Located in the Eastern Himalayan foothills, Nameri National Park is the perfect weekend getaway from Guwahati, Assam. It is located in Sonitpur District of Assam and shares its borders with Arunachal Pradesh along the adjoining Pakhui Sanctuary. A part of the national park is interspersed with villages that open doors to absorbing authentic traditional and cultural per se. The Brahmaputra River and its tributaries flow through the national park.
It was declared as reserved forest in the year 1979 on 17th October, most of the area surrounded by semi-evergreen and deciduous forest. There are narrow strips of grasslands towards the outer side of the forest. It was given the status of National Park in the year 1998 on 9th of September. It is a protected area on banks of the Brahmaputra River located in the Northern side of Sonitpur district.
The Landscape
Picture this! Lush green and semi evergreen forest with regular rows of cane and bamboo trees in between, along with narrow strips of grassland by the river. Doesn’t it feel like an ideal picnic spot to spend the day or a place for soul searching? Apart from Jia Bhoroli River, there are 5 to 6 tributaries crisscrossing the park, giving it a very different feel. And, the national park is situated at the foothills of eastern Himalayas. There is mountain, river, forest, grassland all at the same place . The flowers and butterflies add a lot of colour to this scenic beauty.
Birder’s Paradise
The national park is notable as bird watchers paradise and number of avian species has flourished in the nooks of Nameri. Apart from birds, it is a great place to witness some winged beauties like butterflies. The flourishing flora and fauna, shallow pebbled river banks and the hidden rustic experience make it a phenomenal experience, away from the regular. Nameri is a popular tiger reserve and home to a large number of elephants. It is home to the endangered white-winged wood duck and nearly 380 bird species.
Activities in Nameri National Park
River rafting is one of the most popular activities here. Experience the gentle rapids of the Jia-Bhoroli River and spot birds such as Ibisbill and Long-billed Plover. Note that rafting is permitted only in the south-east of the park, starting at 13kms upstream. The approximate time taken for this activity (without any halts) is 3 hours.
You can also take short walking trails inside the National park, supervised by a forest guard. Make sure you exit Nameri National park before sunset. Many tourists cross the Jia-Bhoroli River by country followed by a walk inside Nameri National park.
How to reach Nameri National Park
Plan a trip to Nameri National park and you won’t be disappointed! Safaris are a great way to make the most of your visit, leaving most tourists mesmerized by the rich fauna and lush flora of the site. Ample facilities are available to provide some adrenaline rush to adventure-seekers, including water rafting, fishing, and swimming. You can also opt to simply enjoy a peaceful stay and indulge in some sunbathing.
Here are the different ways in which one can reach the Nameri National park:
- By air: The nearest airport to Nameri National park is the Tezpur Airport, which is at a distance of about 30 km. You can avail a taxi to reach Nameri National park from the airport. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is approximately 196 km from here, and it offers flights from several major cities of India.
- By road: Regular bus services operate on a daily basis to Nameri National park. Be it during the day or at night, you can take a bus from Guwahati, Tawang, Dibrugarh, and many other cities. Shared taxis or cabs are also available for the same route.
- By rail: There is no direct rail connectivity to Nameri National park. If you reach Rangapara, the nearest railway station, you will have to commute the distance of 29 km via taxis or buses.
When is the best time to visit Nameri?
Though according to me barring monsoon, any other month is great, but if you are keen on wildlife safari, then September to April is a good time.
