More than 4.7 lakh visitors explored the national park this season as rare wildlife sightings, including a golden tiger and gharials, boosted tourist interest
Guwahati: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve will shut its gates to tourists from May 29 as authorities prepare for the annual monsoon season, during which large stretches of the floodplain reserve go underwater.
Forest officials said safari operations across the park will conclude on May 28 due to rising rainfall and worsening road conditions inside the protected area. Several zones become inaccessible every year as floodwaters from the Brahmaputra spread across the sanctuary.
According to officials of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, the seasonal closure is also necessary to allow free wildlife movement during floods and to undertake repair and habitat restoration work before the next tourism cycle begins.
This year, Kaziranga witnessed one of its strongest tourism seasons, attracting more than 4.7 lakh visitors, including a sharp rise in international tourists. Authorities credited promotional campaigns and improved visitor outreach for the surge in footfall.
Wildlife sightings remained a major attraction throughout the season. Frequent rhino sightings in the Bagori and Burapahar ranges drew large crowds, while rare appearances of gharials in Burapahar generated excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.
The reserve also grabbed national attention after tourists spotted a rare golden tiger in the Kohora and Bagori ranges earlier this season.
Spread across the Brahmaputra floodplains, Kaziranga closes annually during the monsoon as heavy flooding submerges roads, grasslands and several safari routes inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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