One of the most sought after wildlife holiday destinations in India, Kaziranga National park’s 430 square kilometer area sprinkled with elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons, and dense forests is home to more than 2200 Indian one-horned rhinoceros, approximately 2/3rd of their total world population. Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon district.
In the year 1985, the park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is said when Mary Curzon, the wife of the Viceroy of India – Lord Curzon of Kedleston, visited the park to see Indian one-horned rhinoceros; she wasn’t able to found even one. Then she persuaded her husband to take urgent measures to protect the dwindling species which he did by initiating planning for their protection. After a series of meetings and documentations, the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created with an area of 232 km2 (90 sq mi) in 1905.
Along with the iconic Greater one-horned rhinoceros, the park is the breeding ground of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Over the time, the tiger population has also increased in Kaziranga, and that’s the reason why Kaziranga was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006. Also, the park is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species. Birds like lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, Baer’s pochard duck and lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-necked stork, and Asian Openbill stork specially migrate from the Central Asia during the winter season.
Undoubtedly, the park is known for its good population of animals but more than that its the wildlife conservation initiatives that take place in the park are more popular. With its amazing wildlife conservation activities, the park has successfully managed to grow the population of Greater one-horned rhinoceros, an endangered species.
The vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests undoubtedly makes the park look beautiful but it’s the presence of Brahmaputra river, which makes it look enigmatic.
Arrive at Varanasi airport/ railways station. Meet and assist at the airport. Drive from Varanasi to Allahabad by road.( approx 2- 2.50 hrs). Check into the hotel and rest. Post lunch visit Triveni Sangam and Someshwar Mahadev temple. Back to the hotel. Overnight at Allahabad.
After breakfast, visit Anand Bhavan, Allahabad fort and museum, Swaraj Bhavan, Khusro Bagh, All Saints Cathedral and Jawahar Planetorium. Back to the hotel in the evening. Overnight at Allahabad.
After breakfast, check out from the hotel at Allahabad to drive towards Varanasi by road. Visit Kashi Vishwananth temple, Manikarnika Ghat( Ganges), Gyanvapi mosque, Ramgarh Fort and Durga Mandir- Ramnagar. Overnight at Varanasi.
After breakfast, continue with Varanasi sightseeing. Visit Chunar Fort, Assi ghat. Evening is free for leisure/ shopping. Overnight at VNS.
After breakfast, take an excursion from Varanasi to Sarnath (approx 8 kms)- Visit Dhamek and Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath museum. Back to Varanasi in the evening. Overnight at Varanasi.
After breakfast check out from the hotel at Varanasi and proceed to Bodhgaya.(approx 4 hrs). Lunch enroute. Arrive in Bodhgaya and check into the hotel. Time to freshen up and rest. Later visit the Mahabodhi temple, Thai Monastery. Overnight at Bodhgaya.
After breakfast, entire day for rest and leisure at Bodhgaya. Overnight at Bodhgaya.
After breakfast, check out from Bodhgaya and drive to Varanasi airport/ railway station to take your return flight /train back home. Tour ends.
