For many, the northeastern region of India is quite a mystery. But if you were to visit the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, you'd stumble across a priceless jewel - the Kaziranga National Park. Often referred to as the 'Land of Giants' because of its rhino and elephant populations, this riverine habitat is dominated by tall, dense grasslands, with a backdrop of the majestic Eastern Himalayas.

Kaziranga has often been compared to African parks because of the quality of wildlife viewing. The park contains about fifteen species of India's threatened mammals, including the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. Wild buffalo, elephants and tiger abound while the forested southern slope contains India's only ape, the Hoolock Gibbon. Winter sees an influx of migrant birds including large flocks of Bar-headed Geese. With many ponds and swampy areas, this is also a good place to see the Common Indian Otter.

The mighty Brahmaputra forms the northern boundary of the park, which becomes flooded during monsoon, during which the park remains closed. It should preferably be visited between November and April.

Fauna:
The Leopard is prominent in the park's list of predators, which includes the Tiger and lesser cats like Jungle Cats and Fishing Cats. Primates found here are the Capped Langur and Hoolock Gibbon, while other mammals are the Sloth Bear, Common Indian Otter, Wild Boar, Gaur, Sambar, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Indian Muntjac. The reptilian fauna includes the Water Monitor, Indian Python, Common Cobra and the fabled King Cobra. The Brahmaputra is an excellent place to view Gangetic dolphins.

The avifauna here comprises over 300 species. The numerous water bodies are rich reservoirs of food attracting over 100 species of migratory birds - some from as far as Siberia. Other birds found are the Black-Necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Great Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Silver-Breasted Broadbill, Jerdon's Bushchat, Pallas' Fish Eagle and the Grey-headed Fish Eagle.

Flora:
Tall, dense grasslands interspersed with tropical wet evergreen forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests, interconnecting streams and numerous small lakes or bheels with the Eastern Himalayas in the background.