Manas National Park is a National Park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a
Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam,
India. Located in the Himalayan foothills with a part extends to Bhutan.
The name of the park is originated from the Manas River, which is named after the serpent god Manasa. The Manas river is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the heart of the national park.
The Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on October 01, 1928 with an area of 360 sq. km. Manas Tiger reserve was created in 1973. Prior to the declaration of the sanctauary it was a Reserved Forest called Manas R.F. and North Kamrup R.F.. It was used by the Cooch Behar royal family and Raja of Gauripur as a hunting reserve. In 1951 and 1955 the area was increased to 391 sq. km. It was declared a World Heritage site in December 1985 by UNESCO.
Manas is located in the Eastern Himalayas foothills. The park is densely forested. The Manas river is the main river, a major tributary of Brahmaputra river. The Manas River flows through the west of the park, further it splits into two separate rivers, the Beki and Bholkaduba. Manas and five other small rivers flow through the National Park which lies on a wide low-lying alluvial terrace below the foothills of the outer Himalaya. The bedrock of the savanna area in the north of the park is made up of Limestone and sandstone, whereas the grasslands in the south of the park is made up of deep deposits of fine alluvium. The combination of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation along with riverine succession continuing up to Sub-Himalayan mountain forest making it one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world. The park is 391 km². in area and situated at a height of 61m to 110m above mean sea level.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The Burma Monsoon Forests of Manas lie on the borders between the Indo- Gangetic and Indo-Malayan biogeographical realms and is part of the Brahmaputra Valley Biogeographic Province. The combination of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation with riverine succession leading up to Sub-Himalayan mountain forest makes it one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world.
The main vegetation types are: i) Sub-Himalayan Light Alluvial Semi-Evergreen forests in the northern parts. ii) East Himalayan mixed Moist and Dry Deciduous forests (the most common type). iii) Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland, and iv) Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands which cover almost 50% of the Park.
The park has recorded 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 of reptiles, and 3 species of amphibians. Out of these wildlife, 21 mammals are India’s Schedule I mammals and 31 of them are threatened.
The fauna of the park includes Tigers, Elephants, Rhinoceros, Wild Buffaloes, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Gaurs, Swamp Deer, Capped Langurs, Golden Langurs, Assamese Macaques, Slow Loris, Hoolock Gibbons, Smooth Indian Otters, Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Sambar and Chital.
The park is well know for its rare and endangered wildlife which is not found anywhere else in the world like the Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog.
HOW TO REACH
Nearest airport: Borjhar
Nearest railhead: Barpeta Road
Nearest Highway: NH 31 (22 km away)
Nearest town: The town of Barpeta Road is next to the park boundary and entrance.
Nearest city: The city of Guwahati is 176 km away from the park.
