Image Credit: Pradnyesh Sawant

This may be the first national park where tigers aren’t at the center of attention! Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, Kaziranga is home to two thirds of the world’s Great One-Horned Rhinoceroses. Large breeding populations of elephants, buffalos, swamp deer, and tigers reside here as well. Furthermore, this park is recognized by Birdlife International for its diversity and conservation of various species of birds. Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique environment and wildlife in 1985.

Indian rhinos are one of the five species of rhinos around the world. Their single horn makes them easily distinguished from the various African rhinos. Weighing about 2,000 kilograms, they feed on grass, fruits, leaves, and other plants. They live up to 40 years and are active in the early morning and late evening to avoid the heat. Conservation efforts and laws are in place to protect the “unicorn species” from poachers, including declaring the area as a Wildlife Reserve.

Swamp deer grazing

The best season to visit Kziranga is from November to early April. The monsoon starts in mid may, which causes the rivers to burst and flooding in grasslands cause animals to migrate from location to location. You can find additional information from the Kaziranga National Park website.