Guwahati, Sept 26: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve reopened for tourists on Friday, marking the commencement of the tourism season 2025-26.
The opening ceremony was held at the Western Range, Bagori, with Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa; Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia besides top officials attending as chief dignitaries.
The festivities began with a traditional puja, and the official start of the safari season for 2025-26. The occasion featured several key events, including pushpanjali (floral tribute) to legendary singer Zubeen Garg and launch of REC CSR-supported solar drinking water upgrade of 120 anti-poaching camps in Kaziranga.
“With the commencement of this season, tourists can once again witness the park’s remarkable flora and fauna, including the iconic one-horned rhinoceros, tigers, elephants and diverse birdlife. These initiatives reaffirm Kaziranga’s commitment to wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism, and community engagement,” an official statement said.
Another event was held at Kohora range where shraddhanjali was paid to legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika on his birth centenary year and to Kaziranga’s legend – Mahi Chandra Miri.
An ambulance was donated to the park by NEEPCO while uniforms (attire) were handed over to 650 jungle safari drivers.
On the occasion, “SAAHAS-LIC CSR waste management project and Kaziranga Green Future” was launched for carrying out comprehensive waste management initiatives across five gaon panchayats of Kaziranga landscape as well as for plastic waste management.
An explorative study report, jointly conducted by Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and The Corbett Foundation was also released on the occasion. The study documented the remarkable diversity of insects and spiders in Kaziranga’s woodland habitats. It recorded 283 unique species, spanning 18 insect orders and 2 arachnid orders.
“These findings underscore the park’s status as a true hotspot of invertebrate diversity and highlight the essential role that even the smallest creatures play in sustaining Kaziranga’s ecosystems, emphasising the importance of conserving the park’s intricate web of life for future generations,” the statement said.
Among the new visitor amenities on the anvil at the park this season include improved sanitation and drinking water facilities; water ATMs with potable drinking water at range gates; ATM with international debit card facility at prominent locations; mobile app for online booking of safaris and new exploratory routes on adventure tourism, including hiking, trekking and aquatic tourism in the buffer areas.
