The Indian state of Assam holds a special attraction for Asia wildlife enthusiasts, boasting four important national parks and three UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites. Little-visited and rather tucked away in the north-east of the subcontinent, Assam is a land of mighty rivers and fertile plains laid out at the foot of the Himalaya.
Remarkable for the richness of its flora and fauna, Assam’s natural history represents a melting pot of east and west species – many found here are at either the westernmost or easternmost points of their range. Assam’s three most rewarding national parks are Manas, Nameri and Kaziranga, home of the endangered Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
In Manas alone, a total of 55 mammals have been recorded, and some of the most sought-after of the Himalayan foothill bird species live there. India’s iconic mammal life is also well represented in Assam – one can spot Asian elephant, tiger, or even a critically endangered pygmy hog while exploring the state’s extensive wetland, forest and grassland habitats.
Bordered by the mighty Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga holds more than just the one-horned rhino: there you can see wild boar, herds of wild buffalo and elephant and many species of ungulate.
