Kaziranga, Assam: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has begun preparations for the upcoming 2026-27 tourism season, with repair and maintenance work being carried out across different parts of the park. Authorities are also conducting verification of vehicles and operators involved in jeep safaris ahead of the reopening.
According to Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Arun Vignesh, ongoing work includes repairing internal roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure required for the smooth operation of tourism activities.
The progress of the repair work, however, remains closely linked to weather conditions. Some areas of the park continue to have standing water, making it difficult for workers to undertake road-related activities.
Vignesh said work is currently progressing in two ranges, while the Burhapahar range continues to face challenges because of the presence of water. He expressed hope that favourable weather would allow the remaining work to be completed soon, with the park expected to reopen for tourists in October.
Kaziranga’s extensive wetland system is another factor affecting the pace of infrastructure work. The park’s wetlands are linked with a network of natural drains that play an important role in maintaining its ecosystem. According to the forest official, these drainage channels cannot simply be blocked while water remains in the area, which can consequently delay certain repair activities.
The preparations come after Kaziranga recorded a significant rise in tourist arrivals during the 2025-26 season. As many as 30,474 foreign tourists visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site up to March 31, 2026, marking the highest international tourist footfall recorded by the park. The corresponding figure for the 2024-25 season was 17,693.
Overall tourist attendance also increased during the 2025-26 season. Kaziranga registered 4,68,147 visitors up to March 31, 2026, compared with 4,06,564 visitors during the previous tourism season.
The park had opened for the 2026 tourism season on September 26, with the formal opening ceremony held at the Western Range in Bagori.
With infrastructure maintenance and safari verification now underway, authorities are working towards ensuring that Kaziranga is ready to welcome visitors when the new tourism season begins.
