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Dibru Saikhowa National Park Tourism
The Dibru Saikhowa National Park is home to some of the most exquisite plants and animal species you will ever come across. A lot of the species among them are now classified as endangered species. India has only a few Endemic Bird Areas, and the Dibru Saikhowa National Park is one of those that exist in the Assamese Plains.
It is a large park and a biodiversity hotspot. Currently, there are only 19 such biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is a river island national park which makes it a huge tourist attraction. The famous national park of Assam is located at a distance of 12 kms towards the north of the quaint district of Tinsukia in Assam. There are a total of seven parts in this national park. Only one part of the park is a wetland. The other six parts of the park are covered with dense forests and grasslands. The forests have a lot to offer in terms of wildlife. Tourists come from all parts of the world to catch a glimpse of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, majestic leopards and hoolock gibbons. You can also spot Bengal Florican, spotted-billed Pelican, White-winged wood duck, Swamp Prinia, Striated Grassbird, Black-breasted parrotbill, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Jerdon’s Babbler, While-bellied heron, and Yellow Weaver among many other restricted-range species.
Since it is a biodiversity national park, you will not find roads here. This is the reason you cannot explore the park by jungle safaris or by taking rides on elephants. The option to explore the park is by trekking. Being a river island park, you can take a boat ride and witness the amazing fauna of the park. The park is accessible through two only two entry points – Guijan Ghat and Saikhowa Ghat.
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Kekjori Trees
The majestic Kekjori trees are famous for the expanse they cover. Each Kekjori tree has vast branches that extend to several bighas of land. The trees have several folklores around it, which is why tourists come from across the world to watch them in awe. You can watch them by taking a boat ride to an island that is in the middle of the Brahmaputra river. It takes approximately 15 minutes to reach there and then another half an hour walk if you want to see the kekjori trees. You have to take the cow trail to reach the spot.
Churkey Sapori
Churkey Sapori is located in the north of one of the seven parts of the park – Saikhowa. It is actually a river island and is famous Feral horses, which are unique to this part of the national park. The Feral horses are bright-colored wild horses that cannot be called true horses. These are untamed and free-ranging. They descend from domestic horses and attract tourists from all parts of the world. Only a few feral horses exist as of now. With only 48 feral horses, as per the 2008 estimates, in the Dibru Saikhowa National Park, they have sparked a lot of curiosity. The feral horses in this national park are third and fourth generation feral horses. You will usually find them roaming in herds of three to four only. However, the herds increase in number during monsoons, and you may find nearly 17 feral horses together.
Maguri matapung beel (lake)
The Maguri matapung beel is a lake. The lake is visited by 374 different species of birds and is, therefore, a great site for bird watchers. The lake is classified as IBA, which is an abbreviation for Important Bird Area. The lake is lined by six villages on either side. Tourists take boat safari to watch the amazing species of migratory and rare birds that are found near the lake. You can watch Baikal Teal, Jerdon’s babbler, Faceted duck, and Swamp Prinia among a host of other rare bird species at the lake. Tourists prefer taking a boat safari especially during the evenings so they can experience listening to amazing bird voices that leave people in complete awe.
Options to Eat in Dibru Saikhowa National Park
You will not find many options to dine in or near Dibru Saikhowa National Park. However, there are a few eating joints scattered throughout the park where you can get decent food.
One Day Itinerary
To experience the fun of visiting Dibru Saikhowa National Park, it is advised to start off early in the morning. Reaching the park is easy if you are staying in Tinsukia. There are buses and taxis available throughout the day that ply to the park. Once you reach the national park, take a boat ride on the lake Maguri matapung beel. Enjoy the sight of migratory and rare species of birds and then head over the dolphin spot. You may even catch a glimpse of the River Dolphin, which is an endangered species.
Once you have done the two activities, you can visit Laika and Dodhia, which are two forest villages situated within the Dibru Saikhowa National Park. You can meet people in the Mishing Tribe and interact with them so you can get a peek into their life. You can also dive into the lifestyle, cultural traditions and the practices of the Mottocks, Sonowal Kacharis, and Morans, which are the ethnic tribes here. Tourists take special interest in delving into the interesting history of these tribes.
After you have visited the two villages, you can head over to the famous river island Churkey Sapori, which is situated towards the north of Saikhowa. This will present you the opportunity to watch Feral Hoses in person. Then head over to the trail that leads to the famous and majestic Kakjori trees. To reach the cow trail, you will have to take a 15-minute boat ride. Once you get down the boat, follow the cow trail where you can spot wild buffaloes. If you are fond of trekking and have some time left, explore the park on foot. It will be an amazing experience.