In The Heart Of Manas Tiger Reserve

Those days I was posted in Guwahati. Being in Assam for the last 4 years, I have visited Kaziranga and Pobitora Reserve forest many times. Although both are famous destinations I was not much impressed by both those locations. I was craving to visit less fancied Manas Tiger Reserce.Tucked at the foothills of Terai Region and border of Bhutan and Assam lies Manas Reserve forest.

On a fine Saturday winter afternoon we started off for Manas. Vinit was driving his Ford Figo and we four myself , Debasish,Soumya and Sumit with him.

Soon we crossed the mighty Brahmaputra through Saraighat bridge and hit the NH.

After crossing Rangia as I glanced right from the car it seemed that a distance Bhutan Himalayas was visible but others dismissed it as fog or a formation of cloud but I was adamant.

After driving for 3 hours we took right from Barpeta town towards Manas. It was already dark as we entered Bodo heartland. Just to remind Manas was the corridor for movement of Bodo Militants to Bhutan during height of insurgency and till today is restricted territory and not free from danger.

Soon out GPS gave off as we passing one village after another and heading north.

Now range of Bhutan Himalayas is much nearer.

Soon we passed the Fatehbad tea estate and turned right towards our resort.

We were taking a narrow road between the tea garden and boundary of the forest guarded by electric wires.

It was cold , pitch dark , no human in sight our hearts raced in anticipation of an unknown fear.

Soon we had to pass a ditch and four of us had to get down from the car to lessen weight.

Such was our fear that we were constantly looking on all directions while our eyes scanned the dark.

Atlast we reached our resort. It was basically 7 tents tucked at equal distance.We were the only guest that night.

We had a delicious dinner with pork meat and roti.

As we sat outside after dinner and started our banter suddenly we could hear gunshots and white lightning at a distance.

Being extremely frightened as we intended to run towards the tents our attendant stopped us stating that it was the forest guards trying to ward of a herd of elephants.

At night we slept at 3 tents meant for us. At dead of night I was awakened by a shrill and highly pitched tone from outside.

Resort workers had warned us not to venture outside at night as wild pigs, elephants, leopards and black Panthers prowl the area.

I was with Vinit who was also awakened by then and so was ouf entire group.

Wr could not trace the source and the sound was getting louder ,we were frightened to the core.

The sound continued till morning.

When we enquired the same with the staffs we came to know that it was harmless peacocks.

Gosh our city bred nerves were so vulnerable.

Early morning we went for jeep safari. As we drove inside the forest we could realise that Manas needs more publicity as I was enthralled with it's natural beauty.

We stopped for breakfast at Mathanguri beat at the banks of Manas river. The other side of the river was Royal Manad of Bhutan where we could spot a herd of elephants had gathered.

The pitch blue waters of Msnas river originating in Tibet and after traversing Bhutan enters Assam here.

The beauty of the spot could not be described in words.

Soon we crossed the border and entered Bhutan and travelled till the nearest village called Panbang. We were pleased with the cleanliness of the place and the hospitality of Bhutanese people.

On our way back we could spot a Hornbill sitting in a tree, a group of deers, s huge wild buffalo and of all things a Burmese python clinging to a tree trunk.

After spending around 4 hours we came out and after a sumptuous meal with rice and local fish, we bud adieu to Manas and hit NH for Guwahati.

All of us vowed to go back again.

Till then goodbye.