Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros. Apart from this, other animals found here are wild boar, leopard, barking deer, wild buffalo, etc. This wildlife sanctuary is also a significant bird area as it houses 2000 migratory birds and reptiles. In the last six years, there has been an increase in the number of rhinoceros which has gone up to 93. These 93 rhinoceros are surviving on the 16 sq km area of the park which has led to overpopulation and the exploitation of the rhino bearing capacity of the sanctuary. This has resulted in the animals moving out of the park in search of food.

There are a few options to choose from when it comes to accommodations and resorts near Pobitora National Park.

One of the best is the new Zizina Otis Resort, the tarrif here starts from approximately INR 5000 per night. It is located right near the entrance gate and has luxury AC tents and mud cottages.

Arya Eco Resort is also an option, which is situated within a 100 metres from the gate. Arya Eco Resort offers log cabins at INR 3,000 per night. For budget staying, you can lodge at Prashanti Tourist Lodge or at Maibong Resort across the road.

You can have an authentic rustic living experience at Pobitora Village Eco Camp with raised bamboo cottages amidst the woods. From homestay accommodations to high-end resorts and campsites; there's something to suit every budget and stay preference in Pobotora Wildlife Sanctuary. The Maibong Eco Resort caters jungle cottages to travellers in the heart of the forest, with all the amenities to suit your comfort. Alternatively, you can also book a stay at Prashanti Eco Tourist Lodge. It has been developed and promoted by the Assam Department of Tourism and lies in the heart of the forest. If it is a more homely experience that you are looking for, try staying at the Silent Rocks Homestay which will also give you a taste of Assamese hospitality.

The park is usually crowded during weekends and the holiday season, so try to reach early in order to book elephant rides as they tend to be in short supply during the peak season.

Mainly known for the Indian one-horned rhinos, leopards, wild buffalos, barking deer and a host of migratory birds, Pobitora National Park hosts multiple jeep and elephant safari rides within its premises. For 2018-19 season, there are at least 10 elephants and 20 jeeps at the service for tourism purposes.

Timings:

For elephant safari, the timing is between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM in the morning. The rest of the day is for jeep rides through the forest. The first jeep safari departs at 7 AM and the last one is at 3 PM. There is an hour’s break from 12 noon to 1 PM.

Cost for Safari:

The rate for jeep safaris is INR 1,300 for a group of six people, which includes the cost of toll, guide and security. If you are travelling solo, you can join a group of travellers so that you don’t have to pay for a single jeep. However, this is the rate for the specific route tour. One can also choose to spend the whole day inside the park, and the cost for the same is INR 200 for Indians and INR 2,000 for foreigners.

Elephant safaris cost INR 500 per person for Indians and INR 1,000 per person for foreign nationals.

Photography is likely to incur an additional cost of INR 50.

Permissions Needed:

Permits for Pobitora National Park is available at the entrance in exchange for INR 50 per person for Indian citizens and INR 500 per person for foreigners.

The best time to visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is from November to February as the climate around that time is pleasant during the day and chilly at night. One needs to carry along adequate amounts of woollens during the months of December-January due to extreme cold. Monsoon period should be strictly avoided as the region is prone to flash floods and the conditions of the roads make travelling almost impossible.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is located some distance away from Guwahati. However, there are still a number of places within 10km where you can gorge on some lip-smacking Assamese and Asian delicacies. Here are some of the best places to eat near Pobitora National Park. Cafe B-You (2.5 km) - Indian and International Hotel Sagar Restaurant (9.5 km) - North and South Indian NestAsia (4.2 km) - Chinese, Asian, Thai, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Indonesian Highway City Dhaba (3.5 km) - Indian Maa Manasha Hotel (3.7 km) - Indian

• Air: Flights are available for Guwahati from all major domestic airports in India, from there you can hire a cab till Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Rail: Nearest Rail head is at Jagiroad which is well connected to Guwahati, from Jagiroad you can take public buses or a cab.

• Road: From Guwahati Pobitora is a 2 hours ride via a narrow road. If coming from Kaziranga on NH 37 take the road for Mayang at Jagiroad. Buses are available from Adabari Bus Station in Guwahati till Chamata, from Chamata catch public bus for Kolangpur and take an auto rickshaw to the Sanctuary. Alternatively you can take a bus from Guwahati till Morigaon and a bus from Morigaon till the Sanctuary.