Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Tiger Reserve Project, is situated on the foothills of the Bhutan Himalayas, in the state of Assam. One of the top attractions in India especially for the wildlife lovers, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary vastly spreads over 2837 sq km area. While the main area of this Indian reserve forest lies in Kokrajhar and Barpeta districts, the outlying areas spread over the neighboring forest reserve divisions of North Kamrup, Western Assam Wildlife Division, Kachugaon and Haltugaon. Formerly known as North Kamrup, Manas became a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1928. In the year 1985, this wildlife sanctuary in India was declared a 'World Heritage in Danger'. The only tiger reserve

in Assam, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is the home to India's second largest tiger population. But not only the tigers, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is also the home to a good number of rare golden langur and the red panda. One of the popular tourist attractions in Assam, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary attracts a good number of tourists every year. If you want to explore the raw wildlife of the north-east, you must come in at Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. Derives its name from the Goddess Manasa, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary stretches beyond the Indian territory, as some of its parts fall on Bhutan. The Manas River that flows down the sanctuary demarcates the international border. Besides the tigers, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is also the place of 20 highly endangered species of birds animals including Red Pandas. You will also find other animals like elephants, rhinos, swamp deer, gaur, clouded leopard, golden cat, pangolin, fishing cat, pygmy hog, and leopard. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is also equally attractive to the birdwatchers as the sanctuary has more than 450 species of birds including the great pied hornbill and the Bengal florican. While visiting the park, you should go for an elephant ride, as this is the best way to explore the sanctuary. One can also find boats to watch the wildlife down the Manas and Hakua rivers.

The best time to visit Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is from October to April. Visitors should avoid the monsoon months from June to September when some parts of the sanctuary get flooded and the animals have to move to some safer places withing the sanctuary.

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is 176 km away from Guwahati. If you are coming down here by air, you have to land at Guwahati, which is the nearest airport to Manas. If you are come down here by train, you have to come at Barpeta Road, which is 41 km away from the sanctuary. If you want to reach there by road, you can find buses and taxis from Guwahati to Manas.

There are two lodges run by the tourist department, and two state department-run bungalows in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary where you can stay and enjoy the thrill of wildlife.