Manas reopens today after 4-month closure

Guwahati: Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, one of the two Unesco natural heritage sites in Assam, is set to reopen its gates for the visitors from Friday. Owing to the monsoons, the park had been closed for four months, officials said.

Earlier, the authorities had notified about reopening the park on October 1. However, they advanced the date to observe the World Tourism Day with various events.

Chief conservator of forests and field director, C Ramesh, said in statement, “In modification of the office order no. 516, dated September 5, 2024, consequent to completion of the stipulated monsoon closure period as prescribed by the Government of India, ministry of forest and climate change, National Tiger Conservation Authority letter no. 15-1(17) /2015- NTCA dated August 18, 2015, it is hereby informed that Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, will be open for the 2024-25 ecotourism seasons with effect from September 27, 2024, subject to relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972 and the Assam Wildlife (Protection) Rules,1997, till further notice.”

Assam tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruah lauded the forest department’s decision to reopen the park on the occasion of the World Tourism Day. Taking to his social media accounts, the minister wrote, “The department of forest has made a commendable decision to reopen Manas National Park from the day of World Tourism Day on September 27, ahead of the original schedule of October 1. We will be celebrating this occasion at the park tomorrow, and I warmly invite everyone to join us for this special event.”

The park expanding across 850 square kilometre, was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1985. It has three forest ranges — Bansbari (central), Panbari (western) and Bhuiapara (eastern).

Visitors can enjoy river rafting and elephant and jeep safari. However, the park will remain closed for the visitors on every Wednesday. The park was among the first nine tiger reserves to be notified in the country, when Union govt started Project Tiger in 1973.

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