Kaziranga National Park is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros but did
you know there was a time there were very few rhinoceros found there? Due to
hunting and poaching the numbers reduced to almost nothing but due to the
efforts of WWF and Government of India we have successfully protected this
incredible species. Let’s know more about the beautiful Kaziranga National
Park!!!
Kaziranga National Park was formed in 1905 and consisted of 232km2 of
elephant grass, marshlands and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests. In 1904,
Mary Curzon, Baroness of Kedleston went to this area to see the famous rhinos
but when she was unable to spot any of these beautiful species she persuades her
husband, Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon of Kedleston to protect that area and
convert it into “Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest”. In 1908 152 km2
more area was added to the reserve and in 1968 it was given the title of
“National Park”. In 1985 UNESCO declared Kaziranga as a “World Heritage Site”.
Other than having the famous rhinoceros, it is also home to the elegant
Royal Bengal Tiger and used to have the highest density of tigers until
recently. It is home to elephants, wild Asiatic water buffalos, eastern swamp
deer, wild boar, hog deer etc. The one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger,
Asiatic Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo and Swamp Deer are considered as the “Big
Five” of Kaziranga.
Kaziranga is rich in flora as it is in fauna, common tall grasses are
sugarcanes, spear grass, elephant grass and common reed. In the thick evergreen
forest areas, near kanchanjhuri, panbari and tamulipathar blocks you will find
trees such as Aphanamixis, Polystachya, Talauma Hodgsonii etc.
On your way to Kaziranga you will see that animals are crossing the roads
and people living there are also in peace with these beautiful creatures. The
best time to visit Kaziranga is from November to April, it is partially open in
October and May but it is fully closed from June to September. My family
visited Kaziranga in October so we couldn’t visit the part we were so
interested in and we couldn’t even get the elephant safari due to the weather,
so I would suggest you go during November to April which is the best time to
visit for a safari. You will find numerous hotels in the region and souvenir
shops are also spread all over the area. The breathtakingly beautiful roads
will open your eyes and the greenery of this area will make you want to live
there forever.
Although Kaziranga is a bit far from north India it is a place you must
visit, it teaches shows us the nature in a way you have never seen before. The
abundance of wildlife will shock you, when you enter the reserve you will find
all these astonishing species walking beside you not attacking you but watching
you in peace. Kaziranga is truly a very beautiful place and a sanctuary for the
amazing fauna of our country.
By: Tunnisha Das Gupta (FullFry)
