Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Let us explore the heart of nature with a tour of manas wildlife sanctuary

The monotonous scheduled life often seems so lifeless and tedious that it becomes obvious to breathe some fresh air and treat the tired eyes with greenery. For this, what can be better than an alluring visit to the vast hilly canvas of Northern Himalayas, to the fascinating wildlife of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary? Coming to the etymology, the name of the park has been derived from the serpent Goddess Manasa. This famous park of Assam welcomes you with the most engrossing experience of watching nature from its nearest. No place can be

compared to this home of rare animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, elephants, wild buffaloes etc.

You cannot miss the extremely endangered species like Assam Roofed Turtle, One-Horned Rhinos, Golden Langurs, Pigmy Hog, Hispid Hare and the list is endless. Shortly, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is undoubtedly a heaven for the nature lovers and the birdwatchers. So, hurry up! Tie your shoe-laces, pack your bags, and be ready to awake the wild explorer in you! But first, it is advised that you acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations, which need to be followed while exploring this park so that you can avoid any unnecessary issue.

Location of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the state of Assam. Starting from the boundary of the SankoshRiver in the west and extending till the DhansiriRiver in the east, it covers an area of 2837km. It is landlocked between the five districts of Assam ? Chirang, Baska, Kokrajhar, Darrang, and Udalguri. The elevation is 85 meters above sea level. The latitudes and the longitudes are 26.6594 ?N and 91.0011 ?E, respectively.

Witness the merger in the wild

If you want to see how the pristine Terai Grasslands mix with the Bhabar Grasslands, the place you need to visit is the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. Lying along the shifting river channels of the river Manas, this wildlife sanctuary is a part of the core zone of the Manas Tiger Reserve. This sanctuary acts as a habitat to more than 22 threatened wildlife species of India. Manas was given the status of a biosphere reserve in the year 1989 and has emerged as a popular tiger reserve, an elephant reserve, and a biosphere reserve.

Climatic conditions

The park has a tropical climate. During the summer days, the temperature does not cross 37 ? C. In the winter, it stays around 11 ? C. During the monsoons, the magnitude of the rainfall crosses 160 cm, accompanied with a humid and warm climate.

Home to two major biomes

The grassland biome and the forest biome are represented in Manas. The main types of vegetation of this region are as follows:

East Himalayan Moist and Dry Deciduous forests
Sub-Himalayan Light Alluvial and Semi-Evergreen forests
Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland
Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial grasslands

Best time to visitManas Wildlife Sanctuary

Theideal time to visit Manas starts from October to November and lasts till April. So, summer and winter both the seasons can be enlisted. But if you are thinking of visiting Manas Wildlife Sanctuary during the monsoon, the answer is a strict ?No?. The reason being, Assam gets flooded due to heavy rainfall and hence, the park remainsclosed.

Summer: If you choose summer for visiting this place, the time between March and April is the most convenient. The Grassland Management Department destroys the elephant grasses to avoid wildfires. So, the net possibility of getting animal sights in the park rises up. Another advantage of visiting Manas in this season is the amusing natural view from the roads. It is better to avoid the month of May as the intense humidity and temperature witnessed during this month can burn yourskin away.

Winter: This season is the ideal time to visit this World Heritage Site. You will get to see many distinct variants of native and mainly migratory birds during this season. Birdwatchers will find this place worthy of visiting as many bird species are found here.

Animals that inhabit the sanctuary

Talking about the flora of the place, around 543 plant species have been recorded. Out of these, 374 species consist of dicotyledons, 139 species of monocotyledons, and 30 gymnosperms and pteridophytes.

A variety of animals, birds, and reptiles can be seen here. In terms of numbers, there are about 380 species of birds, 55 species of mammals, 3 species of amphibians, and 50 species of reptiles. Out of the 55 species of mammals living here, 33 of them are India?s schedule I mammals and 31 species of the remaining ones are threatened.

The animals found here are Leopards, Tigers, Black Panther, Asian Golden Cat, Hoolock Gibbons, Capped Langurs, Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Water Buffalos, Slow Loris, Asian Elephants, Clouded Leopard, Smooth-Coated Otters, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, and Assamese Macaques.

The birds found here are Pied Hornbills, Grey Hornbills, Giant Hornbills, Rufous-Necked Hornbills, Bulbuls, Bengal Florican, Falcons, Serpent Eagles, Ibisbill, Red-Headed Trogon,Mergansers, Magpie Robins, and BrahminyDucks.

Some of the reptiles found here are Monitor Lizards, Assam Roofed Turtles, Gharials, etc.

Distance of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary from major cities:

Delhi , 1820 km
Mumbai , 2678 km
Kolkata ,913 km
Chennai ,2564 km
Pune, 2687 km
Bangalore ,2762 km
Hyderabad ,2357 km
Srinagar ,2639 km
Ahmedabad ,2517 km
Varanasi ,1083 km
Bhubaneswar ,1329 km
Thiruvananthapuram ,3356 km

How to reach the National park ?

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Airways

Reach Guwahati Airport, which is the nearest one and from there, you can get taxis, which will drop you to the park.

Railways

Though the nearest railway station is Barpeta Road, which is at a distance of 44 km from the park, arriving at Guwahati station proves to be convenient because of its connectivity with the other major cities of the country.

Roadways

Guwahati is the main transit center, from where you can avail a bus or a taxi, which will take you to the park. Manas Tiger Reserve is connected to Guwahati via NH-31.

Accommodation facilities

There are a number of accommodation facilities to make your stay a blissful one. The forest lodge - the only accommodation option situated inside the park is one of the most picturesque dwelling options you could have asked for. You can also take shelter in the Resorts Sikhiri Cottages or enjoy a delightful stay at Florican Cottages. There are a number of eco-camps too, which will provide you a dwelling enveloped by nature. Head to the Jungle Retreat, if you want to enjoy staying at a resort, which has its own restaurant. Other than that, you can booka hotel from a wide range of options, according to your budget.

Nearby national parks and wildlife sanctuaries

Once you have completed the tour of Manas National Park, you can continue your forest trip by paying a visit to BordoibamBeelmukh Birds Sanctuary, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, and DeeporBeel Birds Sanctuary.

Nearby places to visit that will make your touring experience complete

While visiting Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, a visit to the ManasMaozigendri Eco-tourism Society is a must. This society consists of people belonging to the Bodo tribe of Assam, which is one of the indigenous tribal groups of Assam. These tribal people have a rich culture of music, handloom, and textiles. They have set up this eco-tourism society, where traditional dance and music ceremonies are performed for the tourists. The Bodo women weave textiles and make handlooms. By walking through these villages, you can get an insight into their culture.

The beauty of the park and its natural landscape offer a spectacular scenery. The tumultuous river flowing down the rugged mountains with the backdrop of the forested hills is such a sight, which relaxes the mind and soothes the soul, therefore, a visit to the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a must.

Things to do

It is best to gain knowledge about the attractive activities you can do at Manas. There are a lot of things in which you can engage yourself and enjoy the natural view to the fullest. Take a look at the activity list:

Jeep and elephant safaris

Touring around the home of the endangered birds and animals while riding a jeep is something more than thrilling. Every nature lover will surely fail to resist himself from watching these extreme natural scenes. But in some parts of Manas, jeep safari is not allowed. But there is nothing to get worried about as you will get the opportunity to roam the parts riding on the back of a giant animal of the park itself. Elephant safari is a must for the adventurous visitors.

Exploring tea plantation and villages

The harmonious living of two different communities of Ghatigaonand Ragubill is much worthy to watch and make sure that you buy the traditional fabrics from these Boro villages. Also, there are a number of tea plantations just outside the park. Don?t forget to visit these places.

River-rafting

River-rafting on the slow waters of the River Manas is an exciting experience. The ride takes you through the thick deciduous forests. Be a part of this exhilarating adventure taking place over the deep azure water.

Bird-watching

Carrying a pair of binoculars while visiting the famous Manas River and watching the 450 variants of birds over there will surely transport you in an altogether different universe, where you will be lost in the sounds of nature.