Bordered by Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh to the south, India’s northeastern state of Assam is well known for its silk production and tea plantations. Often referred to as “the land of the red river and the blue hills”, for the Brahmaputra River and its surrounding verdant hills, Assam is about the size of South Carolina.

On our route we skirt the edge of the Himalayas, visiting three national parks in search of the wonderous and rare birds and mammals. Nestled in along the shore of the enormous Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga National Park hosts 2/3 of the world’s population of Indian Rhinoceros, and also holds the world’s largest populations of wild Water Buffalo and Barasingha (a.k.a. Swamp Deer).

Add to these healthy populations of Indian Elephant, Gaur (the world’s largest wild bovid), and Sambar, and there is a lot of “big game”. It is little wonder that Bengal Tiger flourishes here as well. While we’d need luck to see that, seeing the others is more or less expected. Adding in a visit to a Gibbon Sanctuary nearby the park, we could net up to 9 species of wild primates over the course of our trip. Gee’s Golden Langur is something we can see at Manas NP, and it’s a stunner.

Manas National Park (like Kaziranga) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but while Kaziranga is a mix of grassland, savanna woodland and jungle, with some swamps and rivers, Manas is mostly forested. Standing amongst the eastern Himalayan foothills, where the Brahmaputra separates India from Bhutan, Manas is a mix of broadleaf and evergreen forests, but with the lower reaches offering bhabar and terai habitats too. The site is best known for harboring the last known wild population of the Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania), now numbering just 250 individuals. But, like all these parks, it also offers fabulous birding.

For the dedicated birder, there are chances for species such as the extremely localized Jerdon’s Babbler is one of the special birds we hope to encounter, including Bengal Florican, Black Eagle, White-bellied Erpornis, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, and still much more.

Between our visits to these two iconic parks, we spend two nights at Nameri, which while perhaps less famous is no less birdy. There are globally threatened species here we could encounter such as White-winged Wood Duck, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Pallas’s Fish-Eagle, White-rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, and even Jerdon’s Babbler. And with luck, we could encounter one of the two giant squirrel species here, plus Capped Langur.

Set out with us for a birding and wildlife extravaganza to magical Assam, as we explore three amazing national parks. We’ll be accompanied by fabulous Indian guides, and enjoy the classic cuisine. Add a visit to the Taj Mahal or a tiger safari if you want.

Photos courtesy of Surya Ramachandran