India’s wildlife sanctuaries close during the monsoon to protect animals during their breeding season and to allow natural habitats to recover after the dry months. This pause supports ecological balance and long-term conservation. Kaziranga National Park, spread across the Brahmaputra floodplains, shelters the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses, along with tigers, elephants, swamp deer, and over 500 bird species. Normally shut from May to October due to monsoon floods, Kaziranga is set to reopen early in 2025, ahead of Durga Puja—a move obviously aimed at attracting festival-season tourists. The announcement came during Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s visit to Numaligarh, where he reviewed preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled inauguration of the Bio-Ethanol Plant on September 13.
News
Kaziranga National Park To Reopen Early For Durga Puja Tourists, Breaking Monsoon Closure
Kaziranga National Park, usually closed from May–October for monsoon breeding, will reopen early in 2025 to welcome Durga Puja tourists. This move aims to boost tourism but raises concerns about disturbing wildlife during a critical period
OT Staff
12 September 2025
An Asian elephant and a group of pelicans at Kaziranga National Park
Photo: Ron Ramtang/Shutterstock
An Asian elephant and a group of pelicans at Kaziranga National Park
Photo: Ron Ramtang/Shutterstock
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