Orang

State

Orang, also known Dhansirimukh, is a town in the Darrang District of Assam. The prime attraction of this destination is the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park. It is the oldest game reserve in the state and is famous as a breeding ground of fish.

Animals like tiger, leopard, sambar and one-horned rhinoceros are commonly seen in this sanctuary. It is also home to birds like lesser adjutant stork, pintail duck and spot billed pelican.

Silbori, Kopati taluk, Besimari, Borsola, Thelamara village and Rowta are some of the popular places nearby. Tourists can also visit Majbat town, which is famous for the production of jute and tea.

The Orang National Park, re-named as Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, is situated within the districts of Darrang & Sonitpur of the North Eastern State of Assam. One among the five national parks of Assam, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park is famous for its tiger and rhino population.

Situated on the northern bank of the River Brahmaputra, Orang National Park is at a distance of about 32 km from Tezpur, 70 km from Mangaldai and 140 km from Guwahati. The nearest airports are Salonibari Airport of Tezpur and the LGBI Guwahati Airport which are located at a distance of about 80 km and 150 km respectively. The National Park is well connected to the major cities of Assam as it is located to the south of NH 52 at Dhansirighat.

As per the belief, the name Orang was derived from the tribe that hailed from Jharkhand who were brought in by the British to work in their tea plantations. They were settled near the Panchnoi River of the old Darrang district of Assam.

In the early 1900s the Orangs left this place and in 1915 the area was declared a Game Reserve. Post-Independence, Orang Game Reserve came under the State Forest Department in order to meet the requirements of Project Tiger. Orang Game Reserve was established as a Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1985. In 1992, the Reserve was re-named as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and in the year 1999, it was re-notified as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.

The area of Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park is an integral part of the Indo-Myanmar alluvial flood plains formed by many rivers. Since the National Park is situated on the floodplains, a diverse collection of flora and fauna can be seen here.

The main attractions of the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park are One-horned rhinoceros, tiger, Maljuria elephants, Bengal florican and otter. Apart from these, the National Park is home to diverse species of flora, more than 222 species of birds along with migratory birds like the milky white pelicans and more than 50 species of fish. Hog deer, wild pig, civet cat, porcupine, Gangetic dolphin, leopard, sambar, barking deer, pangolin, wild boar, etc. are some other species found here.

Set amidst dense forests and high grasslands, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park offers a view of the surroundings with the backdrop of lush mountain ranges. The National Park at Orang is unique since it is the only place on the northern bank of the River Brahmaputra where the one-horned rhinoceros is found. The best time to visit the Orang National Park is between November to March.