Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site, covers almost 430 km² of Brahmaputra floodplain grasslands in Assam with one of India’s most renowned wildlife displays. The sanctuary is home to 2,613 greater one-horned rhinoceros—approximately 70% of the world’s total—and is a must-see for close encounters with such plated pachyderms.
A tiger reserve since 2006, Kaziranga has reported India’s highest concentration of tigers at 12.72 tigers/100 km² in 2014. In addition to its “Big Five” (rhino, tiger, elephant, buffalo, swamp deer), the sanctuary provides protection to 35 mammal species—sloth bears and hoolock gibbons among them—and has been awarded Important Bird Area with more than 478 bird species.
Why Kaziranga Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List
Kaziranga’s extensive floodplain is a home to stunning diversity: one-horned rhinos wallow in mud pools, elephants roam in elephant herds, and wild water buffalo feed in open grasslands. Tigers move silently through elephant grass that is tall, making this India’s top big-cat sanctuary.
Birders flock here for flocks of bar-headed geese, occasional greater adjutants, Pallas’s fish eagles, and wintering cranes—478 species in total. Enthusiasts can follow on foot hoolock gibbons on swing-through canopy paths with the endangered slow loris and capped langur.
Top Wildlife Encounters You Can’t Miss
Jeep Safaris at Kohora (Central): Virtually guaranteed elephant, buffalo, and rhino spotting on grassland routes.
Elephant-Back Rides: Stand on top of a gentle giant to enjoy unparalleled closeness to grazing rhinos and chital deer.
River Cruises: Drift along at sunset on the Diphlu or Brahmaputra—see elephants taking a bath, herds of buffalo, and periodic Ganges dolphins.
Watchtower Views & Ranger Tales: Ascend Kohora’s watchtower at sunrise; rangers interpret pugmarks of leopards, tigers, and wildcats.
Offbeat Places to Visit near Kaziranga
Bagori (Western Zone): A tranquil spot famous for birdlife in wetlands—perfect for photographing storks, egrets, and kingfishers.
Tips: Treks here reveal great flocks of migratory waterbirds—bar-headed geese, pelicans, and waders—additionally, from time to time, an occasional
Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary: In its out-of-the-way riverine island habitat north of the core reserve, Bengal floricans as well as other endangered waders breed here.
Panbari Reserve Forest: In its southern buffer, combine village treks with spotting of Assam roofed turtles, hoolock gibbons, and woodlands managed by tribes.
How to Visit Kaziranga National Park By Road
Total Distance: 200–220 km
Time: 4.5 to 6 hours (depending on traffic and stops)
Route 1: Via NH27 (Fastest & Most Common)
- Guwahati → Nagaon → Jakhalabandha → Kaziranga
- Well-maintained highway.
- You pass through scenic Assamese countryside, tea gardens, and the Brahmaputra floodplains.
- Great for private cars, cabs, or just rent a taxi to Kaziranga by Taxi Nation.
Route 2: Guwahati → Mangaldoi → Tezpur → Kaziranga
- Slightly longer, but very scenic especially near Tezpur.
- Ideal if you plan to explore Tezpur (a beautiful historic town) along the way.
Transport Options:
- Private cab: Always choose a trusted and experienced car rental service in Assam such as Taxi Nation for these kinds of long trips.
- ASTC Buses: Assam State Transport Corporation runs regular buses to Kaziranga.
- Shared Sumos/Travellers: Available but less comfortable.
Kaziranga National Park brings safari excitement at every turn. You may be stalking rhinos in pre-dawn mist, counting raptors through field glasses, or gliding past elephants bathing by the riverside, this wildlife adventure should not to be missed. Bring out the field glasses, wake early enough for sunrise, and let Kaziranga’s grasslands do the rest.
