Visiting Manas National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site In India

Manas National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site In India

Where Is Manas National Park?

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of India, the Manas National Park is located in the Himalayan foothills in the northeastern state of Assam in India. The national park is also a Project Tiger Reserve, a biosphere reserve as well as an elephant reserve. Manas National Park is contiguous with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park. The region is famous for the rich biodiversity and rare and endemic flora and fauna.

Geography Of Manas National Park

The Manas National Park can be divided into three ranges, the western Panbari, the eastern Bhuiyapara near Pathsala, and the central Bansbari near Barpeta Road. The ranges are not well-connected since dense forest, and criss-crossing rivers act as barriers to movement. The Manas National Park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. The Manas, a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra, is the major river flowing through the western part of the park. Five other rivers also snake their way through the park. The bedrock in the north of the Manas National Park is of sandstone and limestone while fine alluvium covers the south of the park. The park encompasses an area of 950 square km and is 61 to 110 m above sea level.

History Of Manas National Park

The forests in the Manas National Park region was initially part of two reserved forests, the Manas Reserved Forest and the North Kamrup Reserve Forest. The reserve forests served as the hunting grounds of the royal family of Cooch Behar and Raja of Gauripur. On October 1, 1928, a region of 360 square km in the reserve forest was declared a sanctuary. IN 1973, the Manas Bioreserve was created, and in 1985, the region was designated as a World Heritage Site. In 1990, the Manas National Park that included the Manas Bioreserve, Kahitama Reserve Forest, the Kokilabari Reserve Forest, and the Panbari Reserve Forest was established. The national park was declared as endangered by UNESCO in 1992 due to rampant terrorist and poaching activities in the park. On June 21, 2011, the Manas National Park was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger and the management was praised for their commendable efforts at maintaining the integrity of the park and protecting its wildlife.

Flora Of The Manas National Park

Nature has endowed Manas National Park with a wide variety of vegetation types. The northern parts of the park are covered by Sub-Himalayan Light Alluvial Semi-Evergreen forests. More than 50% of the land area of the park is covered with Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands. Other ecosystems of the Manas National Park include Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland, and the East Himalayan mixed Moist and Dry Deciduous forests. The core zone of the national park houses about 543 plant species. 

Fauna Of The Manas National Park

The Manas National Park has a rich faunal biodiversity that included about 55 mammalian species, 380 avian species, 50 reptilians, and three amphibian species. 31 species of mammals inhabiting the park are threatened. Indian elephants, Indian rhinoceros, Asian water buffaloes, Indian leopards, tigers, golden langurs, hog deer, black panthers, sambar deer, sloth bears, etc., are some of the notable animals of the Manas National Park. Some of the endemic species found in the park include the golden langur, pygmy hog, the Assam roofed turtle, and the hispid hare. 450 species of birds inhabit the Manas National Park including the endangered Bengal florican. Other notable birds of the forest include great hornbills, brahminy ducks, egrets, fishing eagles, ospreys, herons, and more.

Things To See And Do At The Manas National Park

Elephant safari and jeep safari are the two ways to watch the wildlife of the national park. Several watchtowers scattered across the park also offer wildlife viewing opportunity. Birdwatching is another popular activity to be enjoyed at Manas National Park. 

Besides the forest, those interested in adventure sports can go river rafting on the waters of the Manas River. 

The history loves can also cross the river to visit the Summer Palace of the King of Bhutan. It is also possible to visit a quaint Bhutanese village without crossing the river by driving through a narrow winding mountainous road to Panbang in Bhutan. 

Where To Stay?

The best place to stay in the Manas National Park is undoubtedly the government’s forest rest house located at a prime location deep within the park on the banks of the Manas River. Read in details about this forest rest house: 

http://oishimaya.blogspot.in/2016/04/upper-mathanguri-and-lower-mathanguri.html

There are also other resorts and hotels at other locations outside the park.

Best Time To Visit The Manas National Park

The Manas National Park experiences a minimum temperature of around 15 degrees C and a maximum of about 37 degrees C. The region receives heavy rainfall between the months of May and September and the average annual rainfall is around 333 cm.

The best season to visit the Manas National Park is between the months of November and April. The park remains closed from June to September and is partially open in May and October. The opening and closing hours of the Manas National Park vary slightly with season with sunrise and sunset timings.

How To Visit?

Guwahati Airport is the nearest airport from the Manas National Park and is about 180 km away (5 hrs drive) from the park. The Guwahati Airport has regular flights operating from all major metropolitan cities of India. 

Manas National Park can also be reached via other roads:
Siliguri to Manas National Park: approx. 326 km
Kaziranga National Park to Manas National Park: approx. 335 km
Bagdogra Airport to Manas National Park: approx. 401 km

Regular trains from major metropolitan cities of India operate in the Guwahati Railway station. The Barpeta Railway Station is nearest to the Manas National Park