Manas National park

 ABOUT MANAS NATIONAL PARK

Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the foothills of the Himalayas in the state of Assam, India1. It is a Project Tiger reserve and an elephant reserve. The park is spread over an area of 500 square kilometers and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, scenery, and variety of habitats.

Manas National Park is home to several rare and endangered endemic wildlife species such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, and pygmy hog. The park is also famous for its population of the wild water buffalo

The park is named after the Manas River, which is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River and passes through the heart of the national park. The park was declared a sanctuary on  October 1928 with an area of 360 km². Prior to the declaration of the sanctuary, it was a reserved forest called Manas R.F. and North Kamrup R.F. It was used by the Cooch Behar royal family and Raja of Gauripur as a hunting reserve.

Manas National Park is divided into three ranges: the western range is based at Panbari, the central at Bansbari near Barpeta Road, and the eastern at Bhuiyapara near Pathsala. The ranges are not well connected; while two major rivers need to be forded in going from the center to the Panbari, there is a rough trail (the Daimari road) connecting the center to the eastern range.

The park is predominantly famous for its Tiger Reserve and Elephant Reserve. It is home to more than 20 endangered species of birds and animals. The park is also known for its beautiful raw surroundings that will make you feel overwhelming love for nature.

Best time to visit manas national park

The best time to visit Manas National Park is between October and April when the weather is pleasant and gives visitors a chance to spot many wildlife species. The national park experiences semi-tropical climate, with humid summers, cold winters, and heavy rainfall during monsoon 

What is the entry fee for Manas National Park?

To enter Manas National Park, you need to obtain permits from the Field’s Director Office on Barpeta Road. The park charges INR 20 for Indian citizens and INR 250 for foreign nationals as entry fees . The Bansbari Range Office, which is around a kilometer away from the gate at Baripada, is where you can pay the entry fee and parking charges . The forest department does not provide any jeep or guides, but you can hire private jeeps from the Bansbari Range Offic.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Manas National Park is located in the state of Assam, India. The nearest airport to the park is Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Guwahati Airport which is 145 km away and takes around 3 hours to reach by car. You can also reach the park via Bagdogra Airport which is 335 km away from the park.

The closest railway station to the park is Barpeta Road Railway Station which is approximately 20 km away from the park. Trains from across India including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru & Hyderabad have scheduled stops at Barpeta Road Station.

Manas National Park is well connected to neighboring towns and Guwahati city by National Highway No. 31. The road distances from nearest cities & towns to Manas are: from Kokrajhar is 112 Kms., from Nalbari is 66 Kms., from Guwahati is 137 Kms., from Naogaon is 274 Kms. and from Barpeta is 43 Kms. It also enjoys close proximity to West Bengal, Arunachal & Meghalaya via National Highways.

What are the accommodation options available in or near Manas National Park?

There are several accommodation options available in and around Manas National Park. Here are some of the options:

1. Homocation Ray Homestay: This is a homestay located near the park and offers comfortable rooms and basic amenities 
2. Camp Buffalo Retreat: This is a 3-star campsite located near the park and offers tents with basic amenities 
3. Manas National Park Forest Rest House: This is a government-run rest house located inside the park and offers basic amenities.
4. Bansbari Lodge: This is a private lodge located near the park and offers comfortable rooms and basic amenities.