Rhino Tourism in India.

Whoever started the rumour that Rhino horns have medicinal properties needs to be run down by a Rhino-stampede! How dare he float such a supposition without scientific proof? Look what he’s done. Even though science clearly says a Rhino-horn is not medicinal, people in this day and age are still hunting and killing Rhinos for their horns – simply based on a rumour and nowadays – a superstition. The outcome?

World Rhino Population in 1970 – 85,000.

World Rhino Population in 2012 – 11,000.

90% reduction in just 40 years!

Do the math. How long would it take us to completely wipe out this species? And any guesses as to how long the Rhinos have been on this planet?

So before the humans do away with this species on this planet, you may want to visit the Rhino in its natural habitat. Here are the best options in India:

·         Kaziranga National Park in Assam – 430 square kms – home to the largest population of Rhinos in India - 86% of India’s Rhinos – about 1900 Rhinos found here. This population of Rhinos is also two-thirds of World population of Rhinos!

·         Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary – 39 square kms – home to the second largest population of Rhinos in India. Rhino-breeding is also in progress at this Sanctuary.

·         Orang National Park in Assam – 79 square kilometres – home to the third largest population in India.

·         Manas National Park in Assam - 2837 square kilometres – home to the fourth largest Rhino population in India.

And here’s a teaser to get you going….

·         The Indian Rhinoceros can weigh between 1600 – 4000 kgs and is the 4^th largest land animal which can grow up to a height of 6 feet.      

·         It is strictly herbivorous.

·         He can race upto a speed of 48 kms per hour.

·         The Indian Rhino has a single horn made of keratin – same substance that makes our hair and nails. The Rhino’s horn is mistaken for being medicinal and is sold in the Asian black market. This misunderstanding cost the lives of over 70,000 Rhinos in 40 years.

And the following is the best reason why we ought to let the Rhinos live longer on this planet.

·         While the humans (Homo-sapiens) can take trace their origins back to about 3 million years, the Rhinos have walked this planet for 50 million years!

What you can do to help?

·         Contribute money towards the efforts of saving the Rhino. Check online for the sites.

·         Spread the word about saving Rhinos. Blog about Rhinos.

·         Educate people about the misconception about Rhino Horns.

Rhino horns sold in black market for which rhinos are hunted and killed.

Pix courtesy: thehindu; sahealthblog; bengalnewz;

Choose your Cruise on River Brahmaputra....

You will fall in love….all over again.

You will wake up in a different place every day.

You are constantly moving from one place to the other without lifting a finger.

You can laze laze laze all you want.

You will visit some far-flung and fascinating places.

You will be surprised by the most unexpected natural elements.

And if you care you will also steer a ship on the river.

Welcome to River-Cruising on the Brahmaputra – the floating-hotel-ride of a lifetime!

Not to take away the element of surprise from it but let me whet your appetite and warn you of what you could be missing.

World’s largest river-island – Majuli; pink playful Dolphins; Wildlife Safari in the Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park and tons more – all aboard a river-cruise-liner- ship!

Pick a month between October and March, pack light and pack right with imperatives and prepare to set sail aboard a ship for a few days with these pointers in mind:

Ø  Set your expectations right – know what to expect:

o   There would be 15-30 other passengers on the Ship. You can expect foreigners too.

o   Most ships would be double deck with living quarters below and a canopied open deck above with reclined beach chairs for lazing around and for sightseeing. For photographing some great sights along the way, you must park yourself here. It’s a great place to hang out at sunset with a bottle of chill beer or wine or both!

o   The ship would stop at few prime places where you’re expected to get off and explore the locale on foot or on elephant-back. You would have few opportunities to shop. Keep cash handy.

o   As you would be going into thick forests of the National Parks and even do shore-excursions of walk-throughs of villages, you must carry mosquito and snake repellent, and carry two pairs of footwear – one for the ship and the other for trekking on land in villages or in forests. Umbrellas, caps, sunshades, sun block, first-aid kit are imperatives.

o   River waterways are calmer than ocean cruisers. These river-ships being smaller than ocean-liners won’t have casinos but most ships have in-house cultural programs. You have the liberty and choice to do whatever you please. Bring board-games or a juicy book. Or just park yourself on the deck and soak in the cruise, the ambience, the river and the scenery and mingle with your co-cruisers.

o   Food menu would be limited to a pre-set list of dishes. Obviously as Assam is tourism-centric, you can count on food being good. Some cruise-lines offer barbeque dinners on islands.Most river-cruise-ship stock a good bar onboard.

o   There would be insightful information given by the tour-guide atop the deck when he addresses the whole tour-group.

Ø  Carry a camera with wide angle lens and zoom lens on a tripod stand and remote clicker to plant your camera firm and click pictures without having to look through the eye-piece each time. Also find a way to connect the camera to your laptop so you can see your images on the big screen right away as they’re being clicked. Don’t forget your binoculars.

Ø  Take domestic travel insurance. What if you need it on the trip but you don’t have it?

Ø  Know the terrain you’re about to tread:

o   Its river all the way people – with occasional stopovers on land. So motion-sickness folks please excuse.

o   Explore the world’s largest river-island – Majuli Island.

o   Thick riverine forests of Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park inhabited by wildlife such as the single-horned Rhino, Tiger and Elephants.

o   Historically religious sites of Hajo and Vishnath.

o   Tribal Village tourism of Assam.

o   Tea garden-treks.

Ø  The first rule of ‘CHOOSE A CRUISE’ – be aware of the whole itinerary from start to finish with the details mentioned above so that you choose the cruise you want to be on and you don’t face any rude shocks on the trip. The second rule – let go, relax, live for the day and live it up. You paid for it!

Pix courtesy: Telegraph.co.uk; Lonely Planet; brahmaputrarivercruises; elephantsafari.wordpress, GoHoto Blog.