GUWAHATI, Oct 3: Assam’s major wildlife destinations are reopening for the new tourism season, with Manas National Park reopening on October 2, followed by Kaziranga National Park on October 3 and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on October 13.
Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah announced the schedule on Friday, marking the start of the annual wildlife tourism season after the monsoon closure. The parks and sanctuaries generally remain closed during the monsoon before reopening when weather and field conditions become suitable.
Manas National Park, spread across Baksa and Chirang districts, reopened on October 2. Kaziranga, which spans Golaghat and Nagaon and extends into Biswanath and Sonitpur, will receive visitors from October 3. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district is scheduled to reopen on October 13.
The reopening follows a strong visitor turnout during the 2025-26 tourism season. Kaziranga recorded 4,68,147 visitors, up from 4,06,564 in the previous season. The latest figure included 4,37,673 Indian visitors and 30,474 foreign tourists.
Manas recorded 63,723 visitors in 2025-26, compared with 52,962 in 2021-22. Of last season’s visitors, 58,772 were Indian and 4,951 were foreign tourists.
Pobitora recorded 35,371 visitors in 2025-26, nearly three per cent higher than the previous season.
Baruah said Assam was ready to welcome visitors back to its major wildlife destinations as the monsoon gave way to a new tourism season.
