Kaziranga National Park set to reopen early for tourists ahead of Durga Puja: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Kaziranga to Welcome Tourists Early: Assam CM Announces Reopening Ahead of Durga Puja (Image: canva)

Kaziranga National Park, Assam’s iconic wildlife sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set to reopen for tourists ahead of Durga Puja, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, according to reports by the Assam Tribune. The park, which remains closed from May to October every year due to the monsoon and floods, is home to the world’s largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros, along with tigers, elephants, swamp deer, and over 500 species of birds.

The reopening of Kaziranga, often described as the “pride of Assam,” is expected to give a major boost to the state’s tourism sector during the festive season. Known for its jeep and elephant safaris, the park attracts lakhs of domestic and international visitors annually, making it one of India’s top eco-tourism destinations.

The Chief Minister made the announcement during his visit to Numaligarh in Golaghat district, where he reviewed preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate India’s first bamboo-based bio-ethanol refinery, developed by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), on September 14. The Rs 7,200-crore plant will produce ethanol and a range of by-products, marking a milestone in India’s renewable energy efforts.

Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister will also address a public rally expected to draw nearly one lakh people and lay the foundation stone for NRL’s Rs 7,000-crore polypropylene project. To mark the occasion, Numaligarh has been given a green facelift with the creation of a 2-km “Neem Corridor,” where around 700 neem saplings have been planted along the route.

The dual announcements—Kaziranga’s reopening and the launch of the bio-ethanol plant—highlight Assam’s twin focus on promoting eco-tourism and sustainable industrial growth.