National parks and wild life sanctuaries in north east India in May

Hello,
I am coming to Guwahati from Bhutan in mid May and I would like to stay about a week in the area. I am keen on seeing wildlife/wild animals but unluckily, I found out the famous Kaziranga national park is closed from 1 May. I also found that Manas National Park is partially closed in May depending on the weather conditions.
I was just wondering if Pabitora wild life sanctuary is open in mid May. I can not find the information on websites.

If Pabitora is not open/partially open in May, could some members please advise which national parks/wild life sanctuaries are open in May that are worth visiting?

Thank you.

 

Hello there, welcome to the forum!

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Overview

The states in the northeastern part of India generally receive the greatest rainfall in the country. Though monsoon season begins in June, it is not unusual for these states to receive rainfall as early as May. Thus, most national parks and wildlife sanctuaries remain closed from the months of May until October end or until November. With the wildlife reserves mentioned above, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and even the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, they all remain closed or partially closed during these months as well. Aside from the heavy rainfalls that occur at these wildlife reserves, they also have rivers that flood the premises during monsoon season. In this guide, we would discuss some alternative wildlife reserves that you can visit during the monsoon season (May to October/November) in Northeast India. Plus, we would pick out the top ten best wildlife reserves that you can visit out of all of those listed.

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Northeast India (Opening and Closing Months)

Arunachal Pradesh

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Daying Ering Memorial (Lali) Wildlife Sanctuary	October/November to April	May to September
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary	October/November to April	May to September
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Kane Wildlife Sanctuary	October/November to April	May to September
Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Mouling National Park	November to April	May to October
Namdapha National Park	All Months of the Year	None
Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Yordi Rabe Supse Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Assam

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Borail Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Bherjan Borajan & Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary	November to April	May to October
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Dibru Saikhowa National Park	November to April	May to October
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Kaziranga National Park	November to April	May to October
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary	November to April	May to October
Manas National Park	October/November to April	May to September/October (Depending on the Weather Conditions)
Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Nambor Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Nameri National Park	October/November to April	May to September/October
Orang National Park	October/November to April	May to September/October
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary	October/November to April	May to September/October
Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Manipur

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Keibul Lamjao National Park	All Months of the Year	None
Khongjaingamba Ching Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Meghalaya

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Balphakram National Park	October to April	May to September
Baghmara Pitcher Plant Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Nokrek National Park	October to April	May to September
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Siju Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Mizoram

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Murlen National Park	October to April	May to September
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park	November to April	May to October
Pualreng Wildlife Sanctuary	No Information Available	No Information Available
Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September
Tokalo Wildlife Sanctuary	October to April	May to September

Nagaland

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Intanki National Park	November to April	May to October
Puliebadze Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Sikkim

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Varsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Khangchendzonga National Park	September to May	June to August
Kitam Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Shingba Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

Tripura

Name	Opening Months	Closing Months
Clouded Leopard National Park	All Months of the Year	None
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Rajbari National Park	No Information Available	No Information Available
Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None
Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary	All Months of the Year	None

The tables above highlight the wildlife reserves located in each state in Northeast India. As you can see, most national parks remain closed during monsoon season, so from May to October, sometimes extending up to November. On the other hand, many wildlife sanctuaries remain open all throughout the year, though there are still some that remain closed during the monsoon season. It's best to contact your preferred wildlife reserve prior to reaching it, as the daily and weekly weather conditions can affect the premises. Further, those wildlife reserves that encompass a river region, they can be affected by intense flooding, which is why they remain closed indefinitely during the monsoon season and thereafter. Some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries don't have available information online about their opening and closing times, unfortunately.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries Worth Visiting in May (Northeast India)

Vast national parks to explore...

1. Namdapha National Park - Do you want to stray away from the modernities of life that seem to have taken over humans? Why not spend a few days in the Namdapha National Park, away from the internet, away from electricity, away from the comforts of life? Yet this adventure would only take you closer to the wild animals and rich flora of the wildlife reserve. The Namdapha National Park is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The national park remains open all throughout the year but the roads leading to it can become very patchy and muddy during the monsoon season. Once you reach the national park, even if it does rain in there, the dense forests can actually protect you from the rain. Crossing the bamboo bridges can take you back to simpler times. Though spotting animals can be very hard especially during the monsoon, the chirping of the birds can be enough wildlife company for you. As the sun shines, butterflies become easier to spot around the region as well. Did you know that four of the big cat species reside in this national park? These are the following: the clouded leopards, the snow leopards, the common leopards and royal Bengal tigers. Spotting them can be hard because these are highly elusive creatures. The hoolock gibbons, the only species of ape that can be found in India, also reside in the national park. You can also spot wild elephants residing in the national park if you're lucky. You can opt to stay within the forest area as there are some home stays here or you can also opt to stay in the nearby village of Miao.

• Must Spot Animals - Birds, Clouded Leopards, Snow Leopards, Common Leopards, Royal Bengal Tigers, Hoolock Gibbons and Elephants

• Related Thread - Top 10 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

2. Keibul Lamjao National Park - The world's only floating national park is located in Manipur, known as the Keibul Lamjao National Park. What makes this national park special is the presence of the phumdis, floating masses of vegetation, all around its Loktak Lake. These floating masses of vegetation have reeds and grasses in them that are also the sole nutrient source of the brow-antlered deer found only in the region, the sangais. Because of the delicate movements of the sangais as they approach the phumdis, they have been called as the dancing deers. To view the entire national park, you need to ride a boat and it would be very exciting if you can experience walking amidst the spongy phumdis. Spotting the endangered sangais can be very difficult, but you can climb the nearby watchtower to have a panoramic view of the lake and who knows if you can spot the animal from here. Keep your eyes open for other animal species such as marble cats, hog deers, wild boars, flying foxes and sambars. Ultimately, visiting the Keibul Lamjao Park is sure to delight the nature and wildlife lover, having such terrains and animals that are unique to it only.

• Must Spot Animals - Sangais, Marble Cats, Hog Deers, Wild Boars, Flying Foxes and Sambars

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Keibul Lamjao National Park (Image from Mo's Musings)​

3. Clouded Leopard National Park - The clouded leopard is an endangered specie of the wild cat. You can distinguish them from the other wild cat species by their darker blackish and yellowish mane. They are known as the best climbers out of all the wild cat species. Interestingly, their size is smaller than that of a leopard so they're quite harder to spot, especially with their manes that can be easily camouflaged in the forests. The first ever national park dedicated for this endangered specie of wild cat is the Clouded National Park in Tripura. The national park is also a part of the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary so you can combine a trip with these two wildlife reserves. On the sanctuary proper, you can find various other animals such as rhesus macaques, barking deers, langurs, slow loris and more. There are even boating facilities in the artificial lake here. There's also a separate botanical garden as well as a toy train ride that one can enjoy when in here. Even if you can't spot the clouded leopard, you can enjoy a wildlife adventure here, especially if you have smaller children with you.

• Must Spot Animals - Clouded Leopard, Rhesus Macaques, Barking Deers, Langurs and Slow Loris

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Something about the wild...

4. Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary - The Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the few wildlife sanctuaries that allows trekking within its premises. Trekking in the jungles of the sanctuary means being exposed to a variety of lush forests, comprising mostly of pines and firs. Plenty of rivers flow within the sanctuary, like the Pange River and Sipu River, thereby giving the animals residing in the national park one of their most basic needs. There are also endemic species of plants that can only be found in the wildlife sanctuary. The most popular animal here, though rarely spotted, is the clouded leopard. Even the other animal species like mithuns and japaluras can be hard to spot in the wildlife sanctuary. But the rich flora of the region is enough to make you enjoy a trip to the wildlife sanctuary itself. Largely unexplored by many tourists, you can enjoy the relative isolation and pristine beauty of the reserve any time of the year.

• Must Spot Animals - Clouded Leopards, Mithuns and Japaluras

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5. Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary - The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Assam, one of the few wildlife sanctuaries in the region that remains open even during monsoon season. Thus, if you're in the state and planning to explore the rich wildlife during monsoon, make sure you reach this lesser known wildlife sanctuary. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its wide variety of monkey species that reside here, like the stump-tailed macaques, Assamese macaques, rhesus macaques and pig-tailed macaques. Most visitors though want to spot the only ape specie in India that can be found here, the hoolock gibbons. Hoolock gibbons can be easily spotted in the trees of the lush jungles of the wildlife sanctuary. They are known for the contrasting males and females, the former with a dark colour and pure white brows, the latter with a brown colour, darker in the chest area. Both males and females have extremely long arms which they use for hanging around the tree branches. Squirrel species such as the Malayan giant squirrels and hoary-bellied squirrels can also be found here. The wildlife sanctuary also has facilities for tourists who want to stay a day or two within the premises.

• Must Spot Animals - Stump-Tailed Macaques, Assamese Macaques, Rhesus Macaques, Pig-Tailed Macaques, Hoolock Gibbons, Malayan Giant Squirrels and Hoary-Bellied Squirrels

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Hoolock Gibbon in Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary (Image from Saevus)​

6. Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary - Just a few kilometres away from the Indo-Myanmar border is the Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary. The forests in the sanctuary are tropical evergreen in the lower areas while alpine in the higher lying areas. The wildlife sanctuary is not only diverse in wildlife, the landscapes are quite extensive too. Comprising of many mountain ranges, even the second highest peak in the region, you'd be rewarded by beautiful views all around. Much like the former sanctuary, many monkey species reside here, with the pig-tailed macaques and rhesus macaques as the most popular ones. Big mammals such as tigers, leopards, sambars and wild boars also reside within the wildlife sanctuary premises. Because it is located quite far off from the country, the terrains of the sanctuary remain quite pristine and unexplored.

• Must Spot Animals - Pig-Tailed Macaques, Rhesus Macaques, Tigers, Leopards, Sambars and Wild Boars

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Enjoyable bird watching...

7. Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary - The Deepor Beel is a freshwater lake formed in the former channel that the Brahmaputra River once passed through. Now, it is a biodiversity hotspot for birds, and has been designated as a wildlife sanctuary. The best season for bird watching is undoubtedly the winter, from November until February. However, the lake itself is home to many species of resident birds, with over 200 bird species. This number goes up during the winter season. You can enjoy the serenity of the place though during off-peak tourist season, including the monsoon. It's not hard to spot bird species such as spot-billed pelicans, egrets, cormorants, pond herons and storks here, even just on regular days. Around the lake, you can find woodpeckers, sparrows and hoopoes, usually on branches of trees. The lake is also the source of livelihood of the locals, so you can spot many fishing boats around especially during early morning. This interaction of both humans and animals, a give-and-take relationship, is so rare, that it's a nice spectacle to witness.

• Must Spot Animals - Spot-Billed Pelicans, Egrets, Cormorants, Pond Herons, Storks, Woodpeckers, Sparrows and Hoopoes

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Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (Image from Explore Assam)​

8. Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary - Located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the best bird watching sites in the region, the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. The landscapes here are very diverse, ranging from open grasslands, sloping hills and lush forests as well. Though it can be visited all-year round, the roads leading to it can be very patchy during monsoons. Make sure you reach it during dry days, to at least lessen your hardship during the journey. There are several base camps amidst the wildlife sanctuary, which also double as home stay or tented stay areas. These tented accommodations are very simple though, there are no heating nor electricity so you have to leave all comforts behind. It's recommended that you stay in the wildlife sanctuary for at least a few days so that you can spot a wider variety of bird species. Commonly spotted species of birds here are laughing thrushes, flycatchers, rusty-fronted bar wings, yellow-throated babblers, rufous-necked hornbills and ibis bills. Sometimes, elephants can show up in the different areas around the wildlife sanctuary too.

• Must Spot Animals - Laughing Thrushes, Flycatchers, Rusty-Fronted Bar Wings, Yellow-Throated Babblers, Rufous-Necked Hornbills and Ibis Bills

• Related Thread - n/a

9. Siju Wildlife Sanctuary - Meghalaya is known for its beautiful jungles and natural attractions. The Siju Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Garo Hills of the state of Meghalaya. Because the Simsang River flows freely just beside of the wildlife sanctuary, aviary species can be found in many areas here. You can easily spot bird species such as egrets, wagtails, drongos, orioles, turtle doves, hornbills and forktails. The majestic peacock pheasant, with its grey feather and white throat can also be spotted here. This specie of bird is only found in the northeastern part of India and in some regions of Myanmar. These species of birds can be easily spotted any time of the year. During winter, several migratory species of birds can also be spotted around the region. It's best to bring your own binoculars and snacks as tourist facilities here are limited.

• Must Spot Animals - Egrets, Wagtails, Drongos, Orioles, Turtle Doves, Hornbills, Forktails and Peacock Pheasants

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Uniquely found in Northeast India...

10. Varsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary - Last on this list is the Varsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Sikkim. The best time to visit this wildlife sanctuary is during the summer months of March and April. This is the time when the rhododendrons here are in full bloom, along with other flowers. The wildlife sanctuary is sometimes referred to as the Valley of Flowers, not to be confused with Uttarakhand's Valley of Flowers, but the beauty of both sites are comparable. If you are able to reach the wildlife sanctuary during the early week of May, you might still be able to witness this gorgeous contrasts of pinks, whites and reds. Even during after the blooming season, the wildlife sanctuary remains pretty much isolated and tranquil, perfect for an off-beat wildlife getaway. The elusive red panda and black bear also reside in this wildlife sanctuary. However, the landscapes are quite different especially in the monsoon, still beautiful, with the lush greenery that envelopes the place.

• Must Spot Animals - Red Panda and Black Bear

• Related Thread - Uttarey to Varsey Trek

Varsey Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary (Image from Group Outing)​

Conclusion

Found yourself in the northeastern part of India during the monsoon season? Don't worry, there are still some wildlife reserves that you can explore during this time. Pack your trekking shoes, raincoat and lots of anti-leech lotion though. Or if indulging in a jeep safari, just make sure you're ready for the bumpy ride ahead of you. With the lush green landscapes, muddy terrains and challenging wildlife spotting, you'd have an adventure of a lifetime that can't be compared with any other.

Enjoy and have fun!

 

Hello briannagodess,
Thank you for your detailed information. I never be able to find such information by myself. I really appreciate your help.