Nameri national park Travel Guide

Nameri National Park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in the Sonitpur District of Assam, India, about 40 kilometres from Tezpur and the third national park in Assam. The Pakhui (Pakke) Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh adjoins the Park on its North-Eastern point. Together they constitute an area of over 1000 km ² of semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests with cane and bamboo brakes and narrow strips of open grassland along rivers. Nameri is a birder's paradise with over 300 species of birds.

The area is criss-crossed by the river Jia- Bhoroli and its tributaries namely the Diji, Dinai, Doigurung, Nameri, Dikorai, Khari etc. A few jheels (during the rainy seasons) also dot the area. The inaccessibility and continuity with the neibouring forest areas have helped the wildlife of Nameri to flourish. There is a good prey base in the form of Sambar, Barking deer, Hog Deer, Wild Boar and Gaur. About 3000 domestic cattle also form part of this prey base for Tiger and Leopards.

Nameri and Sonai-Rupai are only Protected Areas in the North Bank of the Brahmaputra in the Civil District of Sonitpur.

Nameri National Park covers an area of 200 Sq. Kms. With river Jia Bhoroli bifurcating the park, it is the most scenic of all the national parks of Assam. Its in the eastern border of Assam in the valley and mountainous Arunachal Pradesh. It was set up as a sanctuary in 1985 with an area of 137 sq. km. In 1998 it was officially established as a National Park. Nameri is home to some of the endangered species like white winged wood duck, Sloth Bear, Tiger Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Sambar, Gaur, Indian Wild Dog, four varieties of Hornbill and many other winged species. The other reason Nameri is famous for, is the herds of elephants. The park have a high density of elephant population and due to lessening of forest cover, they sometimes invade human inhabited villages, which have attracted the attention of wildlife conservationists worldwide.

Fauna : Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Hispid hare, Slow Loris, Capped Langur, Dhole, Sloth Bear,Burmese ferret Badger, Binturong etc.

Avifauna : White Winged Wood duck, Palla's fish-eagle, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater spotted Eagle, White ramped vulture, Long billed vulture, Black bellied Tern, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill etc.

Reptiles : Assam Roofed Turtle, Indian Soft Shell Turtle, Indian Flap Shell Turtle, Keeled Box Turtle, South East Asian Leaf Turtle, Common Blind Snake, Myanmarese Python, Indian Cobra, King Cobra, Pit Viper, Monitor Lizard.

ACTIVITIES:

Rafting in the gentle rapids of the Jia-Bhoroli river meant for the entire family are essentially enjoyable float trips. River-rafting is a popular and pleasant way to see birds like Ibisbill and Long-billed Plover. The river rafting is allowed in south east of the park on river-The rafting usually starts 13 kms. upstream and takes about 3 hours to complete without halts.