Kaziranga

Home to two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos, with jeep safaris for rhinos, wild elephants and tigers, surrounded by Assam tea gardens.

Kaziranga National Park lies in Assam in northeast India, spanning Golaghat and Nagaon districts, with the Brahmaputra River to the north and the Karbi Hills to the south. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1985. Its roughly 430 km² of elephant-grass meadows, wetlands and forest shelter about two-thirds of the world's greater one-horned rhinos, and it is also a key stronghold for wild water buffalo, swamp deer, wild elephants and Bengal tigers – its tiger density is among the highest in the world – as well as an important birding area. Safaris run in four ranges: Kohora (Central), Bagori (Western), Agaratoli (Eastern) and Burapahar at the western end. Jeep safaris are the main option, with early-morning elephant safaris also offered in the Western and Central ranges. Accommodation is concentrated around Kohora on National Highway 37, and nearby you'll find the Orchid and Biodiversity Park, Assam tea gardens, Panbari Reserve Forest and the Deopahar ruins. The park is open roughly from November to April; visibility is best in February–March after the grasslands are burned, and it closes during the May–October monsoon floods. Fly into Guwahati (about 200 km, around 5 hours by road) or Jorhat (about 100 km), then hire a car. Plan on 2–3 days with at least 3–4 safaris. Book safaris in advance and always follow the rules: stay in the vehicle and keep noise down. The Kaziranga Elephant Festival is usually held in January.

Top sights

• Kaziranga Central Range (Kohora) – Kaziranga's most popular safari zone. Jeeps cross grassland wetlands, where rhinos and wild water buffalo are seen very frequently.
• Kaziranga Western Range (Bagori) – The safari zone with the highest rhino density in the park, with open grassland views. You can join an early-morning elephant safari for cl…
• Kaziranga Eastern Range (Agaratoli) – The eastern safari zone, dense with lakes and wetlands, and the best place to see pelicans, storks and other waterbirds.
• Kaziranga Burapahar Range (Ghorakati) – A hilly forest safari zone at the far western end of the park, with few visitors, where you can look for gibbons and forest birds.
• Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park – An orchid garden and folk culture museum near Kohora, showcasing hundreds of orchid species from northeastern India and Assamese culture.
• Tea Estates around Kaziranga – Expansive Assam tea gardens stretching along the southern edge of the national park, where visitors can book tours of tea picking and proce…
• Panbari Reserve Forest – Tropical evergreen forest between Kohora and Bokakhat with limited visitor numbers, a hidden spot for birdwatching and looking for gibbons.
• Kakochang Waterfall – A waterfall in the Karbi Hills near Bokakhat, surrounded by tea, rubber and coffee plantations.
• Deopahar Archaeological Site – An ancient Hindu temple site on a hill near Numaligarh, where finely carved stone fragments lie scattered among the trees.

Where to eat

• Jajabor Restaurant – A roadside eatery at the gate of the Orchid and Biodiversity Park, serving authentic Assamese thali at fair prices.
• John's Kitchen – A popular Chinese restaurant beside Kohora market with a motorbike theme, known for pork fried rice and noodle dishes.

Itineraries

• Kaziranga & Shillong Hub-and-Spoke Tour – See the one-horned rhinoceros first, then use Shillong as a base for day trips to Sohra and Dawki without frequent hote…
• Assam: Rhinos, River Island & Ahom Capital – Travel east along the Brahmaputra River to see Kaziranga, the Satras of Majuli, and the Ahom royal tombs.
• Guwahati, Pobitora & Kaziranga Wildlife – A short holiday to spot rhinos, linking the two wildlife sanctuaries of Pobitora and Kaziranga.