Wildlife viewing in Kaziranga Park, Assam
 

I'd love to hear from anyone who has been here. I am considering a trip to Assam and would like to make this park part of it.

I'm topping this in the hope that vp singh or another knowledgeable person will respond.

The Palin book/web site I recommended on your other thread includes a piece on the park.

This Kaz-fest isn't going very well, is it Kathie? lol.

Which might speak volumes for the wonders of Kaziranga.

Thanks, Thursdays, I don't have the book yet. It's not available directly from Amazon, so I was going to check a local bookstore before ordering it through Amazon's marketplace. I'm glad to know that it will give me some info.

dogster, I know your opinion (and I appreciate it), but no responses IMO does not mean it's terrible, just off the usual tourist track (which I like). I did read some accounts on Thorntree that sounded fine (no tigers, but encounters with rhinos).

Kathie - you can read the whole book (with pix) online - start here for the park: http://palinstravels.co.uk/book-3895 (I borrowed it from the library)

I think your heart is telling you to go to Kaz - so you should go.

With a good heart, it'll be great. Three days will give you lots of time for adventures and bonding with the staff. I'll bet there are things there that nobody knows about - and probably more chance of getting off to visit local villages and the like, via your newest good pals, the staff.

And keep a weather eye out for hand-woven Bihu dresses in villages [which are just a length of material] Stunning. Just look for the looms, go in and ask. Buy from source - always the most satisfying. Go bond with the ladies, drink tea and gently bargain. I have one hanging on my wall at home.

Prize, prize possession.

Do a search on "Kaziranga" there is a good trip report from 2007.

Hi Kathie,

Kaziranga is an exceptional park - and I like it a lot..for its immensly diverse flaora and fauna...in the backdrop of the huge Brahmaputra river and cute little tribal settelements + Tea states dotting the area...
You must go there...
Till now the issue about visiting Kaziranga was that there was no decemt accommodation besides Wild Graass but now there is a very ncie resort called Diphlu River Lodge which has come up - and one should stay there only - http://www.assambengalnavigation.com/photo_diphlu.htm

I would suggest that besides Kaziranga you also see some other areas of Assam - start with Kolkata and than fly to Guwahati and see the silk weaving island Sualkuchi and Mosque and superb temple at hajo . You ust also try to include Jorhat area with visit to worlds biggest inland river island - Majauli and some Tea estates (stay at Chang Bungalows) and later visit Kaziranga....

You can even do all this on a cruise on Brahmaputra river ()with Assambengal navigation company) - and end the cruise with a visit to Kaziranga...

Shall be gald to help in case you need more help..

Cheers and all the best...

garybear, thank you for pointing out that report. I had previously done a search and it did not come up - a glitch with the search function or a glitch with my typing?

holikurry, thanks for your comments. My tentative plan is for a trip to Assam, a few days of which would be at the Diphlu. see my previous post:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...g-or-assam.cfm

The current wish-list is for a few days in Kolkata, then up to Assam and some time at Thengal Manor in Jorhat, a stay at a tea estate, perhaps 4 days on a cruise with Assam Bengal (which would allow me to see Majauli) and three nights at Diphlu. As I'm very interested in textiles, I do want to visit the silk weaving village near Guwahati. I do know that I will have to edit my plans, as I want to fit too much into too little time.

I am still in the process of arranging our transpacific tickets, so I don't yet have exact dates and therefore the exact number of days in India, but likely will have 2 weeks on the ground in India or perhaps a couple days less.

Kathie--I've found that the best way to search fodors is using google since then you don't have to limit your search to 3 year intervals, certain forums and so on. Just type the search term into the google box and then type site:fodors.com.

Thanks, Marija, nice tip!