Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary: its history, road route, main attractions and facilities.
Assam is the home of many wildlife sanctuaries and one such sanctuary is Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary. This article highlights the main attractions of the sanctuary and also the various facilities provides to the visitors. The article also highlights the history of Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary and also provides information regarding the accommodating and route to Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
Introduction
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in Assam. It is also considered to be the second sweet home of the one horned Indian rhinoceros. Its swampy marshland and hilly areas provides the best habitat for the rhinoceros to reside. The 2006 rhinoceros survey estimates that Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary provides shelter to more than ninety (90) rhinoceros in the sanctuary. The sanctuary is not only the home of one-horned rhinoceros, wild bull, deers etc but also a very important migratory bird area. Every year more than 375 species of migratory birds visit Pabitora and because of this only, the locals call Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary as 'The Bharatpur of the East'. History of Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary was initially a dense marshland surrounded by paddy fields and farmland, where the local villagers co-reside with the rhinoceros, cattle, wild bulls etc and also protect it from the outsiders. In 1971, the Assam Tourism declared Pabitora as reserved forest. But, due to the sudden decrease in the population of the rhinoceros for various reasons including poaching, the Government of Assam along with Assam tourism took immediate steps of improvement and declared Pabitora as a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. Soon, the Government of India included Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary under the rhino breeding programme, 'Indian Rhino Vision 2020' with an aim to protect the Indian one-horned rhinoceros.Location and area covered by Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is to be found in the Morigaon District near the border of the Nagaon District surrounded by three reserved forest that is Sunikushi, Bora Mayong and Khulahat reserved forest. Its thick forest and grasslands spreads over a vast area of 38.81 square kilometres. It is 35 kilometres from Guwahati, which is a 2 hour drive via Chandrapur and Mayong and is 52 kilometres via National Highway 37 (NH37). It is 37 kilometres from Sonapur. The nearest airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar, Guwahati. Flora and fauna in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is the home of a large variety of animals and birds. Although, the main center of attraction is the Indian one horned rhinoceros. The best time to visit Pobitora is between the months of November to March. It is during this time most of the migratory birds visit Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary and lot of rhinoceros are seen grazing on the grasslands. Along with the rhinoceros, the sanctuary is also the home of many mammals such as leopard cats, deers, Chinese pangolin, wild pigs, wild boar, feral buffaloes, smooth Indian otters, civet cats and many more. Around 29 species of reptiles are found in the sanctuary and more than 375 species of migratory birds have been seen in the sanctuary. Some of the avifauna seen in the sanctuary is white-necked stork, white ibis, falcated teal, white bellied heron, spot-billed pelican and many more. There is also a variety of amphibians (till date 9 different species of amphibians are recorded) and fishers in the sanctuary.
Hotel and accommodation near Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
There are various luxurious bungalows and lodges to stay in during the visit to Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Mayong Tourist Lodge is one such reputed lodge which is under the Tourist Departments. It provides luxurious service and accommodation with 4 rooms. The Forest Department Inspection Bungalow is another hotel which is situated at Mayong and it provides accommodation with 2 rooms. The Kunshi Resort is another such luxurious hotel at Mayong. There are also various hotels and lodges in Guwahati which provides luxurious service and accommodation. Some of the reputed hotels and lodges in Guwahati are Brahmaputra Ashok, Hotel Rajmahal, Diphlu River lodge and many more. Visitors facilities in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Elephants ride (4 persons per elephant) is best way to explore the flora and fauna of Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Along with this, jeep safaris are also available for the visitors to explore Pabitora. There are various suitable view spots where visitors can get a guarantee look of the one-horned rhinoceros, migratory birds and reptiles. There are also many hot picnic spots near the Garanga Beel and Haduk Hanging Bridge and many more to look forward to during the visit to Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary.Conclusion
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary has become of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Assam and has also become one of the successful one-horned rhino breeding programmes. The inherent beauty and the tranquil surrounding of Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary never failed to astound its visitors and compel them to visit Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary again and again. Contact address of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Divisional Forest Officer,
Guwahati Wildlife Division,
Guwahati-781009, Assam
Phone No:-0361-2550207(R), 094350 31789(M)
Range Officer,
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Mayong,
Dist.-Morigaon, Assam
Phone No:-03678-248157(O).
