Friday 6 December 2013

Backpacking India - Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

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Photo courtesy of Wikipedia


The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park with its exquisite natural beauty is renowned world over for its diversity of wildlife and the largest forest swamp in the North-East Asia. The park is situated 10km north from Tinsukia district in Assam. The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park covers an area of 340 sq kms between the Lohit and the Dibru rivers. The park was declared a sanctuary in 1986 and elevated to a National Park in 1999. Home to over 36 species of mammal as well as over 382 species of birds, the park was initially a sanctuary for the Whitewinged wood ducks in their natural habitat. However, it is popular for their Feral Horses that roam the park. The Feral horses are commonly known as Janghali ghura and there are over 79 feral horses that are found in Assam. The reason for their popularity is based on the fact that their actual origins are not known, however some have concluded that they are descendants of the horses that escaped the army camps during World War II. The Ferah horses together with the Tigers, Asian Elephants and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel, I believe make up the big four mammals of Dibru-Saikhowa National park. Tourist will also enjoy seeing the Hoolock Gibbon, Gangentic River Dolphins and Wild Buffalos which are just as popular in the Assam tourism sector.

The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is open throughout the year however the best time to visit would be around November to April. The park has no road for vehicles; this requires visitors to hire small motorized boats to travel within the park or a guide to walk them through some of the areas situated in the park. If you would like to stay longer, you can always find accommodations a few kilometers