Continuing from Arunachal Pradesh we moved to Kaziranga next. In Kaziranga Park, we decided to go on a jeep safari as well as an elephant safari. We were divided into groups based on our weights so the elephants would not be under too much stress. I sat on the elephant, and it whisked us away on a safari across the national park. It looked nearly like a forest, and the park's major attractions were single-horned rhinos. We saw a lot of rhinos, and I noticed that their skin was unusually thick for protection. We also came across a variety of animals, including deer. On the elephant, we even crossed a small river which was a beautiful experience. After a while, the elephant safari was completed, and we were back at the starting point.
We opted to go on a jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park itself. There were many wooden bridges in the park and below it ran small rivers where animals came for drinking water. There were also chances to see tigers but we didn't spot any of them. On our way there were viewpoints from where one could see rhinos and observe birds, we climbed up to one of them and observed amazing birds and a few rhinos. The grasses and weeds around us were extremely tall, even taller than ourselves. The jeep safari took place on muddy and unpaved roads, making it more of an adventure.
The park guides showed us several varieties of orchids in amazing color tones and shapes as we entered the Kaziranga Orchid National Park. There was also a tiny biodiversity park with various snake species kept.
In the park, a performance of bamboo dance was held followed by Bihu dance. They danced gracefully in and out of formations made using bamboo.
The Kamakhya Devi temple, which is also one of the Shaktipeeths, was the first location we went to in Guwahati. This is the place where the yonis(womb and genitals) of Sati fell after the Shiv tandav. There is an annual festival held in the temple which celebrates 'menstruation'. When we arrived at the temple campus, we noticed a large number of goats, which were kept there for sacrifice.
However, animal sacrifice has been prohibited in the area for the past few years, so people have left goats on the premises. A lengthy queue of worshippers formed, and we joined it. The garbhgriha was a small place that was below the ground level and the temperature inside was quite chilly.
We took a boat ride in the ocean like the Brahmaputra River and reached Peacock Island. The island is called Umananda Island and derives its name from the goddess Parvati. It is believed that Shiv created this island for the goddess Parvati's happiness. We visited the Umananda temple and witnessed animals such as monkeys and Peacocks. We took a round of the island and were set for our next destination.
We also had a cruising night in the Brahmaputra River. We watched Bihu, the folk dance of Assam being performed for amusement, and then we joined them for some time as well. The dance involves body movements and is performed in pairs and even in a group. We were all alone on the cruise, along with another family. Following that, we had dinner and went on a sail around the river. It was an amazing experience and I could feel the calmness around the river as we moved ahead in it during the serene night.
We passed through large tea gardens and observed ladies plucking tea leaves and placing them in a basket hung on their backs. Assam produces 700 million kg of tea annually and is the largest tea-producing state in India.
Majauli, the vanished settlement also famously called 'The missing village', was on our list. It is the world's largest river island and also India's first island district. Once we entered the island, there were massive rubber trees from which latex was removed, and the liquid was processed into solid latex in little huts. The liquid was extracted by making a cut on the tree bark and collected in a small bowl.
We noticed gigantic statues of Assamese people costumed as ancient residents at the entrance to the island. The houses in Majauli were made at a height and they kept their hens below their homes. Women stitch clothes using an old weaving machine in houses built entirely of bamboo and wood.
I observed men working in the fields and children playing with hens. We watched the women weave clothes from threads and went to one of the high-rise huts.
How can one forget to taste the local food when one visits a new place, we enjoyed the typical Assamese dish comprising of Joha rice, vegetables, and a beetroot-made sweet dish.
We ended our Assam journey and headed next to Meghalaya. Continue with me on our journey to the next state of Northeast. Until then, stay happy and stay safe.
I had visited these places in 2016 ( March ) with mywife and my brother in law and his wife. So going through your post and the pictures , the memories of our NE States ( Meghalay , Arunachal and Assam) got refreshed. Thanks for sharing your experience and some beautiful photographs 🙏 Wish You All the Best 👍