State
: Assam in North East India.Best Time to Travel : November to April.
Location : The Manas National Park is located at a distance of 176 km from Guwahati. It is about 41 km from the Barpeta road.
Know the Manas National Park
Manas National Park in Assam is situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and a part of it continues across the international border into Bhutan, where it is known as the Royal Manas National Park. Covering an area of 391 sq km, the Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on 1st of October, 1928 and was designated a World Heritage site in December 1985.
The Assam Manas National Park with its picturesque beauty and incomparable wealth of wildlife offers one of the most enthralling experiences. The sanctuary also a world heritage site is home to a great variety of wildlife, including tiger, golden langur, wild buffalo, hispid hare, pigmy hog, capped langur, Indian one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, gaur, hog deer, etc.
Park Speciality
Manas known for its Project Tigers, Rhinos & Elephants, and is Assam's one of the two Tiger projects. Journey to the Manas National Park in Assam
Airport : Manas Park is 176-kms from Guwahati. The nearest airport is Borjhar, which is situated, 5-km out of town, and can be reached by rickshaw, auto rickshaw or airline buses.
Railhead : The nearest railhead is situated at Barpeta road.
Road Transport : Buses regularly ply from Guwahati to Barpeta Road in 4½ hrs.
Staying near the Manas National Park
The only accommodation facilities available inside the park are two bungalows at Mathanguri. There are no arrangements here for catering and all rations should be carried in with you.
Other than the bungalows at Mathanguri inside the park, tourist lodges are available at Barpeta Road and Bansbari. Food is not a problem here and they are located an hour's drive from the park. The facilities offered are pretty basic and the charges are quite economical.
The Park Ecosystem
The Landscape
The landscape of the park is mostly small grasslands located between the densely forested foothills with many rivulets, streams and natural drains flowing all over. In the lower regions, there are many smooth sandy belts with clumps of trees growing in and around them. In general, Manas National Park in Assam offers some of the most pleasing natural surroundings in the country.
The Flora
The vegetation that covers most of the park is of the mixed deciduous variety. This mixed forest is interspersed by small glades of grass where deer can be seen grazing in large numbers. The Fauna
The animal population of Manas is very excitingly diverse. Some of the more fierce or potentially aggressive creatures it shelters within it's region are Tigers, Elephants, Rhinos, Wild Buffaloes, Leopards, Clouded Leopards and the rare Black Panthers.
The park is also a haven for 22 highly endangered species of Hispid Hare and the Pygmy Hog.
Some of the other animals sighted while exploring the park are Gaurs, Swamp Deer, Capped Langurs, Golden Langurs, Assamese Macaques, Slow Loris, Hoolock Gibbons, Smooth Indian Otters, Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Sambar and Chital.
The
BirdsAssam Manas National Park is a favourite with many bird species, both resident and migratory. Some of these are Giant Hornbills, Jungle Fowls, Bulbuls, Brahminy Ducks, Khaleej Pheasants, Egrets, Pelicans, Fishing Eagles, Serpent Eagles, Falcons, Scarlet Minivets, Bee-Eaters, Magpie Robins, Pied Hornbills, Gray Hornbills, Mergansers, Harriers, Ospreys and Herons.
Trip within the Manas National Park
Jeep Safaris
The ideal way to view most part of the park is in a 4-wheel drive petrol vehicle. This will get you to each of the parts without being too noisy.
Boat Rides
These boats rides are best for viewing animals like the wild buffaloes. Some of the animals that comes out on the banks of the river Manas can be seen from the safety and serenity of a boat which commences its ride from Mathanguri and ends around 35km away, from where one is picked up by pre-arranged transport.
Elephant Rides
The most favourite of all is the elephant rides organised by the park authorities from Mathanguri. These take you deep in to the remote areas of the forest and often ride in between some of the wildlife there, including elephants, rhinos and wild buffaloes.
