PRIDE OF ASSAM- KAZIRANGA AND MANAS NATIONAL PARK

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK:

Located on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River in the far North East of India, Assam.Kaziranga National Park covers an area of approximately 430 sq. Kms with its swamps and tall thickets of elephant grass making it the ideal habitat for the Indian One-Horned Rhino. Due to limitless poaching of this prehistoric survivor, the Kaziranga National Park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1940. Kaziranga National Park is a briding paradise; the grasslands are a raptor country that can be seen on safari makes a remarkable experience. These include the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-Shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle, Shite Tailed Eagle, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, Himalaya Griffon etc. Huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the parks lake and marshy areas during winters, including Greylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller.

One-Horned Rhino

The star attraction of this park is the famed one Horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild attractions include a large population of Asiatic Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Royal Bengal Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards etc.

        Kaziranga’s visiting season is from mid-November to early April months. During the monsoons, the Brahmaputra River bursts its banks, flooding the low-lying grasslands and causing animals to migrate to the Karbi Anglong hills or they move on to the numerous artificial hillocks spread out in the Park itself. It is 217 km away from Guwahati Airport and the other Airport is Jorhat which is 97 km away from Kaziranga National Park. 


MANAS NATIONAL PARK:

Manas National Park in Assam is situated on the foothills of the country’s Himalayas and a part of it continues across the international border into Bhutan, where it is known as the Royal Manas National Park. Covering an area of 391 sq.km, the Manas National Park was declared a sanctuary on 1^st October’1928 and later it was designated as a World Heritage Site in December’1985.

MANAS NATIONAL PARK

          The Assam Manas National Park with its picturesque beauty and incomparable wealth of wildlife offers one of the most enthralling experiences. The sanctuary also a world heritage site is home to a great variety of wildlife, including Tiger, Golden Langur, Wild Buffalo, Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog, Capped Langur, Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Elephant, Gaur, Hog Deer, the endangered Bengal Floricana, etc.

          Manas known for its Project Tigers, Rhinos & Elephants, and is Assam’s one of the two Tiger Projects has had quite a success story with former insurgents belonging to different militants groups and poachers laying down their guns only to pick them up again only this time to protect the same animals they once hunted almost to extinction. But with the new zeal that the forest authorities have undertaken Manas is all set to regain its lost glory as the jewel of the east when it comes to Tiger Conservation and wildlife. A must travel for genuine wildlife enthusiast.

HOW TO REACH: Manas is 176 Km form Guwahati, Nearest Airport in Guwahati. Nearest Railhead is Barpeta Road, 41 km from Manas.

WHERE TO STAY: There are several Guest House alongside the sanctuary, TNT Recommends Bansbari Lodge Managed by Jungle Tours and Travels. Another option is the Government run Guest House within the sanctuary premises. 

MAJULI LARGEST FRESH WATER ISLAND IN ASSAM

Are you looking for a place where you can spend your holidays amidst cool waters, lush greenery, high cultural synthesis and a rich ecology. Then you need to travel to Majuli. When it comes to preserving ecology, culture, wildlife and heritage nothing comes close to Majuli Islands in Assam –widely known as the largest fresh water island in Southeast Asia. The Majuli wetland, is a hotspot for flora and fauna, harbouring many rare and endangered avifauna species including migratory birds that arrive in the winter season. Adjutant stork, Pelican, Sibegeese and ducks are found in plenty. Hindu believe that the island is the abode of Lord Krishna. This place has been the cradle of the rich culture that Assam possesses. The Satras, set up to preserve antiques like weapons, jewellery and utensils attract tourists. The serene and enchanting view of Majuli is a spectacle to behold and the memories of this place are treasures for any tourist.

MAJULI ISLAND IN ASSAM

HOW TO REACH:

Majuli is just 20 Kms away from Jorhat. To visit Majuli, one has to avail the bus or hired taxi service upto Nimati Streamer Ghat and from there embark a steamer or rowing boat.

WHEN TO VISIT: Autumn and Winter.

WHERE TO STAY: Circuit House, Uttar Kamalbari Sarta and other resorts.

NEER MAHAL PALACE IN AGARTALA

If you are looking out for a total rest amid cool water then visit the Neer Mahal- the only water palace of eastern India. The magnificient lake palace was constructed as a summer resort in 1930 by late Maharaja Birbikaram Kishore Manikya Bahadur of the illustrious Manikya Dynasty which ruled the erstwhile princely state of Tripura for more than 500 years. The fascinating palace stands in the middle of a natural lake called Rudrasagar, having an area of 5.35 sq.km. The construction was undertaken by Martin & Burn Co.

NEER MAHAL PALACE IN AGARTALA

A good combination of Hindu and Mughal Architecture can be noticed on the domes of the palace. The palace has two parts- one on the western side known as Andar Mahal which was used by the royal family and another on the eastern side which was used for the security guards, caretakers and servants. There are 15 rooms in the main Andar Mahal. There is a beautiful garden laid in the western side of the palace. In the garden there is an open stage where drama and theatre used to be performed during the times of the Maharajas.

The approach to the palace is also exciting. Once needs to take a boat ride from Rajghat. There is a motor boat ghat inside the palace upto which the motor boat can go.

The best time to go to Neer Mahal is between July and August when an annual boat race is organized in the back waters of Rudrasagar. During winter, a large number of migratory birds flock visit to the lake. February to March is also a good time to visit the palace.

Location:

53 Km away from Agartala, Capital of Tripura.

How To Reach:

Agartala is connected by air, rail and road to Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati and Kolkata. To reach Neer Mahal, Agartala to Melaghar in Sonamura Sub-division one has to avail the Bus or hired taxi service.

Where to Stay:

Sagar Mahal lodge is the State Government Lodge which is located at Sonamura of Tripura District. Sagar Mahal has 44 beautifully designed rooms and provides exclusive service and amenities.

To know more details about Neer Mahal visit this link: 
https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g1028662-d3179319-Reviews-Neermahal_Palace-Agartala_West_Tripura_District_Tripura.html

WILL ZIRO THE INHABITANT OF APATANI PEOPLE BE INCLUDED IN WORLD HERITAGE SITE?

Ziro, the land and its people are in the news for all the right reasons as being a contender for the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site shortlist. Much efforts and publicity are being generated to get the coveted title among the many proposed across the world. The Land, its management, its unique culture and the people are being projected as the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to obtain the title. The watershed management, forestry, bamboo growing, wet rice cum fish cultivation is the physical components of this unique identity. The tangible components are its people and their cultural identifiers- the Tattoos, Nose Plugs, Arts and Crafts. The intangible aspects are its culture- the Myths, Legends, Songs, Dances, Religion and language. As of now, Are Ziro ready for the World Heritage Site?

 The Criteria for the selection of World Heritage Site states: “To be included on the World Heritage list, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one of the ten selection criteria.” These criteria are explained in the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention which, besides the text of the convention, is the main working tool on the World Heritage. The criteria are regularly revised by the committee to reflect the evolution of the world Heritage concept itself. Ziro is vouching for its cultural landscape, a physical entity purely born of man’s determination to survive on a land so limited, with pressure on the land in relation to its huge population. 

There are a great many rules and regulations for choosing of and maintaining the World Heritage Sites, with instructional or individual donors to the UNESCO agencies. Much effort is expended in maintaining the sanctity and originality of these sites to preserve them for the future generations. As much as is the pride associated with having a world heritage in the area, so are the “Do’s and Don’ts”, the “Yes and the No”. 

Ziro with its daunting landscape and unique culture is already undergoing many cultural and environmental changes. The forces of acculturation have already penetrated very deep into the heart of the Apatani civilization. The tangible aspects of the culture have changed drastically in the manner of arts, crafts, trade and commerce. The intangible aspects are on the verge of being lost forever. The songs, dances, tales, myths and other oral traditions have lost much meaning and relevance among the younger generations. The dangers of language shift are as much real as it is a threat to the very existence of the Apatani identity.

SHORTCOMING OF BEING SELECTED AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Added to the cultural change, the landscape of Ziro valley too is undergoing a rapid change. Hills have been mowed down to build bungalows. Virgin tracts of forests are being bulldozed to build too many networks of dirty tracks. Shopping complexes are springing up haphazardly. Infrastructures, such as the highways, will take much of the limited land available. Even so, while the township and infrastructural projects are narrowing down the land, the villages are changing in themselves. Many of the villages now resemble towns. The facilities are more available now than before while the uniqueness of the Apatani village and its culture are dwindling. 

The cultural landscape that is sought to be preserved for prosperity is slow vanishing. The Apatanis have progressed very well academically, economically and socially, yet the fact remains that there are not much takers for manual labour, or for that matter for growing rice or cultivating pine or bamboo. The city lights and glitz of the government jobs and salaried incentives hold much more promise for the youths than staying behind to till the land or to care for it. The famed rice fields and groves inflated the price of it too much more than its actual cost. The nostalgic attraction towards the motherland and the need to build and invest in paternal land has seen the rice fields being dumped into dry lands for construction activities. Boundaries of concrete, which never existed before, have sprung up between the fields. 

The society is at a crossroads, either progressing too fast or breaking down too soon. Kinship solidarity is being divided among different political, economic and religious affiliations. The pride and homogeneity, which once existed, are seen much lesser among today’s generation. It’s been only two or three generations of salaried jobs an education, and the language and cultural belonging have already drifted too far. The older generations, the repository of ancient ways and customs that make us so famous are weak, old and rapidly dying out. The Priest (Nyibus), the narratives, the rituals and the ceremonies are dwindling as fast as it is not being replaced. 

 CONCLUSION:

The UNESCO World Heritage Criterion states originality and preservation of such locations for posterity’s sake. But can Ziro and its people, already on the brink of change and acculturation, be forced to stand still to be included in the World Heritage Site? Can the cultural change be reversed to keep alive what made us famous in the first place? Even as we debate if Ziro is ready or not to be included in the World Heritage Site, the voices of the locals, the aged, the old and the young, the repositories of ancient knowledge and the aspirations of the future seem dimmed and unheard. If and when it is included in its management, decision making and financing needs to be decided beforehand, lest the local voices are left out and they remain mere spectators or lost in the glam and fame of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in their own land. Unlike the Ajanta and Ellora Caves in India which are still World Heritage Sites of India, our is a living heritage. And life will keep growing, the direction of which only the present can decide.