Day 8
Day 8: After a good night's rest and buzzing with excitement, we woke up early for our 6:30 am elephant safari at Kaziranga National Park. True to form, we arrived early and passed time savoring kullad chai and browsing the curio store, which was surprisingly open and buzzing at that hour!
The elephant safari itself was a 45-minute howdah ride and simply unforgettable. Our elephant, Jaytara, kept us entertained with occasional playful antics until the experienced mahout firmly got her back on track. We did spot a few elusive rhinos during the ride - such close encounters made the safari truly magical.
Post-safari, breakfast featured rice sevai and the
obligatory adrak chai. Our day continued with a fascinating couple of hours at
the Kaziranga Orchid Park this time , which boasts the largest collection of
orchid species in India , 2000 - ranging
from the tiniest to the largest in the world. A knowledgeable young guide,
Afsana , led us through an enlightening
journey into the world of orchids. Here I request the reader to indulge me my multiple photos as it was irresistible.
Next, we visited the ethnic museum, where another engaging guide shared captivating stories about Assam's tribal life and traditions, many of which remain relevant today. A musical interlude followed at the folk instrument room, where a talented gentleman demonstrated his mastery over various instruments; Vaidy even got to try a few percussion instruments! Photo ops of course with K and S trying out the headgear which they had been itching to try out from the time we landed at Guwahati airport and saw them adorning the airport.
After some local shopping and refreshing fresh pineapple juice, we returned for lunch before embarking on an afternoon jeep safari. The wildlife sightings included rhinos, wild buffalo, numerous deer, wild boars, and a stunningly colorful bird identified as Neelkanth by our guide. We narrowly missed spotting a tiger, but the hours spent immersed in the jungle under blue skies and birdsong were unforgettable. Special mention of the multiple hues of the sky around sunset. No palette can recreate the magic of a beautiful sunset . . .
Back at our accommodation, we had tea and snacks before heading to a special evening event at the Orchid Garden. Talented youngsters treated us to a vibrant musical performance showcasing the best of Assam's culture - an enchanting two-hour experience that felt like a colorful dream. Because of limitation of space I have not uploaded the VDOs. The pictures do not do much justice to the quality of art and culture that was on display that evening
Chef K had thoughtfully prepared kichdi for dinner before we
left for the cultural extravaganza , allowing us to end the day comfortably.
Tomorrow we set off for Shillong, excited for another long drive and curious
about what our next Airbnb will bring. This day was a delightful blend of
wildlife, culture, and local flavors, leaving us eager for more adventures
ahead.
Though our group couldn’t cover this leg of the journey, experiencing it purely as a reader through your vivid storytelling felt like we were right there, laughing, trudging and feasting with you.
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