Nameri National Park-an ideal vacation option

Nameri National park – for the wildlife and nature lovers

Assam is blessed with a diverse wildlife and there are many national parks and sanctuaries in the state. Nameri national park is spread across an area of around 200 square kilometres and the Jia Bhoroli  river flows in between the park , which adds a lot of colour to the this wildlife destination. This place is approximately an hours drive from my hometown and hence it was an option for a day outing.

As kids we were very thrilled to see elephants and other animals and once we grew up , rafting became a big draw along with the wild life safari. After visiting  a couple of national parks in India and abroad, my appreciation for Nameri national park increased a lot. Here are my reasons, why this should be in the bucket list for wildlife junkies, nature lovers or people looking out for a quiet vacation.

The landscape

Picture this! Lush green and semi evergreen forest with regular rows of cane and bamboo trees in between, along with narrow strips of grassland by the river. Doesn’t it feel like an ideal picnic spot to spend the day or a place for soul searching? Apart from Jia Bhoroli River, there are 5 to 6 tributaries crisscrossing the park, giving it a very different feel. And, the Nameri national park is situated at the foothills of eastern Himalayas.  There is mountain, river, forest, grassland all at the same place . The flowers and butterflies add a lot of colour to this scenic beauty

Birder’s Paradise

 

It is the best place to sight the endangered white wing duck, which also happens to be the state bird of Assam. There are more than 370 species of birds which include the locals and the migratory birds. For the birders, let me add a few more to the list. You can meet the Hornbill family (4 species), the vulture families, different types of eagles, bee-eaters, and many other birds.

Round the year destination

The temperature is moderate when compared with other national park; hence it can be a year round destination. If you are a wildlife junkie then plan your travel between September and March. And it is not crowded, it is like a quiet vacation option.

Wildlife Safari

The national park is home to a good number of elephants.  Capped langurs, wild boars, bison, giant squirrels, black bears, leopards and sloth bears are also around. You can also spot the different varieties of turtles. In case you are lucky you can spot tigers, leopards and pangolin also.

Fishing

If you love to go fishing (not just in the summer time :)), this is a great option. You can get the permission from the forest department. And aim for the Golden Masheer fish, also known as the ‘Tiger of the Himalayan Rivers’. You can also swim in certain sections of the park.

River Rafting

The stretch takes almost 3 hours and is a good option to spot a lot of birds along the way. It is a sort of level 1 rafting and hence not very difficult.

Stay in an Eco camp

It almost feels like connecting with the roots.  Eco camp comprises of tented cottages with thatched roofs and has all the basic facilities. You can take your pick between luxury , comfort and budget options.

Did you find this exciting enough ? You may have to visit this place to understand what I am trying to convey. Intrigued? Here are some more details about it.

How to reach Nameri National park ?

It is around 220 kilometres from Guwahati. Air and train connects Guwahati with all the major cities of India.

When is the best time to visit Nameri?

Though according to me barring monsoon, any other month is great, but if you are keen on wildlife safari, then September to April is a good time

For more such wildlife experiences, please read about some of the wildlife experiences in India .

In case you are keen on traveling to Nameri national park, you could take a look at the  Assam itinerary. You can cover the Nameri national park as a part of this itinerary. Write to us and we will be happy to customize your Assam experience with a trip to Nameri.

In case you are a nature lover, check out the natural wonders of India.

India is not just about wildlife. There are many more facets to this ancient land – culture, mystery, history, nature, mystery and so on. Read more about how the different facets of India travel are celebrated.