Visit Deepor Beel with the Pobitora Safari Tour

By JAGAT [13/Dec/2024] The northeastern state of Assam can be rightfully described as nature’s canvas. It provides several aspects of tourism, right from wildlife destinations to birdwatching spots and from tea estates to spiritual locations. You can choose any place to visit in Assam, and it will be wrapped with nature’s bounty. Such is the beauty of Assam. The state is predominantly famous for the highly revered Kamakhya Devi Temple in Guwahati, the tea estates, Majuli Island, Kaziranga National Park and the vibrant festivals of Assam. Besides these popular locations, there is a lot more awaiting the exploration of travel enthusiasts. Let’s talk about a lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and a nearby location Deepor Beel.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Nestled in the Morigaon district, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is an important abode of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, considered ‘vulnerable’ by IUCN. The ultimate purpose of a safari drive in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is to spot these rhinos. Although Pobitora lacks a tiger population, but does not see any lack of charm due to the thriving population of one-horned rhinos, which is surprisingly larger than the Kaziranga National Park. Located just 56 km from the capital city of Guwahati, Pobitora is tucked between the Kopil River and the mighty Brahmaputra River. Needless to mention, Pobitora is a beautiful tapestry of nature’s constituents. Along with sighting one-horned rhinos, Pobitora is a favoured location for birdwatchers as well. Migratory birds from faraway lands flock here during the winter season. Birding enthusiasts and ornithologists have their moment of spectacle in the wildlife sanctuary.

Jeep Safari: If you want to explore Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary thoroughly, conduct Pobitora online safari booking to reserve jeep in advance. 6 passengers are allowed in every jeep along with the driver and guide. Children above the age of 4 years also require full booking. The morning and evening safaris are conducted to take tourists deep inside the sanctuary. For avid enthusiasts, a full-day jeep safari is also available right from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Elephant Safari: Unlike jeep safaris, elephant safaris are conducted in the early morning from 6:30 am to 8:30 am in 2 lots of an hour each. Riding the back of an elephant and venturing through the forest and grasslands of Pobitora is a unique experience. Sitting atop an elephant, with a mahout to control the huge beast, provides distant views compared to a jeep.

Boat Safari: The boat safari is a rare activity carried out in wildlife destinations. As the Brahmaputra River flows alongside Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, boat safaris are arranged by the forest authorities and are an exciting activity to experience. The safari boats set on from the River Dolphin View Point. The boat takes tourists deeper to the centre of the river, where Gangetic River Dolphins are spotted. Pobitora Boat Safari lasts for an hour from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Deepor Beel

66 km from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Deepor Beel is a beautiful location not known to many. Deepor Beel is typically a saltwater lake, where several bird species find refuge. Deepor beel in Assamese means ‘A Lake of the Elephants’. Spanning 40.41 sq km, the Beel serves as a habitat for both resident and migratory birds and is a popular spot for observing herds of Asiatic wild elephants. Drawn by the aquatic vegetation of the lake, these elephants travel from the region's four elephant corridors within the Rani-Garbhanga Reserve Forests in Kamrup East to feast on their preferred food.

Deepor Beel gained recognition as a Ramsar Site in 2002 due to its remarkable biodiversity and ecological significance. It was recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in 2004, after being declared a Bird Sanctuary by the Government of Assam in 1989. For centuries, the communities residing along its shores relied on its abundant resources, freshwater and rich food supply for their livelihoods.