F SC IL O IE C N l Inform N C ta at U E n io O & e n m C T S E n y E o ] C s T r i C t H e A o t e v ll a e n T N i c m n t m Co se S l s O late Di E L M I O K G K I Y S INDIA E N V I S RESOURCE PARTNER On ECOTOURISM ISSN: 0974-6072 Newsletter Volume 15 Number 3 October - December 2017 BEST OF ECOTOURISM IN INDIA - A COMPILATION OF BIOSHPERE RESERVES, NATIONAL PARKS, SNACTUARIES AND ECO DESTINATIONS By Shri D.T. Bhutia; Prabhakar Gurung ENVIS RP on Ecotourism “The Earth does not belong to man; Man belongs to the Earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” — Chief Seattle Stretching from the Himalaya to coast to alpine vegetations including medicinal Majuli, Assam coast legacy, India with its highly plants, animals and birds at different diversified nature is one of the popular altitude and thus representing a rich eco-tourism destinations in the world. ecosystem that also include many glaciers, Whether it is the backwaters of Kerala or waterfalls, lakes and streams. Amongst shifting sand dunes of Thar Desert or the the mammals the snow leopard, wetlands in the Himalayan region or Himalayan Tahr, wild dog, Himalayan black natural caves in the Khasi and Garo hills, bear, red panda, Himalayan blue sheep, India throughout the decades has been a serow, goral and takin are the major one stop eco-tourism hub housing a good attractions for wildlife enthusiasts and population of flora and fauna. The The largest river island in the world that is birds like Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, country is just not about tracing the located in the Brahmaputra River in Osprey, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, historical diorama but the pleasure Assam, Majuli is home to several migratory Tragopan Pheasant, Green Pigeon, Tibetan treasure pours when you roam like a birds. The island is mostly inhabited by the nomad to seek the natural panorama. Let's Snowcock, Snow Pigeon, Impeyan Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis and Mising go for a refreshing journey through some Pheasant, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Sunbird tribes. Nonetheless… influenced by the of the best ecotourism destinations in and Eagle make it a haven for bird lovers. Brahmaputra River, the island comprises a India from this article. The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve unique ecosystem and preserves a rich also offers lot of adventure activities like K h a n g c h e n d z o n g a B i o s p h e r e agricultural base. The region is also home trekking, hiking, and camping which Reserve, Sikkim to a large number of amphibians. The makes it easier for the travelers to explore island is formed by the Brahmaputra river Covering an approximate area of 1,784 the rich biodiversity. The Green Lake Trek in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an square kilometers and ranging from an and Dzongri Goechala Trek are some of the anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by altitude of about 1,800 meters to 8,500 best alpine treks in Sikkim that passes the Subansiri River in the north. Mājuli meter the Khangchendzonga Biosphere through the Khangchendzonga Biosphere island is accessible by ferries from the city Reserve or Khangchendzonga National Reserve. of Jorhat. The island is about 300–400 Park is one of the high altitude national Nearest Railhead: New Jalpaiguri kilometres (186–249 mi) east from the parks in India and the only national park in state's largest city —Guwahati. It was Nearest Airport: Bagdogra Airport Sikkim. It is home to a large variety of formed due to course changes by the river 1 Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly Wreathed Hornbill, Old World babbles, and services. Recently set up Kaziranga the Lohit. Mājuli is the abode of the vultures remain the major attractions. The National Orchid and Biodiversity Park Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture. Mājuli Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary is also one of established at Durgapur village is a latest is 20 km from Jorhat. One can take the the largest homes to reptiles like attraction to the tourists. It houses more bus or a hired taxi to the Nimati Steamer Reticulated Python, Rock Python, and King than 500 species of orchids, 132 varieties Ghat from where ferry services ply. The Cobra. Kaziranga National Park has been of sour fruits and leafy vegetables, 12 distance takes over three hours to cover, granted maximum protection under the species of cane, 46 species of bamboo and with three bus rides and two ferry rides. Indian law for wildlife conservation. a large varieties of local fishes. On the north bank is the river Subansiri Various laws, which range in dates from Nearest Railhead: Guwahati and on the south bank, the mighty the Assam Forest Regulation of 1891 and Nearest Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Brahmaputra has excided the island from the Biodiversity Conservation Act of 2002 Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati the main land. Lakhimpur town is to the have been enacted for protection of north and Golaghat is to its southwest. wildlife in the park. Poaching activities, Sunderbans National Park, West The town of Sibsagar is on the southeast particularly of the rhinoceroses for its Bengal and Jorhat is to the south. On the horn, has been a major concern for the extreme east is Dibrugarh District. authorities. Between 1980 and 2005, 567 l The Vaishnava Satras founded by rhinoceroses were hunted by poachers. Sankardeva Following a decreasing trend for the past l The colourful culture of the tribes few years, 18 one-horned rhinoceroses were killed by poachers in 2007. Reports l Migratory birds have suggested that there are links l The Ali-ai-ligang festival in Feb-March between these poaching activities and l Pottery making funding of terrorist organizations. But l Mask making these could not be substantiated in later l Paal Namm festival in the end of years. Preventive measures such as winter construction of anti-poaching camps and l Folgu utsaav(holi) maintenance of existing ones, patrolling, Home to the world's largest mangrove l Madhya Majuli intelligence gathering, and control over forest, the Sunderbans National Park l Namoni Majuli the use of firearms around the park have covers an approximate area of 1,330 l reduced the number of casualties. Since Ujoni Majuli square kilometers. It is the royal residence 2013, the park used cameras on drones l The sunset in winter of the Bengal tiger and the region with 54 which are monitored by security guards to l Exotic homespun masks crafts small deltaic islands is also a shelter to a protect the rhino from armed poachers. l the natural beauty. variety of bird, reptile, invertebrate Observing the wildlife, including birding, Nearest Railhead: Jorhat species and amphibians. Some of the is the main visitor activity in and around Nearest Airport: Jorhat Airport endangered species, other than the Royal the park. Guided tours by elephant or Jeep Bengal Tiger, which are found in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam are available. Hiking is prohibited in the Sunderbans National Park are the park to avoid potential human-animal Saltwater Crocodile, River Terrapin, Olive conflicts. Observation towers are situated Ridley Turtle, Gangetic dolphin, Ground at Sohola, Mihimukh, Kathpara, Foliamari, Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle and Mangrove and Harmoti for wildlife viewing. The horseshoe crab. Among the endemic Lower Himalayan peaks frame the park's marine mammals…the Bryde's whale, landscape of trees and grass interspersed Humpback whale, Irrawaddy Dolphins, with numerous ponds. An interpretation Ganges River Dolphins, and Humpback centre is being set up at the Bagori range Dolphins are sparsely found near the of Kaziranga, to help visitors learn more coastal area. Many conservational about the park. The park remains closed projects are being undertaken by the A world heritage site that is the home to for visitors from 1 May to end-October due g o v e r n m e n t t o p r o t e c t t h e r i c h the Great One-horned rhinoceros, the to monsoon rains. Four tourist lodges at biodiversity of Sunderbans National Park, Kaziranaga National Park, covering an Kohora and three tourist lodges outside which is one of the best national parks in approximate area of 430 square the park are maintained by the West Bengal. The park being located at the kilometers, is one of the best national Department of Environment and Forests, confluence of many distributaries of the parks in North East India that features a Government of Assam. Private resorts are Ganges and Bay of Bengal receives some highly diversified ecosystem. With the available outside the park borders. unique geographical features, mudfalts influence of the River Brahmaputra and Increase in tourist inflow has led to the being one of those features that is largely its tributaries the Kaziranga Park mostly economic empowerment of the people dependent on tidal currents. The comprises of fertile and alluvial soil and living at the fringes of the park, by means Chargheri Char mudflat in the Sunderbans also provides some unique geographical of tourism related activities, encouraging is open for the tourists, and can be visited features such as sandbars, beels, and a recognition of the value of its protection. during low tide.