The state of Assam basically comprises of the Brahmaputra plains and the Barak Valley to the south of the state. In between lies the Karbi hills and the Cachar hill tracts. The larger Brahmaputra plains run in a roughly east-west direction and as one moves towards the north there is a gradual elevation until about 50 kms from the northern shore of the river when the topography changes dramatically as one hits the foot hills of the Himalayan range. This is the location of one of the most beautiful wild life parks in India and a World Heritage Site, the Manas National Park. Nestled right beneath the Bhutan Himalayas, it has sub tropical vegetation and is fed by the Manas and the Beki rivers and a few more streams and rivulets. Mathanguri, at its northern end has a spectacular sight of the Manas river gushing down and the forested mountains on the Bhutanese side. This is the Indo-Bhutan international border - and a chance to spot the rare and endangered Golden Langur. Because of its elevation and forests and grasslands the bird life is very interesting with the Great Indian Hornbill making an occasional appearance. The Bengal Florican is another sought after bird here.

While the rich bird life will enthrall you, you can spend the rest of your time at the simple but comfortable Bansbari Lodge near the entrance gate of the park.

From Manas you move on eastwards along the north bank of the Brahmaputra to Orang National Park, small but rewarding. Storks of all the different kinds, owls and pelicans during the cold months are easily spotted.

Further east lies the Nameri National Park on the banks of the Rivr Bhorelli coming down from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh. The advantage of this wonderful park is that you have to do all your birding on foot, as there are no jeepable roads. Rafting is another option where expert boatmen will steer your rafts while you are free to look for the aquatic birds. Ruddy Shell Duck, cormorants are common. Nameri also houses eight globally threatened and five near-threatened species including the White Winged Wood Duck. Ibisbill, Pied Kingfisher, wreathed hornbill, Blue-eared kingfisher, King Vultures are some of the other most sought after birds.

Moving on and turning south we cross the River Brahmaputra by one of India's longest bridges. On the center of the Brahmaputra plains, in the south bank, is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Assam's pride, the Kaziranga National Park. Kaziranga is the most well known tourist spot in Assam and every Assamese is proud of it. This park is home to some of the most fascinating wildlife in Asia including Greater Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. The moist deciduous forests of Kaziranga is a birding paradise with a check list of almost 500 species which includes Green-backed Heron, White bellied Heron (rare), Lesser and greater Adjutants, Spoonbill, Grey-headed and Pallas's Fish-eagle (common), Swamp Francolin (common), Grey-headed Lapwing, Black-bellied tern, Marsh Babbler, Jordan's Bush chat (rare) White-throated Bush chat and many more.

# TOUR CALENDAR 2010
# TOUR CALENDAR 2011