Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

The story of this place

Manas takes its name from the Manas river, which flows down from the hills of Bhutan and runs through the heart of the park. On the far bank, to the north, the forests of Bhutan rise up, and the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan sits just across the border, so the two countries together protect one great wilderness.

The park spreads over about 39,000 hectares of forested hills, grasslands and river banks. It carries many honours at once. It is a World Heritage Site, a National Park, the core of a Tiger Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and an Important Bird Area. UNESCO inscribed Manas on the World Heritage List in 1985 for its rare beauty, its living river system and the many threatened animals it shelters.

Manas passed through a hard time in the 1980s and 1990s, when unrest in the region damaged the park and its wildlife. It was even placed on the list of World Heritage in Danger. Through the hard work of the forest staff, the local Bodo community and conservation groups, the park recovered, and it was taken off the danger list in 2011. Today Manas is managed together by the Assam Forest Department and the Bodoland Territorial Council, and its comeback is a proud story for everyone who loves wildlife.

The wildlife and the safaris

Manas is special because it protects some animals you will not easily see anywhere else. It is home to the golden langur, a beautiful monkey with soft golden fur, and to the pygmy hog, the smallest wild pig in the world and one of the rarest animals on the planet. It also holds the hispid hare, the greater one-horned rhino, the wild water buffalo, the swamp deer and the shy Bengal florican, a rare bird of the grasslands.

Above all Manas is a tiger land, and it is one of the important homes of the tiger in India, along with elephant, clouded leopard, sloth bear and many kinds of deer. With about 500 species of birds recorded here, it is one of the finest places for birdwatching in the whole country.

The main entry to the park is the Bansbari gate, near the town of Barpeta Road. The jeep safari starts here and takes you deep into the forest, often up to Mathanguri, which sits on the Manas river right at the Bhutan border, a calm and lovely spot. Boat and raft trips on the Manas river are sometimes offered as well. Safari timings and the activities on offer change with the season, so please book through the official channels and check the current position before you travel.

Best time to visit

The park is open for the tourist season from about the 1st of October to the end of May, and the best months to visit are November to April. In this cool, dry stretch the weather is pleasant, the grass is shorter and the animals come out into the open, which makes sightings much better. For birdwatchers, November to February is wonderful, as many migratory birds arrive.

Manas closes during the monsoon, roughly from June to September, because this region gets very heavy rain and the internal tracks and river crossings become unsafe. May and October sit at the edge of the season and can be warm or wet, so if you want the surest weather and the best sightings, keep your visit between November and April.

How to reach

Manas is about 176 km from Guwahati, the main city and airport of Assam, and the drive takes around five hours. The nearest railway station is Barpeta Road, which is about 22 km from the Bansbari gate of the park.

So the usual plan is to fly into Guwahati, or come by train to Barpeta Road, and then drive the last stretch to Bansbari by road. Your Way to India consultant will arrange the car and the driver. Manas can also be combined with Kaziranga in one Assam wildlife journey, and we often plan the two together for guests who want to see the best of the state.

Tips from our travel experts

Manas is quieter than the more famous parks, so come here with a calm and patient heart, and let the forest reveal itself slowly. Keep at least two nights, so that you can do more than one safari and, if it is offered, a trip up to Mathanguri by the river. Carry binoculars, wear dull green or brown clothes, and keep your voice low.

There is an entry fee for the park, along with separate charges for the jeep, the guide and the camera, and these rates change from time to time, so please check the current rates through the official forest department or with your consultant. Mornings can be cold and misty in winter, so carry a light jacket for the early safari.

Because Manas sits at the Bhutan border and is managed with the local Bodoland council, please carry your ID and follow the instructions of the forest staff and your guide at all times.