Orang National Park

Orang National Park - also known as mini Kaziranga, the park is located on the north bank of Brahmaputra River in Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. At the time of establishment in 1985, the park was known as 'The Orang Wildlife Sanctuary' which was renamed as 'Rajib (Rajiv) Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary' on 1 October, 1992. But this action had to be reversed due to public pressure against the renaming and was declared a 'National Park' on 13 April, 1999.

Orang park is home to great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, leopards, sambar deers, barking deers, tigers, jungle fowl and various reptiles. Various species of birds including pelican, cormorant, greyleg goose, large whistling teal, greater adjutant strok, king fisher, king vulture, have found this sanctuary as their ideal habitat. An astonishing number of water birds are also found in this area. The park has rich vegetation of forests and non-aquatic grass/plants.

The park is bordered by Pachnoi river, Belsiri river and Dhansiri River and they join the Brahmaputra river. So, during the monsoon season, the park becomes a veritable flood plain with the many streams overlapping each other. Total area of the park is 72-sq-kms.

Orang is about 30 km From Tezpur and 150 km from Guwahati, Assam. Best time to visit the park is between November and March. The nearest railhead is Salon & Rangapara. The park has only a small rest house.

(Photo of one-horned rhinoceros is taken from - http://www.indiaplaces.com/india-sanctuaries/orang-national-park.html)