Jorhat (Assam), Sept 22: The Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhino, will be thrown open to tourists from October 01, Park Director N K Vasu said here. Vasu told reporters that initially tourists would be allowed to go inside only two ranges--Bagori and Kohora.

The other areas inside the park were under patches of water due to this year's heavy floods and this which was expected to recede by later next month. He said that to accommodate the odd visitors arriving during the off-season, the authorities had kept some accessible portion open during the off-season this year and the response was good.

The state tourist department and the forest department have also given a face-lift to its lodges and bungalows located near the park, he said. The park authorities had increased the fees for different categories of tourists but this did not dampen the tourist flow to the park and the authorities were expecting similar response this year.

A plan was being chalked out for a three-day elephant festival in the park from January 30, he added.

Bureau Report