Nestled in Assam&rsquos Golaghat, Nagaon, and Karbi Anglong districts, Kaziranga National Park, an asylum for the one-horned rhinocero and a refuge for tigers, is one of the most sought-after wildlife destinations in India.
Recently, the park integrated a number of changes and diversified the scope of its transportation. Now, one can experience the curves, crevices, and recesses of Kaziranga on boats and bicycles, as opposed to the inceptive ways of accessing the surroundings elephants and jeeps. Trekking, too, is permitted.
This evolution, though, necessitated the addition of 3,053 hectares to the park. A boat safari, at Bhomoraguri, thirty kilometers from the Burapahar range in the west, was launched following this development. Interestingly enough, an abandoned ferry was converted into a &lsquoselfie-point&rsquo for tourists as well. A beat office, too, accompanied the development of the safari, was instituted in a few unused buildings dating back to the 80s.
&ldquoWe are using speedboats and country boats to involve locals in eco-tourism. There are three boating routes covering 5-12 km, the longest being the 44.06-sq. km Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary to the west of Kaziranga. But most tourists prefer the areas near the bridge where river dolphins can be sighted,&rdquo Mr. Sivakumar, Kaziranga Field Drector, told The Hindu.
In the southern fringes of Kaziranga, cycling and trekking are predicated on the concept of eco-tourism. A few cycling tracks have been identified by the authorities, while the management of two trekking trails, the five kilometer Chirang and the three kilometer Natundanga-Baneshwar, is being spearheaded by development societies of specific villages. They manage home-stays and food centres as well.
The aim of this development, according to P. Sivakumar, is to earn enough revenues to sustain the rhino habitat and the communities who depend on the national park.
