The Assam government is going to open the Kaziranga national park for tourists from October 1 this year instead of November 1, it was announced on Monday.
Assam Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma is expected to open the gates of the park for tourists on October 1, a park official said on Monday.
The date for opening of the national park, famous for its one-horned rhino population, was advanced this year following the instruction from Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal last month.
Park authorities in Kaziranga national park are now working hard to make all the arrangements for opening the park for the tourists from October 1. Normally the park used to be opened for tourists on November 1 and it gets closed on April 30 every year.
"On October 1, we are going to open only Western range, Bagori range, Central range and Kohora range for the tourists. We are working on to repair the roads inside the park. Once all the works are completed, the other ranges would also be opened for tourists," said a senior officer of the park on Monday.
He said that the elephant rides as well as the jeep rides would be made available for tourists in the aforesaid ranges from October 1. "However, the total distance of the Jeep Safari circuit would be reduced due to ongoing repair works inside the park," he said.
The park had witnessed severe floods in last two months, which have submerged more than 80 percent of the park. The devastating floods have washed away some small bridges inside the park and damaged the roads inside to a large extent.
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Although the main attraction of the park is the one-horned rhino population, tourists also frequent the park for tigers, elephants, water buffaloes, hog deer, bear and other wildlife species including reptiles and winged species.
--IANS
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