such as the Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare, Assam Roofed Turtle, Wild Water Buffaloes, etc.

If you are planning to visit Assam, you must include the Manas National Park in your itinerary. The Manas National Park area is located between two districts of Assam- Chirang and Baksa. The nearest airport to Manas National Park is Guwahati, which is around 5 hours drive away. Bansbari is the entry point to Manas National Park where Musa Jungle Retreat is located. Hotels are quite scarce in Manas National Park but one can find a host of comfortable lodges offering decent accommodation and they arrange safaris too.

Manas National Park tourism offers a wide range of activities for tourists to enjoy. Jeep Safari: Being home to over 20 endangered species of birds and animals, Manas National Park promises sightings of exotic wildlife and an excellent Elephant safari. Being home to local Bodo villages, the sanctuary has several small indigenous communities of Ghatigaon and Ragu Bil living peacefully together. The best time to visit the Manas National Park is between November and April. Note that Manas National Park is partially open in the months of May and October. On the other hand, Manas National Park remains closed from June to September due to monsoons.

Pack your bags and head to Manas National Park today!

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/national-parks-in-assam-manas-national-park

Kaziranga National Park

No trip to Assam is complete without visiting the iconic Kaziranga National Park. It is located amidst two districts of the state, Nagaon, and Golaghat. Not just rhinos and tigers, the majestic Kaziranga National Park also shelters huge numbers of elephants, buffalos, swamp deer, and other animals. Tropical broadleaf forest, tall elephant grass, and marshland form an excellent biosphere for the wildlife here. The airport nearest to Kaziranga National Park, Assam, is Jorhat (Rowirah) Airport, which is located 96 kilometers away. Other major railway stations with proximity to Kaziranga National Park are Furkating Junction and the Guwahati railway station. Kaziranga has numerous government and private lodges, hotels, as well as luxury hotels close to Kaziranga National Park that promise a comfortable stay for all visitors.

Kaziranga in Assam receives a lot of rainfall, which sometimes leads to flooding in Kaziranga National Park. Hence, Kaziranga National Park remains closed for visitors from May to October. The best time to visit Kaziranga National Park in Assam is between November and April.

The best way to experience the wilderness here, is through an elephant safari or jeep safari provided by the park itself. The forest department of the Government of Assam also arranges jeep safaris for the tourists inside Kaziranga National Park. Unlike elephant safari, jeep safari covers a larger area of Kaziranga National Park. The primary visitor activities here, are observing wildlife and birding. Safaris allow photography inside Kaziranga National Park. Numerous ponds are spread across Kaziranga National Park adding to its beauty. Additionally, the forest department has set up an interpretation center at Bagori, Kaziranga, to let visitors learn more about Kaziranga National Park, Assam. The Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park is a recent set up at Durgapur village located in Chirang district in Assam. It has become one of the latest attractions to tourists visiting Kaziranga National Park, Assam.

General guidelines when visiting Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Maintain silence
Do not try to agitate animals
Do not leave litter behind
Do not get out of the vehicle except at designated areas
Do not leave the designated trails
Avoid wearing bright colored clothing

Read full article at: https://www.tourgenie.com/travel-diaries/travel-blogs/kaziranga-national-park