When dreams come alive.....

(Opinionated as well as a travel piece)

Kaziranga National Park

My fascination for this forest found its roots way back when I was doing a project on Assam in my 8^th standard. Everywhere I looked, researched, it was mentioned that this was the only premise that had ‘one-horned rhinos’ in great numbers. Little did I know that five years later I would actually go and visit them.

In the wee hours of the morning we set off in the forest for our first ever elephant safari of the day. We were excited! It was still dark and the usual jokes, about how we wouldn’t be able to see a thing and how it would be even difficult for us to capture them on camera, were passed around. Soon we were divided in groups of six and made to sit on our respective elephants. It was a bumpy ride. But very thrilling indeed. The grass in the forest were tall and wet with dew. They brushed our legs as we passed through the depths of the forest to see the Rhinos. It was within no time that we found our first ‘One horned Rhino’. A baby Rhino. Alone, probably grazing. Flashes on the camera were not allowed and there were usual grunts and groans about how the each attempt of taking a picture failed as the outcome was blurred or too dark! Blurred, because the elephants wouldn’t stop, making it almost impossible for us to take a still image.

Dawn broke out and the receding mist enabled a clear vision. We saw a Mother Rhino and a baby rhino together. It was a pleasant sight. The forest was tranquil, soothing. We clicked a lot of pictures on the way of our friends having awkward moments on the elephant.

Among the Rhinos one could easily spot Indian Muntjacs , swamp deer. Hog deer and also the Sambar in the forest. Wild Water Buffaloes were spotted among the tall grasses too. A little further into the forest we looked like hunters ready with our weapons( in the form of cameras) to get one perfect shot of the Rhino! Looking around us we did find many such opportunities to capture them. We later came across Brahmaputra river that divided the National Park into two. Here we had the utmost pleasure of seeing Rhinos bathe while Lesser White-fronted Goose birds sat on their backs. The Black-Necked Stork was another common bird that we could sight there. Dalmatian Pelican was also a very prominent bird that was seen riding on the Rhino’s back. Although why these birds ride the Rhino’s back is still an unsolved mystery. An occasional bird sweeping by, catching a fish in its long beak from the river water was a thrilling view.

Finally the Elephant Safari ended with snacks and hot tea at the exit. Overall the small safari felt like a long movie where we played the role of a hunter, hunting down animals and birds of the forest to get their shots in our cameras! But nevertheless a movie we left, feeling really calm and content to witness the vast creation of God!