Nameri National Park, Assam

Nameri National Park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya in the Sonitpur District of Assam, India. It is one of the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life in the world. The Pakhui (Pakke) Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh adjoins the Park on its Northeastern side. The Park extends up to east and south west bank of the river Bor Dikorai from interstate boundary at Sijussa to the left bank of Jia Bharali River up to the south bank of Balipara Reserve Forest.

The area is drained by the Jia Bharali and its tributaries namely the Diji, Dinai, Doigurung, Nameri, Dikorai, Khari etc. The Park covers an area of 200 sq. km. and is augmented by parts of the Balipara Reserve Forests Area, which acts as a 64 sq. km. buffer on the opposite side of the Jia Bharali and 80 sq. kms. of the Nauduar Reserve Forests. The terrain is uneven with altitudes ranging from 80 meters along the river banks to 225 meters in the central and northern parts.

© Sumit SenThe eco-region is part of the North Bank Landscape and is an Eastern Himalayan Mega Biodiversity Hotspot. It is one of the richest areas in the world in terms of Plant Functional Type and Plant Functional Complexity. The area is influenced by the tropical monsoons, which cause rainfall to be seasonal and heavy with an average 3,400 mm of rain falling between May and September.

Location: 35-km From Tezpur, Sonitpur District, Assam
Area: 200-sq-kms
Main Attraction: Four Species Of Hornbill
Best Time To Visit: November To March

HOW TO GET THERE:

Air: The nearest airport is Salon about 10-km from Tezpur, in Sonitpur district, which is 181-km away from Guwahati.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Rangapara 60-kms from Bhalukpong, which is 21-km from the park, in Sonitpur district.
Road: Regular buses ply to and from Tezpur, which is well connected with all the major cities of Assam.

WHERE TO STAY:

The Tourism Department has tourist lodge at Tezpur and Bhalukpong (21-km from the park). There is also an Eco-camp at Potasali, which provides comfortable accommodation and delicious food.
Contact: Tourist Information Officer, Tezpur Tourist Lodge, Tezpur, Sonitpur District, Assam
The Divisional Forest Officer, Western Assam Wildlife Division, Dolabari, P.O. Tezpur, Sonitpur District, Assam
Camp Director, Eco-camp, Potasali (Nameri National Park), Sonitpur District, Assam.

Milroy or Pabha Sanctuary, Assam

Assam, one of the most picturesque states in India is located in the north-eastern side of the country. It is one of the Seven Sisters States that forms the North-East. Rightly known for its cultural heritage, Assam is also popular for the Assam tea, saris, petroleum resources and amazing tourist attractions. With the backdrop of the eastern Himalayas and mighty river like the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys, this state has always attracted tourists from all over the country. Many wildlife sanctuaries fetch currency to the Assam state government. Among those, the Pabha Milroy sanctuary deserves special mention.

Assam's tourism with 6 national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries has made a leap progress in the recent past. Sanctuaries like the Pabha sanctuary, gibbon wildlife sanctuary, Burasapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. and many other have contributed a lot in the development of Assam tourism.

The Pabha or Pabha Milroy sanctuary is located near the border of Arunachal Pradesh; it is marked for its picturesque setting and wildlife conservation. The enchanting backdrop of the sanctuary is sufficient to keep the tourists occupied in the sanctuary.

Area and location:

This park is located in the Lakhimpur District in Assam. Lakhimpur district lies in the north-east corner of the state. The sanctuary spreads over an area of 49 sq km.

Main attractions:

With the primary aim of protecting and conserving the Wild Water Buffalo, the Pabha Milroy Sanctuary was established. Hence the Wild Water Buffalo remains to be the main attraction here. Watching the rare species of Asiatic water buffalo roaming around the park is really fun and exciting.

The wild Asiatic water buffalo or Bubalus bubalis is an endangered species that can still be found in countries like India, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand. These are large animals weighing up to 1200 kilos and they mainly eat herbs, leaves, grasses and aquatic plants.

If you are lucky enough, you might happen to see other rare species of birds and some lesser fauna.

Best time to visit:

The area of the Lakhimpur is marked by tropical rainforest. So this influences the climate of the park. You should visit the sanctuary during the months of November to April. That is the ideal time when you can watch Mother Nature in her highest glory.

Accommodation:

Don't worry about your accommodation in Lakhimpur. You can stay in any of the hotels such as- Hotel Malinin in the KB Road, Hotel Shyam, Hotel Anupam in the Super Mraket Complex, Hotel Joya in NT Road, etc. Take a rented car from this hotel that will take you to the sanctuary.

How to reach the park?

Lakhimpur district is well-connected with all the major cities in Assam. If you want to travel by air, then Guwahati airport would be the nearest. You can take taxis or local transport buses from any city in Assam to reach Guwahati International Airport or Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport that is connected with Kolkata, Agartala, New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Imphal, etc.

For adventurers preferring railway, Guwahati would be the nearest railhead. Lakhimpur district is well connected to all the key areas of Assam and key cities in the country.

What else do you get?

Although Lakhimpur District is quite far away from Guwahati (396 km), yet you can visit a lot of places if you happen to visit the Pabha Sanctuary. You can see the Shiva temple located near the national highway and Padumoni temple.

To sum up, it can be said that though there are not a wide variety of wild animals, birds and reptiles in the Pabha Milroy sanctuary, yet a visit to the sanctuary would definitely be fruitful. An endangered species like the wild water buffalo and other animals wouldn't bore you. So take your partner or family for an adventurous trip that can add spice to the otherwise monotonous life.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam

India is a paradise for the wild life enthusiasts and adventure lovers. It is a galore of wildlife attractions. Housing 551 wildlife sanctuaries among which 28 are Tiger Reserves, India has achieved a prestigious position in the global map. Assam, the mystical land in the north-eastern part of India is a popular name to the nature lovers. With 6 national parks and 11 sanctuaries, it has a lot of variety to offer to its visitors. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, one of the bio-diversity hot spots in the state is marked for the richness of its flora and fauna.

Some Facts:

This national park is one of the largest parks in Assam and north-east India. In fact it is one of the 19 biodiversity hotspots across the globe.

History:

In the year 1986, Dibru and Saikhowa Reserve Forests and some other nearby areas were included and it was declared as a sanctuary. But it was in 1999 that the sanctuary was finally declared as a national park with the final notification area (core area) of 340 sq km. It was originally established with the aim of conserving the habitat of the rare White-winged wood duck.

Area and Location:

Encompassing an area of 340 sq. km. this national park is located in the south bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River in Tinsukia in the extreme east of Assam. The park is situated at about 13 km to the north of Tinsukia. It is located at an altitude of 118 meter above the sea level.

Main Attractions:

Flora: The forest area of the Dibru-Saikhowa national park comprises of deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests. 21.25% of the national park is grassland, 35.84% is moist mixed forests and 9.50% is degraded forests. You will find the rare tree species like Dillenia indica, Mesua ferra, Salix tetrasperma, Dalbergia sissoo, etc. Many other orchid species are also found.

Fauna: The national park consists of a total of 36 species which include Hog Deer, Gangetic Dolphin, Royal Bengal Tiger, Jungle Cat, Asaiatic Water Buffalo, Capped Langur, Small Indian Civet, barking Deer, Slow Loris, Clouded Leopard, Asian Elephant, Chinese Pangolin, Malayan Giant Squirrel, etc.

2 species of Monitor Lizards, 8 species of Turtles, 8 species of Snakes, 62 different species of fishes and 350 species of birds also make the park very popular among the tourists. The avifaunas include March Babbler, Griffon Vulture, Grey Heron, Yellow Bittern, Bengal Florican, Great Grebe, Jardon's Babbler, Spot Billed Pelican, Graylag Groose, Purple Heron, etc.

Best time to visit:

Dibru Saikhowa enjoys hot summer and cool winter. It enjoys a tropical monsoon climate with an annual precipitation ranging from 2300m to 3800m. November to April remains the best time to visit the sanctuary. As notified by the National Park Authority, the park is open during these 6 months only.

Accommodation:

You can avail the accommodation facilities at Gujjan Forest I.B.; but for that you have to make advance booking. Otherwise you can stay in the private hotels in Tinsukia like Hotel Highway and Center Point Tower near the railway station.

How to reach the park?

It is well connected by railway, air and National Highway.

* The nearest airport to the park is at Dibrugarh, which is located at a distance of 40 km from Tinsukia
* The nearest railway station is also at Dibrugarh which is linked with Guwahati by a broad gauge
* Tinsukia is the nearest town which is about 10 km and 50 km away from Gujjan and Dhola entry point respectively. You can take buses, auto rickshaws and taxis from Tinsukia. The park is 500 km away from Guwahati, the state capital. Some points to note:
* You cannot enter the park before sunrise and after the sunset. Gujjan Ghat and Saikhowa Ghat are the two entry points for the tourists
* You cannot stay in the park at night. Picnicking is also strictly prohibited within the park