Kaziranga National Park

Many moons ago, a lad named Kazi and a girl named Ranga fell in love & wanted to marry each other, since the sands shifted, they eloped into a forest where they disappeared & hence the name Kaziranga. This was one of the etymologies of the place Kaziranga that I’ve heard from the native people but they were not certain, still it interested me.

Kaziranga is a National Park in the Indian state of Assam. It seemed a golden oldie with lots of tourists visiting all throughout the year.

A visit to the Kaziranga National Park was a little scary in the beginning, at the same time; I was also excited, because the whole atmosphere was new to me. I’ve seen Robin Banerjee’s documentary on Kaziranga but meting the lion in its cage is totally a different ball game.

“Kaziranga National Park": a reserve forest sheltered so many animals& birds, whose names I’ve never heard in my lifetime, Elephant carried me inside the jungle, it was a rum do moment for me because for the first time in life I saw one horned Rhinos. They were roaming about in a group breathing the air of ultimate Freedom; this sight cheered me up, the one - horned Rhinos were not the only pebble on the beach but there were so many other wonderful animals, like Hog deer, sloth bears and swamp deer.

This reserve forest also preserved Tigers; this world Heritage Site, welcomed new guests from other countries, during winter, Capped langurs, Hoolock Gibbours and wild Boars lighted a fire under me to explore more about the wildlife in Kaziranga. Observatory tower in Foliamari revealed the Indian Elephants, Jungle cats, tigers and Hog deer.

Darker the berry, sweeter the juice, Likewise Denser forest, cuts a dash with elephant grass and dense tropical moist broadleaf.

Kaziranga has been decked out naturally with the beauty of colorful birds. A wake of buzzards flying looked like the bevy of beauties, in a beauty pageant. About the bird life, I would like to introduce the most beautiful birds of Kaziranga, Oriental Honey Buzzards, Black kites, White Tailed Eagles; Pala’s fishing Eagles, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagles, Himalayan Griffons and many others. 

Hornbills, Weaver birds, Warblers& Grass birds added more spice to the forest. Fleet of birds from so many other countries comes to Kaziranga during winters. Bar-Headed Geese, Falcated Duck, Red Crested Pochard & Northern Shoveller were dressed up to the nines.

Other most important denizens of Kaziranga were snakes. I had a glimpse on the King Cobra the highly venomous snake that lived in Kaziranga.  Reticulated pythons and Rock pythons scared the daylight out of me.

Kaziranga Rivers had Ganges Dolphins, & the whole forest was full of tall grasses like sugar canes& Elephant Grass. I stayed in the Wild Grass Resort. The Gooseberries of the forest tasted so good.

I found a place in the sun while in the jungle. It gave me all sort of happiness, and loads of wonderful memories I carried back. 

Nowadays, it has become a moving mountain task to preserve the animals &birds in the forest. Let’s pull out the fire & help to create awareness about the endangered species of the forest.