After a near three hour flight from Mumbai, you reach Guwahati. Guwahati incidentally is the capital of Assam situated in the North-Eastern part of India. Here lies the UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, the fabled Manas National Park also known as Manas Tiger Reserve.
Babul, the driver of the pre booked taxi welcomes you as you arrive at the Guwahati airport. Subsequently he drives you 130 kms north-west to a beautiful Resort ‘Musa’, situated right at the outskirts of Manas Tiger Reserve..
It is six in the evening, the Sun has already set and darkness has begun to cover the area. Just then you see some innocuous Deer have come near the park’s barbed wire to graze grass. So you immediately pick your camera, and along with resort’s staff reach that area. With the help of a powerful torch, the reddish-brown fur of these mammals is lit up while you capture them in your camera.
Day 1
Next Morning, it is 6 AM and Tapan is ready with his Jeep. It is a ‘Four Wheel Drive’ gypsy. Along with a mandatory Gunman, you commence exploration of this Jungle’s flora and fauna.
No sooner you enter the gate of the park through ‘Bansbari Range’, you find yourself welcomed by a set of amazing colorful Peacocks.
Their Shining blue long necks, attractive eyes and incredible iridescent long tails captivate onlookers. Perched safely on the tree branches, they look all the more stunning.
A little ahead, a fully grown Rhinoceros walking on your right now draws you attention. As you stop, he turns, looks and presumably gets conscious. Following which he moves behind tall bushes and gets obscure.
Then, along the way an attractive ‘Changeable Hawk Eagle’ is spotted atop a leafless tree. With his eyes looking down, he’s apparently watching visitors pass by. No sooner you point the camera towards him, he takes cognizance of your action and flies off. In flight too, this majestic avian with open wings, looks awesome.
Few deers’ further down keep grazing nonchalantly.
Tapan then turns his Jeep towards the area reputed to be a preferred habitat of exotic birds/avian. Some of those here are rare seasonal visitors to Manas Tiger Reserve.
With remarkable alacrity, Tapan points towards various species of Birds moving around. Most of them are supported with myriad plumage and are with distinct beaks. Knowledgeable Tapan then rattles out the names of each of them as you continue to capture them in your
Wedge tailed pigeon
Blue Throated Barbet 1
Bronzed Drongo
Chestnut Headed bee eater
Dawny Woodpecker
Green Billed Malkoha
Red Breasted Parakeet
Maroon Oriole
Grey winged black bird
Oriental Magpie Robin
Breakfast Time
Moving slowly ahead and stopping at each vantage point, it’s 9.AM. You have now reached Latajhar Camp, a ‘forest post’ deep inside the park. As ordered, the resort management has packed breakfast for all of us. Tapan therefore decides to stops here for breakfast.
As the breakfast packages are unloaded, you see a couple of large Elephants along with a juvenile in the area. Your excitement is enhanced as almost immediately more elephants join in. The caravan has thus expanded.
In just a short span of time over a dozen of them are there together. It is indeed heartening to watch these wild Tuskers with your naked eye. The carnival but has just begun.
Unquestioningly, the breakfast has taken the back seat. Filming these amazing pachyderms is now the priority. So as you passionately take their images finding vantage points and positions, Tapan warns not to get too close to them. You understand his concern and listen.
Little later the climax begins to unfold. Two of them, plausibly in a bid to establish their dominance, begin to fight. The scene gets increasingly engrossing. In the bargain however you get some real action filled shots. Something that would be abiding and memorable.
Soon after resuming the Safari, you come across a bunch of Capped Langurs. Here couple of mothers are seen nurturing their babies akin human-like compassion.
Tapan stops momentarily and permits you to capture their activity. It’s amazing, despite noticing you point the long lens towards them, they continue with their chores fearlessly.
Then as you drive towards Matangudi, a Government Guest House situated near the Indo-Bhutan border, you see some more species of birds in addition to a huge, presumably aged Monitor Lizard. Looks, as if he has just brought himself out of his hole located within the tree.
Red Vented Bulbul
Golden-fronted leaf Bird
Monitor lizard backside
Monitor lizard
Matangudi Guest House
Matangudi is an ideal place to break for lunch at Manas National Park. As the lunch is prepared, you sit quietly to admire the silent flow of the massive Manas River close by. The river, interestingly, comes down from Bhutan and flows into Indian territory.
After couple of hours, your journey to explore more of the flora and fauna of this place continues. Tapan now drives you few hundred meters towards the North, into the area that falls under the territory of Bhutan. However, before leaving, the Gunman accompanying you has deposited his arms at Matangudi. No foreigner is permitted to carry arms when within the territory of Bhutan. It is illegal.
The advent of fabled Horn Bills each evening at a particular spot, lying within the Bhutanese Territory, is the reason that you are here. Horn Bills are exceptionally colorful and attractive migratory birds who visit this place each year on certain months. Sun set supposedly is the ideal time to watch these bright colored, down-curved bill winged visitors fly in.
So, as you wait patiently for your Guests to arrive, Tapan finds a rare bird in the bush near-by. This is the rarely spotted avian- Red Headed Trogon (female). As it flies from one branch to another, Tapan follows her and so do you.
Soon you see her male partner too. He is perched on one of the branches nearby. Interestingly, the Male looks more beautiful with multi-colored Plumage adorning his body. Hence, till your main guests arrive, you have time to capture these birds along with few others.
Red headed Trogon Female
Red headed Trogon Male
Rufous necked laughing thrush
carlet Minivet
Red Vented Bulbul
Silver Breasted Broadbill
The Sun is setting below the horizon but the Horn Bills are nowhere to be seen. You think, may be they are holidaying at some other place today or is there a party in some other locality?
Slightly dejected but not despaired, you wait with your camera in hand still keeping hope. The Sun now has dipped behind the hills. You have now nearly given up. Just then you hear an unmistakable sound of wind been dispersed with audible force. You are happy. The Horn-Bills have arrived.
Their large colorful wings have the capacity to make a solid sound as they lift themselves and drag piercing through the otherwise calm air. With a broad smile you pick your camera and aim to capture some fascinating actions.
Finally, at one place, you see two of them unabashedly display their passion. A quintessential long beak-kiss is in for exhibition. A amusing but captivating scene worth a capture.
It has become dark now and time to return. Tapan presses the accelerator as much as he could and in the next 75 minutes you are back safe and sound at your resort.
Happy and satisfied with your first day adventure, you have your dinner and hit the pillow. Not forgetting to be awake and be ready early next morning for yet another round of a riveting visit to this UNESCO Natural World Heritage site.
Anonymous
5
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Shenaz
Wooooww.Missed out.Beautiful pictures.Must be once in a life time experience.Next time my trip is on.
Anonymous
Beautiful pictures some of them a memory of life time
Kanchan Vipat
Wow…nicely wrtten. Photo trip of Manas..great
Anonymous
.. fantastic blog…. It pulled me back to Manas…… Your Birding has been superawesome …… Loved All the images ….
Nitin saxena
Your write up enchant. Takes you in Assam admist the reserve. But the problem is you are left there and you don’t wanna come back. This is the magic of your content. Just beautiful. Hope you have also videos of the ticket fight
Anonymous
Wow! Beautiful click… Awesome Story telling…. Good job keep it up
Anonymous
.. fantastic blog…. It pulled me back to Manas…… Your Birding has been superawesome …… Loved All the images ….
govind
Anonymous
2.5
Manjinder SINGH
Fantastic blog with good details and great photography…..
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0.5
Anonymous
Wonderful pics. Wow !!. Wonderful blog .
I have planned to visit on 21st may .
Tarlok SINGH LUGANI
Superb photographs and narrative of your experience at Manas, thoroughly engrossed reading it, looking forward to more of it
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Anonymous
4.5
Mukta Raj
Enchanted by the details of your trip. Was like being there n part of the story. Beautiful capture of all the wild life. Enjoyed