Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksWhere the Plains Meet the Hills
Assam
Image: Pankaj / CC BY-SA 2.0Welcome to Manas National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
There is no single public government portal for all Manas safaris. Confirm reservations through the Manas Tiger Reserve authority, range offices, or licensed lodges before travel.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Jeep safaris on maintained tracks. Elephant safaris require the ability to mount using platforms. The terrain is flat grassland and forest. The Bansbari area is accessible. Roads inside can be rough during wet months.
Manas National Park lies at the foothills of the eastern Himalayas on the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, the park is a biodiversity hotspot spanning grasslands, alluvial forests, and tropical evergreen forests along the Manas River. The park is one of the finest examples of wildlife conservation recovery — during the Bodo insurgency (1988-2003), poaching devastated its rhino and tiger populations. Since peace returned, a remarkable community-led recovery has brought wildlife back, including the reintroduction of Indian rhinoceroses from Kaziranga. The endangered golden langur, found only here and in Bhutan, is the park's flagship primate.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Nov - Feb) | 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM |
| Spring (Mar - May) | 6:00 AM - 10:30 AM | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Main entry through Bansbari range (Barpeta Road side). Jeep and elephant safaris available. Rafting on the Manas River is a unique addition.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 50 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 500 per person |
| Jeep Safari | INR 3,000 - 5,000 per trip |
| Elephant Safari | INR 1,000 - 2,000 per person |
| River Rafting | INR 1,500 - 3,000 per person |
| Guide Fee | INR 400 per trip (mandatory) |
Manas is less crowded and more affordable than Kaziranga. Elephant safaris offer excellent grassland wildlife viewing. River rafting combines adventure with scenery.
Manas National Park, Baksa/Chirang District, Assam 781315
26.6593° N, 90.9450° E
Nearest airport is Guwahati (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International, 176 km). Taxis available from the airport.
Nearest railway station is Barpeta Road (22 km) on the Guwahati-New Bongaigaon line. Well-connected to Guwahati (3 hours by train).
176 km from Guwahati (4 hours). State buses and taxis available. The last stretch from Barpeta Road to Bansbari is on a district road.
Safari vehicles arranged at the Bansbari range office. Most lodges provide transfers from Barpeta Road. Limited local transport.
Alluvial grasslands, tropical semi-evergreen forests, mixed deciduous forests, and riverine habitats. The park ranges from low-lying floodplains to the Himalayan foothills, creating diverse vegetation zones.
Home to approximately 30+ tigers, reintroduced rhinos (growing population), wild water buffalo, Asian elephants, and the endangered golden langur and pygmy hog — both found almost nowhere else. Over 450 bird species make it one of India's richest birding sites.
Manas was a royal hunting ground of the Cooch Behar rulers. It became a sanctuary in 1928 and a national park in 1990. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1985 but placed it on the 'in danger' list in 1992 after insurgency-related poaching destroyed much of its wildlife. Through remarkable community-led conservation by the Bodo people — once involved in the conflict — the park recovered sufficiently for UNESCO to remove the 'in danger' listing in 2011. Rhinos reintroduced from Kaziranga are breeding successfully.
