Orang National Park – complete detail – updated

Orang National Park – complete detail – updated. Dominant flora and fauna of Orang National Park. Geography of Orang National Park. How to reach Orang National Park. In 1915, Orang was declared a Game reserve (Notice No. 2276/R dated May 31, 1915). The game reserve came under the control of the wild life wing of the State Forest Department to meet the requirements of the Project Tiger…………..

Orang National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National park, located in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of the state of Assam. It was declared as a National Park in 1999. Total area of the park is about 78.81 Km². 

The National Park has now been renamed and is officially called the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park. The park has a rich flora and fauna, including great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Leopard, Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer, Tiger, varieties of water birds, Green Pigeon, Florican, Teal , Goose, etc. The park is also famous for its migratory birds like milky white pelicans.

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park

The Orang National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of the state of Assam. The park is situated on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River, Assam. The Orang National Park is also known as Mini Kaziranga National Park and Rajiv Gandhi National Park.

In 1915, Orang was declared a Game reserve. Orang Game reserve was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985. In 1992, the park was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary but this action had to be reversed due to public pressure against the renaming.

Click here to view state wise list of Indian National Parks – updated

State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

The Sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1999. Total area of the park is about 78.81 Km². The National Park has now been renamed and is officially called the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.

This place is situated amidst dense forests with tall trees and high grasslands and is the perfect place to stay in, for those who is looking for rejuvenation from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

The Orang National park is the home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Orang National Park is a swampy, wooded area; it was inhabited by Orang people, who probably deserted it upon being by disease. There are 26 man-made ponds here, sub staining the belief that this region was once home to a particular community.

The park has a rich flora and fauna, including great Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Leopard, Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer, Tiger, varieties of water birds, Green Pigeon, Florican, Teal , Goose, etc. It is an important breeding ground for varieties of Fishes. The park is also famous for its migratory birds like milky white pelicans.

The river is also home to the rare Ganges Dolphin. The avifauna population is also quite rick with reported sighting of more than 220 species. There are migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers and game birds in the park.

History

Up to 1900, the park was inhabited by the local tribes. On account of an epidemic disease, the tribal population abandoned the area.

In 1915, Orang was declared a Game reserve (Notice No. 2276/R dated May 31, 1915). The game reserve came under the control of the wild life wing of the State Forest Department to meet the requirements of the Project Tiger.

Orang Game reserve was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985 (Notice No. FRS 133/85/5 dated September 20, 1985). In 1992, the park was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary but this action had to be reversed due to public pressure against the renaming

The Sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1999 (Notice No. FRW/28/90/154 April 8, 1999). Total area of the park is about 78.81 Km². The National Park has now been renamed and is officially called the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.

Geography

This place is situated amidst dense forests with tall trees and high grasslands. Total area of the park is about 78.81 Km². It lies on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River Assam. The whole park is encircled by inhabited villages thus subjecting it to biotic pressure. It has fox holes built by the villagers on its west.

Belsiri River and Dhansiri River border the park and join the Brahmaputra River. During the monsoon season, the park becomes a veritable flood plain with the many streams overlapping each other. These flood plains constitute 12 wetlands in the park, apart from the 26 man-made ponds, sub staining the belief that this region was once home to a particular community.

The total area of the park has been categorized into, Eastern Himalayan Moist Deciduous Forest, Eastern Seasonal Swamp Forest, Eastern Wet Alluvial Grassland, Savannah Grasslands, Degraded Grassland, Water body, Moist Sandy area and Dry Sandy area.

The elevation in the park varies from 45 metres to 70 metres. It is bounded on its south and east by islands and spill channels of the river. But the flat alluvial land is seen distinctly as two terraces, the lower terrace is of recent origin on the bank of the Brahmaputra River and the other is the upper terrace to the north, separated by a high bank running through the park.

The park is located on the Geological coordination of 26°33’41° N and 92°19’00° E.

The average annual rainfall is 3,000 mm.

Temperature:       Maximum – 35^o C

                               Minimum – 5^o C

Humidity in the park varies from 66% to 95%.

Dominant flora

Bombax ceiba, Dalbergia sisoo, Sterculia villosa, Trewia nudiflora, Zizyphus jujuba, Litsaea polyantha, Phragmites karka, Arundo donax, Imperata cylindrical, Ipomea reptans, Enhydra flushians etc.

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, Pygmy Hog, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Buffalo, Asiatic Elephant, Wild Boar, Leopards, Hog deer, Jungle Cat, Rhesus Macaque, Small Indian Civet, Otter, Gangetic Dolphin, Wild pig, fishing cat, Jungle cat etc.

Bird – Spot Billed Pelican, White Pelican, Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Brahminy Duck, Pintail Duck, Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork, Wooly-necked Stork, Rudy Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Pallas’s Fishing Eagle, King fisher, Woodpecker etc.

Reptiles – Indian Rock Python, Black Krait, King Cobra, Cobra, Monitor Lizard etc.

Best time to visit

The best time of the year to visit the Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park is between the months of November to April.

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is at Salonibari village in Tezpur, about 60 Km from the Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park. Tezpur airport is well connected by road to Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway stations are Saloni and Rangapara railway stations. These railway station are well connected by road to Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park.

By Road – Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park at frequent intervals.

Distance from Major Places

Tezpur – about 60 Km

Guwahati – about 150 Km

Mangaldai – about 50 Km

Salonibari – about 55 km

Sikkim – about 620 km

Manipur – about 490 km

Darjeeling – about 550 km

Kolkata – about 1062 km

Lucknow – about 1419 km

Delhi – about 1977 km

Accommodation

The forest dormitory is available for accommodation near the gate. Group accommodations for upto 40 people are also available here, without bedding and food.

Tourist lodge maintained by the forest department can accommodate a maximum of 16 people. Prior reservations are required.

Private hotels and guest houses are also available in Tezpur.

Useful Contact

Divisional Forest Officer, Mangaldoi Wildlife Division, Mangaldai, Darrang, Tel. – 03713- 230022

Range Forest Officer, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Silbori, Tel. – 03712- 282379.

Other National Parks in Assam. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows……….