Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Manas National Park reopened to tourists on Friday. Officials implemented a fresh strategy that prioritizes community jobs and conservation over simple safari rides. Park authorities now require all groups to hire trained local guides. These youths from nearby villages provide expert knowledge while earning a direct paycheck.
Visitor traffic is climbing. Records show arrivals jumped from 52,962 in the 2021-22 season to 63,723 by 2025-26. Foreign interest spiked hardest, moving from only 45 international visitors to 4,951 in the same timeframe. Domestic numbers hit 58,772 last season.
The park is pushing activities into buffer zones like Subankhata, Bhutan Chowki, and Bogamati to thin out crowds. They also added premium full-day routes. Planners want to build a bigger circuit linking Manas, the 1st Addition to Manas, Raimona National Park, Sikhna Jwhalao National Park, and wildlife sanctuaries like Barnadi and Chakrashila. New rural initiatives like Aamar Alohi aim to bring travelers into village homestays.
Waste control is now strict. The new Responsible Tourism Centre at the gate forces travelers to dump single-use plastic. It offers water refills and disposal tips. This project joins the Forest Department, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin, Royal Enfield Social Mission, and The Midway Journey. Through the Root Connect initiative, these groups target better waste habits.
Officials also laid the foundation stone for the Bodoland Manas Heritage Centre at Bansbari. It will serve as a hub for regional history and wildlife records. Regarding the shift in strategy, one official noted, "The changes mark a shift in how tourism is being positioned at Manas, as an economic opportunity for surrounding communities, but also as a tool for conservation."
Updated at 3rd October 2026 at 9:46am
The park officially opened its gates on October 2, marking the end of the monsoon shutdown. Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced the start of the state's wildlife tourism season, which includes phased reopenings across the region. Visitors can now head to Kaziranga National Park starting October 3 and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary from October 13.
State data confirms the growing draw of Assam's parks. Kaziranga saw 468,147 visitors last season, with foreign arrivals climbing to 30,474. Pobitora also posted a modest bump in traffic, welcoming 35,371 guests. These numbers signal a broader trend of rising interest in the state's protected areas.
Updated at 3rd October 2026 at 2:00pm
The start of the season hit a snag at Kaziranga National Park on October 3. Forest worker Pradip Barua suffered injuries after a rhinoceros attacked him in the Bhaichamari Forest Camp area of the Bagori Range. Rescuers pulled him from the site and rushed him to the Kaliabor Sub-Divisional Civil Hospital for treatment.
The state-wide push to reopen is moving in waves. Beyond the initial gates, authorities confirm the full circuit includes the Baksa and Chirang districts for Manas, while Kaziranga spreads across the Golaghat, Nagaon, Biswanath, and Sonitpur districts. Pobitora sits in the Morigaon district. Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah confirmed the schedule, noting that parks stay shut during the rains and only open once the terrain settles.
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