POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM - ON A DATE WITH THE ONE-HORNED RHINO(S)



Photo Travelogue :


Assam is famous the world over for its one-horned rhinos ( short for rhinoceros ), and the most popular spot to view them is naturally at the famous Kaziranga National Park; which by the way, is quite far from Guwahati. However, there is a much nearer option ~ Pobitora aka the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary just 45 odd kms from Guwahati, and, very doable within a day.



distance to Pobitora from Narengi, a suburb of Guwahati city; I took a bus to Pobitora from here...
the route ~ narengi-birkuchi tiniali-chandrapur-panikheti-digaru-gobardhan-pobitora


soon we were passing by small villages like panikheti etc, on southern banks of brahmaputra...


the highway roads were good here...no complaints so far...


an elephant joined us too...walking elegantly ahead ~ showing us the way...


we reached a point where the bus won't go any further...


near this bridge...


one has to hire shared-trackers from here on, since I was alone, I booked a direct one...
( tracker is a slightly enlarged version of either an auto/jeep; it can carry more passengers )


soon, we were speeding towards pobitora... via Mayong...


we halted few minutes to visit an ancient rock-inscription ASI site...@Burha Mayong!


again, we drove on...


passing through endless expanses of yellow mustard fields...remembered DDLJ!


there are 2-3 entrances and exits to pobitora...this is one of them...


we left the main road, and, entered this path...


at the end of it were waiting ~ a couple of safari jeeps...


so, we reached finally...welcome to pobitora...


ticket-counter and our jeep...( there's a morning elephant safari and river cruise too here )
since I was alone, I had to wait for a group to assemble, since, the jeep goes only when full...


before long, a group gathered and here's our group's visit pass...@Rs.100.- per head!


an armed ranger joined us...there's a ranger/guard for every jeep...

and, we are off...

the safari officially begins...


since it was Jan'16, the green grass on sides of the track had turned brown almost...

spotting a rhino...

we didn't have to wait, cos' we soon spotted a rhino grazing away...


ah...they are two of them...adult and a kiddo rhino!


they cross our path and walks to the other side...


excited, we all turn to the other side too, and click away merrily...


the driver then drives through a dense forest to another location to spot another batch of rhinos...
( no tigers or lions here, but jackals, foxes etc, and even the rare white panther & jaguar reside )


at this point we get down from the vehicle, moi tries to touch them...can yew see 'em?


go nearer for a closer view...but, it simply ignored us...


here, some other jeeps join us too...I never thought in my life, I'd be this excited to see a rhino...
the guard cautioned us to stay at a distance, lest, the animal got distracted and chased after us; he said, even their saliva can be fatal and cause ill-health or even death...very scary, hun!


we head back through the jungle ( in spring, different varieties of orchids bloom here )...

but wait...

the driver takes us to yet another location to spot the rhinos...
It was near the main-road itself, and here, they were grazing along the paddy fields and marshes...so close to humans...I was really amazed! Whatever happened to that 'saliva' thingy? The whole safari is for one hour and it was surprising how that hour literally flew. We headed back to where we had started, and, where my tracker-wala was waiting. But before that, I was recommended to see the hanging bridge, so, I headed towards there. Entry is free for Indians.


the sign...to Hadug Hanging Bridge...


I had seen many hanging bridges in my life, I was like oh...yea, its hanging, I need to go now!

My safari to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was a exhilarating one, something, I'll not forget for a long time. It had brought out the child in me. I enjoyed every moment. My trip there came to an end, but, I was curious about Mayong town, that fell within the vicinity. So, Mayong was my next stop. What Mayong? Hold on ~ Its the witch-craft/Black-magic capital of the world...


Pobitora or Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve in the Morigaon district of the state of Assam in India. It is located about 30 km east of Guwahati. The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is about 48 km by road from Guwahati. It is home to world famous Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros ( wiki ).

Address : Pobitora Forest Range Office Road, Pabitara, Assam 782411
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
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