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.


POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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

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

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
the highway roads were good here...no complaints so far...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
an elephant joined us too...walking elegantly ahead ~ showing us the way...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
we reached a point where the bus won't go any further...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
near this bridge...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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 )

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
soon, we were speeding towards pobitora... via Mayong...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
we halted few minutes to visit an ancient rock-inscription ASI site...@Burha Mayong!

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
again, we drove on...


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

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
there are 2-3 entrances and exits to pobitora...this is one of them...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
we left the main road, and, entered this path...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
at the end of it were waiting ~ a couple of safari jeeps...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
so, we reached finally...welcome to pobitora...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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...

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

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
an armed ranger joined us...there's a ranger/guard for every jeep...

and, we are off...
POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
the safari officially begins...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
ah...they are two of them...adult and a kiddo rhino!

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
they cross our path and walks to the other side...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
excited, we all turn to the other side too, and click away merrily...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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 )

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

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
go nearer for a closer view...but, it simply ignored us...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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!

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
we head back through the jungle ( in spring, different varieties of orchids bloom here )...

but wait...
POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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.

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
the sign...to Hadug Hanging Bridge...

POBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAMPOBITORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ASSAM
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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