Established in 1985, Manas National Park is located in the Indian state of Assam and is situated near the Manas River which is one of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra River and divides the park in two halves. The reserve forests of the Manas National Park contain an Elephant Reserve, Project Tiger Reserve, Biosphere reserve and have also been declared a World Heritage Site under UNESCO. The name ‘Manas’ is derived from the Hindu deity, the snake goddess ‘Manasa’ and is also shared with the river that transverses through the park.
The park was originally spread across 360 sq kilometers upon its establishment in 1985, but after been expanded in the subsequent years it now spreads across 950 sq kilometers and spreads across 5 districts in the state of Assam. The park is placed along the eastern Himalayan foothills and comprises of marshy grasslands and thick monsoon, sub-Himalayan Terai and mountain forests. The park enjoys a favorable climate all year round with heavy rainfall during the monsoons.
The park enjoys a semi-tropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The monsoon season makes the park susceptible to heavy rains making it inaccessible. The hottest months are May and June when the temperatures can go upto 37 degrees Celsius with around 76% humidity.
Best Time to Visit
While it is best to avoid visiting the park during heavy monsoons or summer due to the unfavorable climatic conditions, the Manas National Park is open all year round. The best time to visit is between the months of October till February when the climate is the most pleasant and fauna activity is the highest. The winters in Manas National Park are mild and temperatures rarely go beyond 25 degrees making the park a perfect location for a wild winter getaway.
Wildlife at Manas National Park
The park is divided into two major biomes, the grasslands and the forests, each with its own unique exhibition of terrain, flora and fauna. The park houses 55 species of animals, 50 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians and nearly 380 species of birds.
Animals – Indian Tigers, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Asian golden cat, Barasingha, Hoolock Gibbons, Smooth-coated Otters, Capped Langurs, Gaurs, Asian Water Buffaloes, B Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Black Panther, Golden Langurs, Assamese Macaques, Slow Loris, Asian Elephants, Indian Rhinoceros, Sambar Deer and Chital
Birds – Giant Hornbills, Jungle Fowls, Bulbuls, Brahminy Ducks, Kalij Pheasants, Egrets, Pelicans, Pied Hornbills, Grey Hornbills, Mergansers, Serpent Eagles, Falcons, 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, Finn’s Weaver, Ibis bill, Scarlet Minivets, Fishing Eagles, Magpie Robins, Bengal florican, Bee-Eaters, Harriers, Ospreys and Herons etc. and a variety of foothills species.
Distance from Nearby and Major Cities
1. Guwahati to Manas National Park – 150 kilometers
2. Barpeta to Manas National Park – 63 kilometers
3. Shillong to Manas National Park – 240 kilometers
4. Imphal to Manas National Park – 615 kilometers
5. Johrat to Manas National Park -400 kilometers
6. Patna to Manas National Park – 793 kilometers
7. Bangalore to Manas National Park – 2,737 kilometers
8. Kolkata to Manas National Park – 882 kilometers
9. Lucknow to Manas National Park – 1,213 kilometers
10. Mumbai to Manas National Park – 2,520 kilometers
11. Hyderabad to Manas National Park – 2,360 kilometers
12. Chennai to Manas National Park – 2,532 kilometers
13. New Delhi to Manas National Park – 1,850 kilometers
14. Jaipur to Manas National Park – 1,872 kilometers
15. Ahmedabad to Manas National Park – 2,432 kilometers
Nearest Airport – Manas National Park is close to the nearest airport at Guwahati which is approximately 150 kilometers from the Park. Despite of being an international airport there are no major international flights but is well connected with the other international airports in India.
Nearest Railway Station – Th