Guwahati: Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve will reopen to tourists on Oct 2, with officials expecting footfall to exceed last year’s 70,000 mark.The Unesco World Heritage site attracts visitors during its annual opening season for wildlife safaris and other activities.“We are aiming to surpass 85,000 visitors and hope to increase the number steadily over time. We remain optimistic that this growth will happen gradually and sustainably,” said Yuvraj Singh Digra, assistant park director of Manas National Park.A new feature planned for the season is the introduction of premium routes for a limited number of visitors and vehicles, subject to govt approval.“We are planning to open some premium routes, which would be restricted to a few people and vehicles. The proposal has not been approved yet, but we are hopeful that the approval will come soon,” Digra added.The reopening will offer visitors an opportunity to spot the Bengal florican, an endangered grassland bird found in the park.Located along the Indo-Bhutan border in western Assam, Manas is known for its elephants, rhinos, tigers and other wildlife. It is also an important habitat for several rare and endangered species.
