Visit Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary: A Detailed Travel Guide!

Nestled at nearly 50km from Guwahati around the Morigaon district of Assam is the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of the 3 main wildlife reserves across Assam, after Kaziranga and Manas. It also attained fame for being the home of a one-horned rhino and draws thousands of snappers and wildlife fanatics every year.

Sprawling across a 38.81 square kilometers area by the side of the River Brahmaputra is the wildlife sanctuary of Pobitora which was popular as a reserved forest between 1971 and 1987, after which, it got recognition as a Wildlife sanctuary. The king of Mayong had carried the name of Pobitora after his beautiful daughter who had died as a kid.

The wildlife sanctuary boasts a very high one-horned rhinoceros populace. The wildlife sanctuary is in close closeness to the Mayong village which is well-known as the Black magic capital of India. Here is the detailed Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Travel Guide.

Location 

Pobitora National Park is located in the Morigaon district of the state of Assam. The national park is situated nearly 48 km from Guwahati. It is nearly 1-hour drive through a road passing by River Brahmaputra and a small segment of the village of Mayong.

It has a dense populace of the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. It refuges 38.8 km2. Though the total notified place of the park is 38.80 square km, only 16 square km is effective rhino habitation. Pobitora avowed a reserved forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. 

How to Reach? 

One can arrive at Pobitora from Guwahati by a cab through Chandrapur, or via NH37. If you travel by NH 37, after crossing Sonapur you have to take a junction road that leads to Pobitora.

Local buses, communal taxis, or other public transportation are not accessible to Pobitora. So, it’s better to rent a private cab from Guwahati. Contact popular service providers to book a private cab. Guwahati Railway station is the foremost railway head that is close to the Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary situated at a distance of nearly 48 Km (2 hr drive).

The closest airport to Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary is Guwahati airport (Borjhar Airport) which is situated at a distance of 65 Km. One can rent a private cab from Guwahati airport to arrive at Pobitora.

Climatic Conditions

The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary witnesses 3 seasons: Winter, Summer, and Monsoon. The months of November thru early May witness winter with favorable temperature conditions to celebrate your Jeep or Elephant Safari into the interiors of the Wildlife Sanctuary.

The months of late May and June are the Summer season with to some extent higher temperature notes (closely 36 degrees Centigrade). July through September are the monsoon seasons and the park gets inundated owing to the heavy downpour. 

The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary remains open for seeing visitors from the months of October thru April every year. The best time to visit the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is throughout the winter thru the months of November and April. The park remains shut down from the months of May thru September owing to the extreme monsoon floods that occur across the North Eastern Region of India throughout that time. 

The climate of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary can be called a sub-tropical monsoon type with the 3 different seasons. The dry mild winter witnessed occasional showers i.e. November to April. 

Sanctuary Timings

From sunrise to sunset, the sanctuary is open but it has static timings for elephant safaris. Two Elephant safaris are there during the morning. The certified timings are 0630 hrs and 0730 hrs for nearly one-hour duration each. But these timings are not static. The official’s deportment of both safaris between 0630 hrs to 0930 hrs, subject to the accessibility of the tourists.

If an adequate number of travelers will not arrive by 0630 hrs or the weather will be foggy (during winter), they normally start it at nearly 0800 hrs. The second safari may or may not be there, relying on tourist accessibility. We have perceived an additional elephant safari at 1430 hrs, but the mahawat of my elephant is well-versed that after 1000 hrs, elephants go to the sanctuary with forest staff for their official tedious inspection, so there is no safari after 1000 hrs.

We are not certain about this 1430 hrs timing. We think it diverges from season to season. It’s well to coordinate with forest administrators before heading there so that you can know the precise status of safari timings and accommodation accessibility. Jeep Safari for one hour is accessible throughout the day, without any static timings.

Entry Tickets and Safari Cost

There are different types of entry tickets accessible at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Travel Guide. The ticket prices are dissimilar for Indian and Foreign Nationals.

Elephant Safari

Elephant safaris are 500 per individual for Indians and 1,000 per individual for foreigners. There are extra charges for still and video cameras, with prices beginning at 50 rupees (for still cameras).

Accommodation Near Sanctuary

The closest accommodation to Pobitora is at its own entrance on the west side of the sanctuary which is government possessed. Other accommodations are accessible in the Mayang Village, 9 km north of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Travelers prefer to stay at Guwahati, where a variety of luxury and budget hotels are accessible. There are no eating selections in the sanctuary. Fish is a foremost delicacy in Assam and one can find lip-spanking food at inexpensive rates in Paltan Bazar. 

Conclusion 

You categorically loved this wildlife sanctuary. You will see at least 4-5 Rhinos throughout your one-hour jeep safari and they were actually close encounters. For a wildlife fanatic, we totally recommend visiting Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. And we promise you will not be remorse by this Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Travel Guide.

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