Manas National Park

Manas National Park is an all in one type of Park. It is a National Park, an UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam.

The Manas National Park is located in the densely forested area of the East Himalayan foothills and is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park, located in Bhutan.  The National park area is apart of five districts of the state, namely, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri and Darrang. Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and  Wild water buffalo are some of the endangered rare species of fauna found in Manas National Park.

The name of the National Park originates from the Serpent Goddess Manasa. The river Manasa, a major tributary of the river Brahmaputra, is the main river which runs through the Park. The national Park seems to have derived its name from the river. The river manas also serves as the border of India and Bhutan in the state.
The park is divided into three ranges. The western range is based at Panbari, the central at Bansbari near Barpeta Road and the eastern at Bhuiyapara near Pathsala. All the forest ranges are not easily connectable, you have to cross river and only a rough trail isavailable at some places.

The sanctuary has recorded 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 of reptiles, and 3 species of amphibians.
The fauna of the sanctuary include Indian elephants, Indian rhinoceros, gaurs, Asian water buffaloes, barasingha, Indian tigers, Indian leopards, clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, dholes capped langurs, golden langurs, Assamese macaques, slow loris, hoolock gibbons, smooth-coated otters, sloth bears, barking deers, hog deers, black panthers, sambar deers and chitals.
Among the animals found here Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog are some of the rare and endangered species which are not found anywhere else in the whole world.

Bengal florican are in many numbers and are believed to have the largest population than anywhereelse. Other major bird species found here at the National Park include, great hornbills, pelicans, jungle fowls, bulbuls, brahminy ducks, bee-eaters, magpie robins, Kalij pheasants, egrets, crested serpent-eagles, falcons, scarlet minivets and fishing eagles

How to reach Manas National Park?
Guwahati is the nearest airport and is placed at about 180 kms / 5 hrs drive approxfrom the National Park. Regular flights are operated by major airlines from almost all over the cities in India to Guwahati. From the airport you can get cabs and bus transport to the Park.
Other road distances to Manas are:
Siliguri to Musa, Manas  326 Km
Bagdogra to Musa, Manas  335 Km
Kaziranga to Musa, Manas  401 Km

By Rail
Guwahati is gateway to the North East India. All major cities of India are well connected to Guwahati including Rajdhani Express.
There are several trains stops at Barpeta Road Railway Station, which is 22 kms to Bansbari (Musa Jungle Retreat, Manas) by road.

Accommodation Fac‎ilities in Manas National Park
Luxury Accmmodation ( total 20 rooms )       
Musa Jungle Retreat - King Sized Bed    
Bansbari Villas - 2 Villas - King Sized Bed    
Grazing Rhino - 8 Nos Independent Cottages    
Striped Panthera - 10 Cottages Twin Bedded    
     
Deluxe Accommodation
Birina ( total  6 rooms )
Double bedded Cottage     1 room
Double Bedded Room     1 room
Triple bedded Room     1 room
Four bedded Cottage     1 room
Four bedded Tents     2 rooms
           
Standard Accommodation
Florican ( total 7 rooms )
Two bedded rooms     6 rooms
Triple bedded Tents     1 room
       
For more details visit Manas National Park  

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve  is the largest prograding delta region of the world. Sundarbans National Park is the core area of the Tiger Reserve. The Park has been recognized as the World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1987.  The National Park extends through India to Bangladesh and has an area of about 26000 square kilometers.  This is the single largest Mangrove vegetation. Most of the Sundarbans National Park that is about two-thirds, falls in Bangladesh and India has only about 9630 square kilometers.  Sundarbans is the only mangrove vegetation where Tigers exist ad the forest is home to more than 250 tigers.

How to Reach Sundarbans Tiger Reserve?
If you are travelling by air Kolkata  Netaji Subhash International airport is the nearest airport to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. The Kolkatta airport is 112 kilometers away and the city is connected with many of the cities in India as well as abroad.  From Kolkata you can take a bus up to Basanti or Sonakhali  where you can ferry across in a boat.

If you are planning to travel by rail the nearest railway station is Canning Port about 44 kilometers away. Canning is connected to Kolkata  which has good network connections with the rest of India.  You can take a bus from Canning to either  Basanti or Sonakhali  where you can ferry across in a boat to Sajnekhali.

If you are travelling by road you can reach Sunderbans National Park quite easily through the excellant network of Roadways. You can travel to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat from Kolkata and after that you will have to use motorboats to ferry across to the Sanctuary.

By Road
Road transportations are available from Kolkata  for Namkhana ( 105 kms ) Sonakali 9 100 kms Raidighi ( 76 kms Canning 64 kms and Najar 92 kms
All of these places have access to riverine waterways  and are placed near to Sundarbans. The interior parts of the Sunderbans  is only accessible through waterways. Regular services are available from these embarkation points namely Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali and Najat.

By Water 
You can reach Sundarbans only through riverrine waterways, motor boat  launch facilities are available
From Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project, Sagar Island - Jambudwip
From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali - Buridhabri - Netidhopan - Holiday Island
From Sonakhali - Gosaba -
From Raidighi - Kalas

Best Season to travel to Sunderbans Tiger Reserve is from September to February of the year.

Contact Details for Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
Department of Tourism, West Bengal
Tel :  033 22254723
EMail : director.tourism@gmail.com

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Tel : 033 44012086
EMail : wbtdc@vsnl.com

Tourism Centre Kolkata
Tel : 033 4401 2659
EMail : visitwetbengal@yahoo.co.in
Website : www.westbengaltourism.gov.in

Accommodation facilities at Sundarbans Tiger Reserve
Tourist Lodge and Tourist Forest Rest House run by West Bengal tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Tel : 03218 214960

Sundarbans  Mangrove Retreat
Tel : 03218 24994367

Package Tours to Sundarbans  by the WBTDC
Sundarban Safari 1
Duration 1 night and 2 days

Itinerary
Assemble at the Tourism cntre at 8 am and depart to Sonakhali by bus at 8.30 am. Arrival at Sonakhali at 11.30 am  and get transferred to MV Chitrerekha / Sarbajaya.  Visit Sudhanyakhali and Sajnekhali  watch towers. Night halt aboard the ship.
Next Day visit netedhopani watch tower and back to kolkata via the same route.
Charges from Rs 2800 on wards according to the package.

Sundarbans Safari 2
Duration - 2 nights and 3 days
itinerary
This tour package is the continuation of the Tour package 1.
Cruise through buridhabri Jungle and visit jhingakhali watch tower in addition to the above mentioned tour package .
Charges starting from Rs 3700 according to the chosen package.

For customized package tours  of WBTDC contact Mr Dhritiman Ganguly Mobile no 0 936776010

Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary

Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary was formerly known as Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest.This was an isolated area of evergreen forest located in the state of Assam of India.  The area was set aside initially in the year 1881  and its forests were seen to extend to the foothills of the Patkai mountain range.  Nowadays it is seen that the forests have been fragmented  and  got surrounded by tea gardens and other small villages.

In the early days artificial regeneration was used to irrigate the area  which reulted in the rich biodiversity. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary contains India's only gibbons, namely the hoolock gibbons which are  the  only nocturnal primates of Northeastern India,  and the Bengal Slow Loris. The upper canopy of the forest is dominated by the Hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus), while the Nahar (Mesua ferrea) dominates the middle canopy. The lower canopyof the forest consists of evergreen shrubs and herbs. The habitat is being threatened by illegal logging or cutting down of the trees, encroachment of human settlements and habitat fragmentation.

The area of the Sanctuary officially extends  Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, Dissoi Reserve Forest, and Tiru Hill Reserve Forest. These tea  gardens belong to the estates of Dissoi Kothalguri and Hoolonguri cover the distance betwen the sanctuary and the nearest forests in Nagaland.

The tea gardens include Katonibari, Murmurai, Chenijan, Koliapani, Meleng, Kakojan, Dihavelleoguri, Dihingapar, Kothalguri, Dissoi and Hoolonguri. Neighboring villages include Madhupur, Lakhipur, Rampur, Fesual A (the western part), Fesual B (the eastern part), Katonibari, Pukhurai, Velleoguri, Afolamukh, and Kaliagaon.

The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary gets a rainfall of about 249 cms every pear and is situated at an altitude between 100 and 120 m, with a gentle sloping topography from southeast to northwest. The Bhogdoi river which originates from the Naga hills and a tributary of the River Brahmaputra  flows through the Jorhat district of the state of Assam, creates a waterlogged  region which is dominated by semi-hydrophytic plants along the border of the Hoolongapar Wildlife  Sanctuary.  The Bhogdoi river thus helps to create three distict micro eco systems in the Park, namely, the up-slope zone, the down-slope zone, and the flood-prone zone.

Fauna of the Hoolongapar Wildlife Sanctuary 
There is a rich biodiversity  in the Hoolongapar Wildlife Sanctuary  which is home to Western Hoolock Gibbon,  the only apes in the whole of India and Bengal Slow Loris ,  the only nocturnal primate of the Northeast India. Stump Tailed Macaque,  Rhesus Macaque, Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Eastern Assamese Macaque and Capped Langur are the other primates found in the Sanctuary. One can also find  Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, Jungle catswild boar, three types f civet, four types of squirrels etc. There are at least 219 species of birds and snakes  are also known to live in the Sanctuary.

Flora of the Hoollongapar Gibbon  Wildlife Sanctuary
The vegetation at the Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary  is evergreen in character and has so many canopy layers. The upper canopy consists of the trees which have straight trunks like Sam, Amari, Sopas, Bhelu, Udal and Hingori.
Nahar dominates the middle  canopy  with its spreading branches  and casting shade over the area like Bandordima, Dhuna, Bhomora, Ful Gomari, and Bonbogi etc
A variety of the evergrn shrubs makes the lower canopy and the ground layers. Dolu Bamboo, Bojal Bamboo., Jengu, Jati bet, Houka Bet, Tora, Kaupat and Sorat.

How to reach Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary?
The sanctuary is connected by road from Jorhat city (20kms) and Mariani town (5kms). Nearest airport is at Jorhat.

How to Reach Jorhat?
Rowraih is the airport of the Jorhat city. Jorhat is connected to soe of the major cities of India like Guwahati, Kolkata, Bangalore and New Delhi.  Jorhat airport also connects Dibrugarh and Shillong of the Northeast India.

If you are travelling by air to Jorhat you can get connection flights from other cities particularly Kolkata and Guwahati  and then travel by taxis, private cabs and state transport cuses.

If you are travelling by rail to JorhatJorhat railway station is connected to Guwahati railway  station through two trains. The nearest Major railway  junction  is located at Marianni  which is about 17 kilomeers from the Jorhat town.there is a higher frequency of trains at the Marianni Junction. Taxis are available both at Jorhat and Marianni stations.

There are 3 trains which reaches Jorhat at fixed time out of which 2 trains run daily one to Jorhat and the other to marianni.  JanShatapti runs on all days except Sundays.
The timings  and the days are mentioned below.
From Guwahati (GHY)  to Jorhat
Jttn Intercity (15605)  -   08:45 AM(duration: 10h 15m) All Days
Jan Shatabdi Ex (12067)  -  01:10 PM(duration: 6h 40m) Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat
Marianni Jn (MXN) Ghy Intercity(15606)  -  07:00 PM (duration: 0h 30m) All Days

Distances by road to Jorhat from the nearby cities and towns
Guwahati - 293 kilometers
Itanagar - 318 kilometers
Ranchi - 1317 kilometers
Kohima - 194 kilometers
Imphal - 338 kilometers
Shillong - 354 kilometers
Darjeeling - 767 kilometers

About Assam

Assam is one of the 29 states in India located south of the eastern Himalayas, in the north eastern part of the country. The area of the state of Assam comprises of the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak river valleys along with the Karbi Anglong and the North Cachar Hills.

Assam is one of the seven sister states located in the north eastern part of India the others being Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya. Assam is surrounded by its sister states and has Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh as its international borders.

Guwahati is the capital city of Assam and is considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in the world. The city is the gateway to the east. Silchar is the city for business, education and tourism while Dibrugarh, Nagaon and Jorhat are other important cities in the state.

Districts in Assam
Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Chirang, Darreng, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Golpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Marigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, North Cachar Hills, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukhia and Udalguri.

National Parks in Assam
Kaziranga National Park
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Nameri National Park
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Orang (Rajib Gandhi) National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobha Or Milroy Sanctuary
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary
Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary
Gorampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Golaghat
Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary
East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary
Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuar
Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sibsagar
Deeporbeel Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati (Proposed),
Bordoibam Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji (Proposed)

How to reach Assam?
If you are travelling by air, it would be easy for you to reach Kolkata the nearest international airport or Delhi the capital city of India. You can get connection flights to Assam easily.

Borjhar Airport is located at about 25 kilometers from Guwahati, thecapitalcity of Assam. Silchar, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Jorhat and North Lakhimpur are the cities which can also be connected by air in the state of Assam.

If you are travelling by rail you can get connections from any part of India namely Calcutta, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum to Guwahati

If you are travelling by road, you can see that all the neighbouring states in the north east and West Bengal in the west are connected by National Highways. Youcan drive through these enchanting highways all through the year except during the south west monsoon time which falls between June and September. The monsoon time is hazardous to drive.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam

Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are the well known wildlife Sanctuaries in the state of Assam in India. Both of these national parks have  been declared as World Heritage sites.

Kaziranga National Park is located in the foothills of the Great Himalayas near the India Bhutan border, in the Western Assam. The Park has been divided in to five ranges,
Central with the entry point at Kohora
Western with the entry point at Bagori
Eastern with the entry point at Agratoli
Western most with the entry point at Bada Pahad
These four ranges lie to the south of the river Brahmaputra and the fifth one is Northern range lies on the northern bank of the river. 

The National Park is home to about 180 species of mammals, one horned rhinoceros, Golden Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Royal Bengal Tiger some among them. The Park also boasts of a spectacular range of avifauna.
The two largest python of the world reticulated and the rock pythons are found here along with the King Cobra. Observing the wildlife and the birding are the important activities in the Kaziranga National Park.

How to reach : 

Rowraiah (Jorhat) is the nearest Airport which is 97 Kms. away and LGBI Airport (Guwahati) is 239 Kms. away. 

The road distances from nearest cities & towns to Kohora are : 

from Jorhat is 89 Kms., 

from Nagaon is 96 Kms., 

from Guwahati is 219 Kms., 

from Golaghat is 73 Kms.

from Bokakhat is 21 Kms.

Contact Person:  

Director, Kaziranga National Park

+91 3776-268095 / +91 3776-268086

Informations about the  tour packages, accommodation facilities and bookings, airport transfers and taxi services  can be had at the helpline number +91-9401001212.
Authorized guides, Mahout guided elephant rides, jeep or other vehicles can be arranged in advance.

Best season to visit: 

November to April.

The Park remains closed during the monsoon that is from mid April tomid October.

Accommodation facilities at the Kaziranga National Park
Department of Environment and Forests of the Assam Government maintain 4 tourist lodges at Kohora and 3 tourist lodges inside the national park.
For other accommodation facilities visit the following pages.

Accommodation facilities in and around Kaziranga National Park
Diphlu River Lodge
Landmark woods
Iora Retreat, luxury resort

For more details visit Kaziranga National Park 

Entrance Details 

Timings - 5.30 am to 6.30 pm

Entry Fee 

Indian Nationals -  Rs. 20

Foreigners - Rs 250 /

For Vehicle Entry - Rs 300

Camera fee for Still Cameras - Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners

Video Cameras Rs 100 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners.