Kaziranga National Park Closes for Monsoon Season After Record Visitor Numbers

Kaziranga National Park is set to close its gates to tourists on May 29, marking the end of a successful tourism season that saw over 470,000 visitors. The decision comes as heavy rains approach, making many areas of the park inaccessible. This year, the park experienced a notable increase in both domestic and international tourists, thanks to improved wildlife sightings, including the rare gharial and a golden tiger. The seasonal closure allows for wildlife movement and necessary maintenance before reopening later in the year.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 13:31 IST

Kaziranga National Park's Seasonal Closure

The park recorded 4,68,147 visitors during the 2025–26 season up to March 31, compared to 4,06,564 visitors in the previous season (Photo - @kaziranga_ / X)

Guwahati, May 28: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve will officially shut its doors to visitors starting May 29, signaling the end of the current tourism season as preparations begin for the monsoon, which renders many areas of the park inaccessible.

The last jeep safari of the season will take place on May 28, concluding another prosperous year for this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has seen a notable increase in visitor numbers this season.

Arun Vignesh, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, explained that the closure is due to the impending heavy rains and the deteriorating conditions of the roads within the park.

“The final day for jeep safaris will be May 28, and from the following day, Kaziranga will be closed to tourists. This decision is based on the expected rainfall and the state of the roads inside and outside the national park. Many areas become inaccessible during the monsoon due to flooding,” stated the DFO.

Kaziranga, renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros population, experienced a significant rise in tourist numbers this year.

Officials reported that over 470,000 visitors explored the park this season, with a notable increase in international tourists.

“This year has been exceptionally positive for tourism in Kaziranga. More than 470,000 tourists visited, and the influx of foreign visitors also saw a significant rise. Various promotional efforts contributed to attracting more visitors to Kaziranga,” Vignesh remarked.

Enhanced wildlife sightings across the park's various ranges were also a key factor in drawing tourists. The Bagori and Burapahar ranges, in particular, saw heightened interest due to frequent rhino sightings and the rare appearance of gharials.

For the first time, tourists were able to observe gharials in the Burapahar range, creating excitement among wildlife lovers and conservationists.

“We initially detected signs of gharials during a bird survey in 2023, but this year, tourists could actually see them in the Burapahar range. There have been at least two to three sightings this season, which is a very encouraging development,” the DFO added.

In addition to the gharial sightings, a golden tiger was also spotted in the Kohora range earlier this season and later in the Bagori range.

The national park, located in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra, typically closes annually during the monsoon months as rising water levels inundate large sections of the reserve.

This closure allows wildlife to move freely during the flood season and enables authorities to conduct road repairs and habitat management activities before reopening later in the year.