A one-horned rhinoceros grazes at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Nagaon district of Assam on Sunday, October 04, 2026. Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on Saturday reopened for the 2026-27 tourism season after the annual monsoon closure. (Photo: IANS)
Guwahati, October 6 (IANS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday highlighted the growing popularity of Kaziranga National Park, saying the famed wildlife destination witnessed a record tourist footfall of 4,58,618 visitors during the 2025-26 tourist season.
Taking to social media, CM Sarma said Kaziranga’s appeal as a major tourism destination continues to grow, linking the latest surge in visitors to the park’s extraordinary wildlife experience and its increasing attraction among tourists from across the country and beyond.
According to the figures shared by the Chief Minister, tourist footfall at Kaziranga increased by around 8.5 per cent during the 2025-26 season.
The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Assam’s biggest tourism attractions, has long been known for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses, along with elephants, tigers, wild buffaloes and several species of birds.
CM Sarma’s post also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent overnight stay at the World Heritage Site, suggesting that the visit has further contributed to the growing public interest in Kaziranga.
“Kaziranga’s appeal keeps growing!” CM Sarma said in his social media post, adding that following PM Modi’s stay, the park welcomed a record 4.58 lakh visitors in the last tourist season.
The rise in tourist numbers comes as Assam continues to position wildlife and eco-tourism as key drivers of the state’s tourism economy.
Kaziranga, located across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra, remains the centrepiece of Assam’s wildlife tourism circuit. The increase in footfall is also significant for local communities and businesses dependent on tourism, including hotels, homestays, transport operators, guides, safari services and handicraft sellers.
The state government has in recent years sought to expand Assam’s tourism potential by promoting its national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, cultural heritage and natural landscapes.
With Kaziranga continuing to attract record numbers, the latest figures underline the park’s growing status as one of India’s most prominent wildlife tourism destinations and a major gateway for visitors seeking to experience Assam’s unique biodiversity.
