Manas

THE MANAS NATIONAL PARK

The picturesque Manas National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The Manas National Park is also a Biosphere Reserve besides being a an Elephant Reserve.

Located on the Himalayan foothills, the Manas National Park falls within the Barpeta district of Assam.

A portion of the Manas national park continues into the Bhutan international border.

The Manas National Park is the habitat of hundreds of exotic species of flora and fauna. 

Wildlife enthusiasts flock to the Manas National Park to have first hand view of the wild fauna in their natural surroundings.

The Indian Union Government along with the Assam State Government has already set rolling ambitious plans to make the Manas National Park one of the ideal tourist destination spot.

COMMUTING TIPS WITHIN MANAS

Tourists have the triple options of the three-hour duration boat safari, elephant safari or just hike inside the Manas National Park.

Just carry enough of drinking water, food, camera, and binoculars besides the toiletries and an extra dress, just in case you wish to bathe in the Manas river or get drenched.

Patiently wait near the Manas River bank.

At a certain time you will come across wild buffaloes, elephants, tigers, deer and even birds flocking there.

You can also go for a ride in the Forest department’s olive green open hood jeeps or also hitch a boat ride to take a view of the palace of the King of Bhutan.

MANAS: A PARADISE FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS

The mysteriously tranquil environ of the Manas National Park entices the tourist.

The crouching tiger ready to spring on its unsuspecting prey, the chattering langoors and the wonderfully colorful avian species, the varied plants and trees along the undulating topography are all for you to savor as you saunter along the interior of the park.

The Manas National Park is the home to 55 species of exotic and endangered mammals. Besides, there are 50 species of reptiles; three species of amphibians; and 380 avian species. The commonly seen birds are the Gray hornbills, bulbuls, jungle fowls, and the Brahminy Ducks.

The Manas National Park is also the habitat of the endangered bird species – Bengal Florican.

There are also mammoth pachyderms like the elephants, and rhinoceros. Tigers, leopards, other cats, and wild buffaloes share the river banks with the golden langoor, hoolock gibbon, capped langur besides the pigmy hog, swamp deer, Hispid Hare, roofed turtle and the red pandas.

MANAS: A BOTANIST’S DELIGHT

The Manas topography has reeds in the swamps, deciduous forests. The trees are Sal, Bohera, Sida, Kanchan, Udal, Khoir and Simul.

The vegetation of this national park include a variety of species ranging from semi evergreen shrubs to the tall elephant grasses (fodder for rhinoceros and even the elephants) of the Khairsissoo-bhabhar species.

The Manas wetlands have the fodder for the exotic Hispid Hare. The swamps are filled with exotic deciduous and moist flora species. 

MANAS: TRAVEL GUIDE

You can book your trip to Manas National Park from Guwahati.

The ideal time to visit the Manas National Park is during the winter season. The tour schedule to this world heritage site commences from October to April.

The best means is to contact the registered tour operators. They have varied packages that allow you to have glimpse of the culture of the state while driving to the Manas National Park.

You can also proceed to the nearest train station from where you can take help of the tourist department officials. You can also go for the private tour operators.

The State Tourism department has jointly set up comfortable lodging lodges that have catering facilities at the periphery of the Manas National Park.