Kaziranga & Pakke Tiger Reserve Visit!!

It was mid Dec and the year was 2005! I was in middle of my flight and thinking about the mesmerizing North-East which i had only seen in ads titled Incredible India!! So, after a cool 2 hours journey i was ready to check out from Guwahati Airport and head towards my destination...Kaziranga National Park!!!

 I was accompanying my friend, we both were participating in week-long Wildlife Rescue and  Rehabilitation Conference. It was organized by an Delhi based NGO for people working for Indian Wildlife.After check-out, we zeroed on a rickshaw to reach the Guwahati Bus stand. It took us 1 hour to reach there but the chilled and dry weather immediately swinged my mood. Adapted to huge traffic back in Mumbai, few vehicles plying on the road made me feel like a Politician....who enjoy empty roads!!! Jokes apart, this place was just amazing....homes with thatched roof tops bordering the highways and huge tracts of jungle behind them.....do we need to ask more.

The buzz around the approaching road made us realize about Guwahati town. Scores of Assamese were busy with their daily work...some were buying fish...some pork(pork is eaten very often..its eaten almost everyday). But before getting into the bus for Kaziranga....i had to get an important work to do...visit the Toilet!!  And you will be surprised to hear this...the public toilets are manned by people allegedly favouring the most sad part of this world....ULFA...and the charge for getting relieved...Rs 10! This was the first instance i got to realize the ULFA presence in Assam.  I paid up and so moved on quickly....we can say wisely!!!:)

We occupied ourselves in the bus which was waiting for us and began our journey to World's only adobe to the Great....the Huge...the Beautiful......One Horned Rhinoceroses. It was 5 pm and getting darker minute by minute. Passing through mountainous roads for 5 hours helped reach my destination.I signed off immediately upon reaching my cottage.

 Sunrise is very early, by 5 am you can start your day! Our cottage was nearby the Assam Forest Department's Headquarters, from where all tourists catch Vans for Jungle tour. Fairs are divided according to regions as North, West, South and Core areas. Elephant rides will take you close to the rhinos as compared to the Jeep's but will cost you more. Upon entering the park you will get a glimpse of One Horned Rhinos...roaming freely...and most important....in a protected environment. The Wildlife staff concerned with protecting the Kaziranga Wildlife are very concerned about their safety and it shows by itself. Their numbers are increasing every year although some cases of poaching are reported, mainly due to the Chinese demand, who are ready to pay lakhs to purchase them.

Further we could see various species of exotic birds...each pair had some excellent color combinations.Great Indian Roller, Lesser & Greater Adjutant, Storks, Kingfisher, Eagles are among a few birds that i could identify.Water Buffaloes, Swamp Deer and Elephant herds are a common sight. You got to be very lucky to get a glimpse of a Tiger or a Bear..they can be seen only in the core areas,but you can see Scratch marks on trees made by bears.

Lakes are important part of the Sanctuary and they are home to hundreds of turtles, Openbill storks.And if your guide's mood is not so bad, he can also locate you to the Rock Pythons.And while your safari comes to an end, you can get close to the Trained Elephants manned by Mahouts of the Forest Department for patrolling. They are so huge but very humble and sweet. I Clicked pictures with them and moved on for Lunch. It was a awesome Safari, full of wildlife and truly out of World!!

Next day we began our journey for Pakke Tiger Reserve for which we needed to enter into Arunachal Pradesh.But due to certain restrictions on visitor movement on that particular day we were not able to go deep into the Sanctuary.I managed to walk through a couple of Kms inside with few friends as others were busy attending the cultural programme near the outskirts of the park.I also managed to click some pictures with the locals who were a traditional cap which has the beak of Hornbill bird. This fascination for its beak has lead to the extinction of this beautiful bird.    

 

This part of my week long journey mark the most important and amazing things that i had rightly expected.The pictures that i have taken will help you get close to the real beauties!! Enjoy!!!