Kaziranga National Park reopened on Saturday for the 2026-27 tourist season following its annual monsoon closure, officials said.
The park was formally reopened by Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah at the Central Kohora Range, welcoming visitors and wildlife enthusiasts from across the country and abroad.
While jeep safaris commenced on Saturday, elephant safaris are expected to resume within the next 20 days, subject to completion of the necessary preparations, officials said.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora and Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa were also present at the reopening ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Mallabaruah expressed hope that tourist arrivals would surpass last season's figures and highlighted the opportunities for visitors to experience Assam's wilderness, wildlife and natural beauty.
"The resumption of jeep safaris offers tourists another opportunity to experience the park's extraordinary biodiversity and witness wildlife in its natural habitat," he said.
Safari entry will be available in two daily slots, from 7.30 am to 10 am and from 1.30 pm to 3 pm.
Baruah thanked all stakeholders associated with Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for their cooperation in creating a tourist-friendly environment.
He said the forest and tourism departments would continue working together to improve infrastructure, upgrade existing facilities and introduce new attractions in response to the growing number of visitors.
"Keeping in mind the increasing number of tourists every year, both the departments must continue working together to improve infrastructure, add new features and undertake necessary development works," the minister said.
Based on encouraging booking trends, tourist arrivals appear set to increase this season, he said.
"Tourism growth must translate into greater economic opportunities for local residents, enabling more people to participate in tourism-related activities, become self-reliant and improve their standard of living," he added.
The minister said the departments were exploring opportunities to develop new tourism circuits connecting Kaziranga with nearby destinations.
"The objective is to encourage visitors to spend two to four days exploring the region while making tourism more accessible and beneficial to local communities,'' he added.
Baruah said wildlife conservation is a key factor behind Kaziranga's tourism appeal and the park's one-horned rhinoceros remains a major attraction for visitors from across the world.
The minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining the ecological balance of the protected area alongside the expansion of tourism, as preserving the park's natural environment was essential to ensuring that visitors could experience its wildlife and biodiversity in their natural surroundings.
"Kaziranga remains a source of pride for Assam and a globally recognised landscape for the conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Of the 2,895 rhinos recorded across Assam, 2,613 are found in the park," he said.
The park is also home to 104 of the state's 229 tigers, highlighting its importance in protecting some of India's most iconic wildlife.
"Our conservation efforts are about more than protecting individual species, but about preserving natural habitats, maintaining ecological balance and ensuring that future generations can experience the richness of Assam's forests and wildlife," he said.
The reopening also brings fresh opportunities for local communities as safari operators, guides, resort owners, hospitality workers and other small businesses can welcome visitors and benefit from the return of tourism activity.
"When tourism grows responsibly, it can support livelihoods while encouraging greater appreciation of wildlife conservation.
"Kaziranga's story reminds us that protecting our natural heritage is an investment in both biodiversity and the future of Assam," the Minister added.
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