Assam, The Buru, North Indian jungles!?

Cas · May 27th, 2008, 07:16

Hi I’m 23, Male and never travelled abroad alone but have for some time wanted to go and see India’s jungles. I would love to see Assam, the place described in the book ‘The Hunt for the Buru’. Before you laugh I’m not expecting to see the Buru but I would love to follow the footsteps of this expedition or at least part of it in the time I have to spare. If you have been to this area or attempted/succeeded in doing what I would like to try then I would very much like to hear from you and hear of your experiences. I plan to go in august for a month or maybe 2 depending on the monsoons. I am completely new to all this travelling malarkey and I may be making a big deal out of nothing but really want to see some “off the beaten track” Indian jungle wildlife and enjoy it 100 percent.
Thanks for reading,
Cassian

mikewill · May 29th, 2008, 00:21

Hi Cas

I haven't read the book, but I see it's set just after WWII (late 1940s / early 1950s). From the brief excerpt I read it only vaguely pointed to 'north Assam', so I'm not very clear exactly where it's set.

Things will have changed a fair bit since then, if the amount of deforestation going on now is anything to go by. There's also been a good deal of political unrest over the last twenty years and certainly this has had an impact too. I was in Manas NP in early 2006 and the populations of deer and other wildlife had been much reduced by illegal hunting while the park was in the hands of the separatists.

However, having said that, there is some great habitat in Assam still. Of course, Kaziranga NP is an amazing place (though mostly grassland rather than forest) and you could do much worse than go there. We went further north to Nameri, which is on the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The forest is a bit degraded in places, though within the park it's mostly OK.

I had planned to go further north and east to Dibru-Saikhowa and Namdapha but had our permission for the latter park pulled at the last minute. Namdapha is supposed to be fantastic forest, hardly visited by tourists, but it's in AP (would have been Assam in 1948 I think) and therefore requires special permits that are both tricky to get in advance and relatively expensive. Easiest to do in an organised group but very costly that way.

I've travelled through much of India and the north east has been a highlight. We definitely want to go back, so I'd recommend you visit. Your timing is going to be a problem though; the parks will be shut from April until October for the monsoon. Remember that the Brahmaputra flows through most of the length of Assam and is absolutely massive in the wet season.

Hope this is some help for a start - give us a bit more detail on what you want to do and I'm sure others will contribute too.

motorcycle monk · Jul 10th, 2008, 19:56

hey cas..m from assam and have been to most of the wild life sanctuaries and nps in and around assam..firstly, august is not a very good month to come down...heavy rains..i would suggest September for u to make a trip..the climate is much better...sightings much easier and permissions shouldnt be a problem around sept...if u need any help do lemme know

May 27th, 2008, 07:16	#1
Cas Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wales Posts: 10	Assam, The Buru, North Indian jungles!? Hi I’m 23, Male and never travelled abroad alone but have for some time wanted to go and see India’s jungles. I would love to see Assam, the place described in the book ‘The Hunt for the Buru’. Before you laugh I’m not expecting to see the Buru but I would love to follow the footsteps of this expedition or at least part of it in the time I have to spare. If you have been to this area or attempted/succeeded in doing what I would like to try then I would very much like to hear from you and hear of your experiences. I plan to go in august for a month or maybe 2 depending on the monsoons. I am completely new to all this travelling malarkey and I may be making a big deal out of nothing but really want to see some “off the beaten track” Indian jungle wildlife and enjoy it 100 percent. Thanks for reading, Cassian

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May 29th, 2008, 00:21	#2
mikewill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter, England Posts: 276	Hi Cas I haven't read the book, but I see it's set just after WWII (late 1940s / early 1950s). From the brief excerpt I read it only vaguely pointed to 'north Assam', so I'm not very clear exactly where it's set. Things will have changed a fair bit since then, if the amount of deforestation going on now is anything to go by. There's also been a good deal of political unrest over the last twenty years and certainly this has had an impact too. I was in Manas NP in early 2006 and the populations of deer and other wildlife had been much reduced by illegal hunting while the park was in the hands of the separatists. However, having said that, there is some great habitat in Assam still. Of course, Kaziranga NP is an amazing place (though mostly grassland rather than forest) and you could do much worse than go there. We went further north to Nameri, which is on the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The forest is a bit degraded in places, though within the park it's mostly OK. I had planned to go further north and east to Dibru-Saikhowa and Namdapha but had our permission for the latter park pulled at the last minute. Namdapha is supposed to be fantastic forest, hardly visited by tourists, but it's in AP (would have been Assam in 1948 I think) and therefore requires special permits that are both tricky to get in advance and relatively expensive. Easiest to do in an organised group but very costly that way. I've travelled through much of India and the north east has been a highlight. We definitely want to go back, so I'd recommend you visit. Your timing is going to be a problem though; the parks will be shut from April until October for the monsoon. Remember that the Brahmaputra flows through most of the length of Assam and is absolutely massive in the wet season. Hope this is some help for a start - give us a bit more detail on what you want to do and I'm sure others will contribute too.

Jul 10th, 2008, 19:56	#3
motorcycle monk Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: assam Posts: 1	hey cas..m from assam and have been to most of the wild life sanctuaries and nps in and around assam..firstly, august is not a very good month to come down...heavy rains..i would suggest September for u to make a trip..the climate is much better...sightings much easier and permissions shouldnt be a problem around sept...if u need any help do lemme know

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