North East Chronicles: On March 21 and 22nd we are in Kaziranga : the sanctuary that is home to the Indian one-horned rhino
It’s been a while since I’ve visited Kaziranga. More than 20 years to be exact.
“Be careful,†warns by dad when we are starting off on the trip. The reason for the warning: the first (and last) time I had visited the sanctuary, while on the elephant safari, the elephant I was on… slipped.
I have no idea how an elephant can slip (it’s a little difficult to imagine) but I am supposed to have fallen off the creature. There was a lot of slush and mud and the elephant lost its balance taking us down with it.
I have rather vague recollections of this slippery episode, but my dad with his super power memory remembers everything. And never forgets to mention it, like he did.
~~
Our first sighting of the one-horned rhino was near the road side on the way to the Aranya Forest Lodge, where we were going to be staying. Our driver on the trip, Shaikh (who drove with one hand permanently on the horn) pointed out a few rhinos. “You don’t need to go into the sanctuary to see them,†he says. “They come right up to the road!â€
Besides the one-horned rhino, Kaziranga is also supposed to have a heavy density of tigers : 86 according to the last census count. But you still have to be lucky to see one : it’s a large sanctuary spread over more than 400 square kms of swamps, jungle and elephant grass, and is situated in the 2 districts of Golaghat and Nagaon.
It is also the only reserve for the one-horned rhino. Besides the great one-horned Indian rhino, the other major wild attractions include Indian elephants, Indian bison, swamp & hog deer, sloth bears, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, otters, hog cadgers, capped langurs, Hoolock gibbons, wild boar, jackal, wild buffalo, pythons, monitor lizards, etc. (source: Kaziranga National Park)
It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise and one naturalist who has done a lot of work in this area is Maan Barua, a naturalist and ornithologist.
~~
On our first day there, we have booked the evening jeep safari. Accompanying the jeep driver is a guard (his gun doesn’t seem to be very impressive, but I’m hoping that he doesn’t need to use it).
The best sighting turns out to be a huge python wrapped around a tree. The guide informs us that it has been wrapped around that particular branch for a few days. It’s quite a fascinating creature and I would have loved to see it move, though I had no intention of being under that tree if it happened to let go of the branch for some reason.
We continue into the sanctuary and see lots of swamp and hog deer. A few wild elephants roaming around in the grassy areas. We also see a big herds of elephants emerging, washed and clean after a dip in the waters. And rhinos of course. Though we don’t really get a close view of them : they’re rather shy creatures and prefer to chomp on their daily dose of grass at a distance.
Lots of birds around and for the avid birdwatcher, there’s a sanctuary to the east, our guide tells us. That’s where you can walk around. Here of course, you can’t get out of the vehicle.
After an hour or so, the first safari of the sanctuary over, we head back to the Lodge and step into the Buffalo Bar and the adjoining restaurant for some food. It starts to rain heavily in the evening and as the heavens open up, I wonder if we can do the morning safari.
~~
Despite the slow, steady drizzle, we’re told that the elephant safari is on.
Rai Bahadur turns out to be a strong and long-time member of the sanctuary. He doesn’t complain as the 4 of us climb aboard. Slowly, with Rai Bahadur’s steady but swinging steps, we make our way into the thick grassland.
Soon we see other travellers who are on elephants too, trying to sight more of the endangered rhino.
Rai Bahadur (who was born with only one tusk) is as steady as a rock and I don’t think he has any chances of slipping. There’s a little bit of drizzle and we wonder if we’ll sight anything. But we do see a few rhinos and a few wild buffaloes in the wet grassland area. And ironically, I notice that there are more people in the jungle than rhinos.
Rai Bahadur ambles along, for him it must be yet another day out in the jungle. A couple of baby elephants are also out on the safari along with their mothers. One of them is tied up to her mom with a thick rope and we ask why.
“He’s a naughty one and keeps straying off, that’s why we tie him up,†explains the mahout. The other little elephant is more obedient : his mother keeps giving him a little push once in a while with her trunk to keep it on the path : it’s quite a cute sight to witness.
~~
There’s a strange stillness in the air, despite the fact that the sanctuary is filled with animals. Except for a few bird calls punctuating the silence, there’s just a soft drizzle and the sound of Rai Bahadur’s footfall.
The animals seem to have found good hiding places from the rain. An hour goes by and then it’s time to head back to the point where our vehicles are parked and get back to the comfort of the cars.
~~
It’s been quite an experience coming back after so many years. I wished we had a little more time to spend. It’s definitely going to take at least a week to enjoy the sanctuary fully. I’ll be back again, I think to myself (and like every other place I visit).
We get into the waiting car, to be taken back to the lodge. As I turn around for a parting view, I catch sight of Rai Bahadur disappearing into the jungle with his next batch of visitors.
Photos: the Flickr Album
Getting there/Acco: Kaziranga is accessible from Guwahati and is about 6–7 hours away. Accomodation at Kaziranga includes Wild Grass, Bon Habi and Aranya Forest Lodge. We stayed at Aranya, which was the most reasonably priced out of the lot.
There are jeep and elephant safaris into the jungle in the morning and evenings. Get more details here.
The sanctuary is closed during the monsoons during which flooding occurs. Winter is a good time to visit.
More North East Chronicles
– A magical evening by Umiam lake
– Back to School again: Loreto Convent
– Wishing for rain in Cherrapunjee
– Magical Mawlynnong: Life on stilts
The Python is awesome. Lucky you.
Posted by Kousik | June 6, 2007, 6:23 pmI remember fighting with my friends to get on an elephant carrying front facing three seats on its back to get a better view compared to the side facing four seats when I visited Kaziranga for the first time. No wonder, I won :)
Got link to your blog from Aqua’s page. But it is too late…you have been writing so well for so long …and I don’t have enough time to read all your previous posts :(
Posted by Layon | June 7, 2007, 10:42 amnice pics… and yes, lucky you!
Posted by Shrilatha Puthi | June 7, 2007, 12:23 pmWatching wild animals in the Deep forest is wonderful sight.…I was lucky enough when we a group of of 4 went for a Elephant sensus in Mudumalai. One herd of elephants usually takes the same path for their bath cum fun in waters. In the middle of their downward walk, I came to see the power of them — One female elephant just pulled a full grown tree from the ground along with roots for their family’s Lunch !!! I even saw python and lots of byson, not even one Cat tho’ — Waiting for the moment like u :) Hope to make this time around.……
Posted by Invisible China | June 7, 2007, 12:36 pmGreat pics.. Damn.. after stayin’ in Ghy (assam) for 9 yrs, I just couldn’t get a chance to visit Kaziranga/Manas.. :(
Posted by Apurv | June 7, 2007, 2:17 pmI have always wanted to visit the forests of Assam. Your photos are remarkable! Great job with the blog; my first time here.
Posted by Shantanu | June 9, 2007, 3:15 pmAmazing pics!
Posted by Surya | June 10, 2007, 2:45 amAwesome collection!
Posted by Paavani | June 11, 2007, 12:30 pmthe pictures are awesome.. just loved the broomstick pix
Posted by chriz | June 11, 2007, 3:17 pm@ Kousik: we were lucky! it was right on the road :)
@ Layon: i thought anywhere you sit on an elephant gives you a good view! and no worries, whatever you can read is fine!! ;)
@ Shrilatha: thank you! lucky me!
@ Invisible China: big cat… yes, that will be really lucky!
@Apurv: oh! that’s unfortunate, you must go sometime!
@ Shantanu: you must sometime! thanks a lot :)
@ Surya: thanks so much!
@ Paavani: thank you :)
@ chriz: thanks! broomstick?!
Posted by Anita | June 12, 2007, 5:15 pmAnita and a travel freak with a shutter on her bagpack is synonymous. Next time Cambridge or Oxford has to have a word anitravelutter :) Crack this…Pics are becharming and so is the simple and sweet post…
Miles to go on your travel plan and more clicks from your magical shutter, at least I am waiting for those.
Posted by Tanay | June 13, 2007, 10:34 am@ thanks tanay! hope to bring loads more pics and travel stories in the future :)
Posted by Anita | June 19, 2007, 11:57 pmit was wonderfull journey thru ur articles and pictures,i wish tht i could arrange the trip to see the beuty wich i see in pictures and article.at present i m at unanda ‚its also beutifull ‚but my country is my country
Posted by Bharat | July 4, 2007, 2:02 pmHi,
we are planning to visit the same place on nov 2st and 2nd can you tell me if we need to see a tiger which could be the best place if u have seen..can you give your contact number so that i can sk if there is any doubt..
thanks
ravi chandran
Posted by ravichandran | October 16, 2007, 10:22 amHi,Dis is Abu from Pune„Maharashtra A CSSE Engg. Student…but i’m from Dhubri AAkhom only..This Pictures are really nice.….When i miss My AAKHOM…I USED TO SEE THIS PICS n all Aakhom pictures…IT MAKES FEEL SOMETHINGS…WHICH WORTH A LOT FOR ME.…..
I dont know n i dont have words how appriciate the the photographer but i can only say that the only thing missig in all these pictures..
IS “THE LIFE”…Rest are there which a picture sud have.……Once again .…this picture are really nice.…I dont want to write..coz my tears will come out…Once again Nice Picture.
Posted by Abu Saleh Muhammad Zakaria | November 13, 2007, 11:50 pmI like wild animal’s life very much . i want know & do carreear in it so how can i get more information about it ?????
Posted by Snehal Parbat | January 4, 2008, 5:10 pmAmazing photos..
Posted by vivek | April 12, 2008, 12:10 amNice shots .. But don’t forget to vote for Kaziranga at http://www.new7wonders.com
Posted by gautam | March 26, 2009, 4:57 pmBloody poachers have hacked off the only tusk of this majestic elephant– Rai Bahadur yesterday (5th July 2010) night.
Poor Rai Bahadur is now fighting for his life.
May they perish asap !!
Posted by Azam Siddiqui | July 5, 2010, 5:21 pmSorry it should have read yesterday (4th July 2010)
Posted by Azam Siddiqui | July 5, 2010, 5:22 pm