ABOUT MANAS

Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, the park derives its name from Manas River which meanders through it. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas Park of Bhutan. Manas National Park has several distinctions to its credit. It is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. The park houses a forest village, Agrang in its core zone.

The 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 Manas River flows through the west of the park, where it splits into two separate rivers, the Beki and Bholkaduba. Limestone and sandstone form the bedrock of the savanna area in the north while the grasslands in the south consist of deep deposits of fine alluvium.

The park represents two biomes: grassland biome and forest biome. The vegetation ranges from semi-evergeen forest in the north to mosit and dry deciduous forest.

The park is a home to rare endangered species like Assam roofed turtle, pygmy hog, hispid hare and golden langur. Other mammals found here include Asian water buffaloes, barasingha, Indian tigers, Indian leopards, clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, dholes, capped langurs, golden langurs, Assamese macaques, slow loris, hoolock gibbons. Manas national park shelters over 450 species of birds including Greater Adjutant, Black-tailed Crake, Red-headed Trogon, Swamp Francolin, Wreathed and Rufous-necked Hornbill, Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers, Pied Harrier, Rufous-rumped and Bristled Grassbirds, Hodgson’s Bushchat, Rufous-vented Laughing thrush.

WHEN TO GO ?

The best time to visit the park is during October to April.