Orang National Park, Assam

Assam is home to one-horned rhinoceros as well as the sprawling tea gardens. The Orang National Park is home to not just these vulnerable animals but also is part of the tiger conservation project, as a result of which, it is home to the Royal Bengal tigers too. Spread across 78.81 sq. km. area, the swampy grassland constitutes several man-made lakes inside the premises, which serve as the home to several migratory birds during the season. Situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra river, the national park has the distinction of being the oldest game reserve in the state of Assam. It serves as an important breeding ground for several varieties of fishes. If you are looking forward to spending a day away from the hustle-bustle of the city and relaxing amidst tall trees and high grasslands, spotting endangered wildlife in its natural surroundings, then Orang National Park is the place to be.
Situated on the northern end of the river, the park is located in Assam’s Sonitpur and Darrang districts. It is an IUCN site and boasts of a rich flora and fauna comprising of several endangered, critically endangered, and threatened animals and birds including the Pygmy Hog, Royal Bengal Tiger, Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, Bengal Florican, etc. The Park is the sole stronghold of the rhinoceros on this bank of the river. Other rivers that are around the park include Dhansiri, Belsiri, and Pachnoi. During Monsoon Season, the entire region of the park becomes flooded due to the overlapping of water bodies. The Park’s area can be divided into several distinct geographical zones including the Eastern Himalayan moist deciduous forest, Eastern wet alluvial grassland, Eastern seasonal swamp forest, grasslands (Savannah and degraded), moist and dry sandy area as well as different water bodies.

Why should you visit Orang National Park?

Till the 1900s, the Orang National Park was inhabited by the local Orang tribe which abandoned the area after an epidemic broke out. There has been a history of mixed habitation in this area. The area was declared a game reserve by the British in 1915 and came under the control of the State Forest Department’s Wildlife Wing for completing the requirements of Project Tiger. It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985 and was briefly renamed Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in 1992. However, after protests by the public, the naming was reversed. The sanctuary got the status of a National Park on 13th April 1999 and was officially renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park. Under Project Tiger, it became the 49th tiger reserve and is known as the Orang Tiger Reserve.

Wildlife found in Orang National Park

The Vegetation of the national park is rich and comprises diverse flora and fauna:

Flora–
Shisham, red silk cotton, elephant rope tree, Chinese date, Spanish cane, kunai grass, water spinach, water lily.

Fauna–
Mammals: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, wild buffalo, Asiatic elephant, wild boar, leopard, pygmy hog, hog deer, jungle cat, small Indian civet, otter, rhesus macaque, Gangetic dolphin, wild pig, porcupine, hare, water buffalo

Reptiles: Indian Rock Python, Black Krait, Cobra, Monitor Lizard, turtles, tortoise

Birds: Spot-billed pelican, black-necked, woolly-necked, Greater and Lesser Adjutant stork, Brahminy and Pintail Duck, kingfisher, woodpecker, Rudy Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Pallas’s Fishing eagle, Pintail, green pigeon, teal, goose, and the migratory bird American milky white pelican.

Fishes: Around 50 varieties of fish are found here.

Attractions found in Orang National Park

The Orang National Park is full of surprises for visitors. The major attractions of this national park include:

Wildlife Spotting – The Swampy grasslands of Assam invite all wildlife enthusiasts to witness the conservation efforts done to protect endangered and protected species. You can easily spot elephants, one-horned rhinoceros, and tigers here apart from wild boar, Indian hog deer, and several varieties of snakes.

Bird Watching – The National park is home to several avian species. While taking a safari through the jungle, you will be able to spot several of the 200 species of birds found here. The easy to spot ones include Bengal Florian, Kingfisher, Heron, Golden Eagle, and Pelicans.

Cruise Ride – The National Park also offers a cruise ride on the Brahmaputra river. This allows you to get a view of the entire region. It is an excellent initiative to boost tourism and provide a unique experience to visitors.

Best Time to visit Orang National Park

On an average, the region receives around 3,000 mm of rainfall during the monsoon season. Travelling around this time (July to September) is not advisable. The Best Time to visit Orang National Park is from November to April. The Temperature during summer is between 12-320C while that in winter is 5-250C. Thus, it is advised to carry clothes and accessories accordingly.

Safari Available at Orang National Park

Both jeep and elephant safari are available at the Orang National Park. The spectacular beauty of the national park popularly known as the mini-Kaziranga park can be best explored by riding on the towering elephants. The Forest Department can help organize either a jeep or elephant safari for the tourists. The charges vary depending on the season.

Tips to keep in mind while visiting Orang National Park

The National Park is open for safari from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Elephant safaris are preferred here, and visitors can enter either in the morning or afternoon.
You require advanced authorization from Divisional Forest Officer, Mangaldoi before visiting the park.
Don’t forget to carry binoculars and a good camera to click photographs.
During the winter season, the weather might be chilly; carrying warm clothes is advised for tourists.
To fully explore the region, you will need a minimum of one day.
You can set base in Tezpur to enjoy your visit to Orang National Park since there are only 2 rest houses and a dormitory available in the national park which contains the bare minimum facilities.