#SaveRhinos
Dodging ourselves from the traffic of Shillong ( Refer previous blog for details ), we got onto Shillong Guwahati high way. As we started moving away from city, we could see queue of cars waiting on other side and it continued for almost 3-4 kms, that’s how much of traffic congestion was there.
We quickly fueled at nearest petrol pump and took a pee break over there itself and set our eyes over Pobitora. The plan was to cover up as much km as possible and stop when there is city around 20-30 km before the sanctuary.
It was all highway and roads were good to have good speed. On way we tried to get hold of some fruits so that if we reach late than that will be our dinner, but as it crossed 8 pm the shops had started closing, so without wasting much time we started moving ahead. We had to again give a double Toll of Rs 160 since we didn’t had fast tag.
At around 9: 30 pm we reached a junction where it mentioned Pobitora at 1 hr. distance and told us to leave the Guwahati road.
We were aware that post 10 pm everything closes and we wont get anything, so after 5 minutes we decided to stay at nearby lodge. It wasn’t clean but it was about staying at night and leaving early in the morning.
We ordered Chole masala and Roti’s and took two Amul kool. Without wasting much time we ate and slept as had to wake up early in the morning.
Next morning we woke up at 4 am and this was the first time we woke up so early and reason behind this was, we wanted to do elephant safari and we didn’t find anything for online booking, and localities advised us to reach before 6 am to have any chance to get ticket.
So we quickly ,got ready in camouflaged clothes and left room around 4:30 am. It showed reaching in 1 hour 15 mins, but as we took to the highways, there was hardly any visibility . It was all foggy and visibility was hardly 2 meters. It was hard driving. For a moment I thought we wont be making in time and than came another hurdle , a toll of Rs 230 . Usually people come to Pobitora from Guwahati and its a no toll road, but since we were going via Dispur we got the Sonapur Toll
Now bit irritated moved ahead , visibility was not getting any better at all but than just few km ahead we took a left , that road would go through villages to Pobitora. But at first left itself there was train gate, another hurdle. When you get so many hurdles you loose hope, but I am used to it and knows that at end its always good.
Wait was for 10 mins for Freight train to move and for gates to open. Foggy narrow roads, all dark and going through villages, seems a bit scary but that’s how it was and only our car was there.
We couldn’t see the sunrise due to heavy fog, but some brightness was there around 5:15 am and that’s when we finally had our first view on Brahmaputra river. We crossed the bridge, there wasn’t clear visibility but it just calmed and relaxed our crazy morning.
We entered and reached Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary gate around 5:45 am , only to find that the gate is closed, the office is closed and no one there except us. My sister took a small nap and I just roamed in the fog. At around 6:15 am one forest officer/ care taker came, He was a aged person, but very kind and told us that office will open at 6:30 am. More people started coming after 6:15 am
Officially the ticket office opened at 6:30 am sharp , and we were first to join the queue (happy that at least somewhere we were first 😜). But No. it was not our day yet.
The officials said there are pre-bookings for elephant safari and they will be sent first and if there is any vacant seat or no-show from pre-booking than only the on-spot people will get a chance. All slots for 6:30 am were full.
A bit sad, but were told to wait for 7:30 am slot, ( which is second and last slot ) there may be chances, or go for jeep safari. A bit saddened we sat, but there was only 1 % hope as we were first in the waiting list. Every on-spot people convincing the officials , but he just said book it online or people book via agencies.
“Info : I didn’t find it anywhere in Google , also their number was unavailable. What was told to me over there was to connect via Assam forest official site Assam Forest Government Site“
At 7 am the official gave a slight hope that the first 2 people are confirmed, but need to wait till 7:20 am. There was happiness, but still we didn’t wanted to celebrate as still 20 mins were there. We quickly had a tea from nearby resto and were just hanging around the ticket counter 😊.
Finally 7:20 am came and official told us to pay the amount and gave us the ticket. Some memories or happiness needs a scenario to be created so that it can embark in our memories forever and this was definitely one among it.
Rs 500 per Pax for elephant safari
All happy dancing we headed towards the elephant safari gate. It was our first time with Elephant safari. Getting the ticket itself made us so happy that the anxiety to do safari reduced 😜.
It was 3 person on one elephant taking us through a walk through high grass field giving us the glimpse of one -horned Rhinos.
There are about 106 Rhinos currently in Pobitora. Unlike Kaziranga here the chances of viewing Rhinos are high as this is the place where density is high.We could see many Rhino families staying together.
Smaller horned Rhino was female and bit bigger horn was male. Â Their gestation period is around 15 months, and birth interval ranges from 34 to 51 months hence its population is very less. Also when Brahmaputra river Floods they move towards the hilly region. Also the forest officers have made arrangement for their safety. Also they don’t litter in any place but they mark an area for waste and always go there to dump.
After a wonderful safari, it was time to relish the memory over some breakfast. Had Parathas and omlete and Assam style Dal and mandatory tea. We bought a couple of Rhinos carved in wood as souvenir and taking this memories it was end of our trip.
It was around 10:30 am and sister’s flight was around 3:50 pm , so we thought there was enough time to explore another place and what’s better than having blessings of Goddess to wrap wonderful trip. So we set our maps to Kamakhya temple.
Roads are fine, but discipline of driving and cleanliness of Assam not good as to Meghalaya. On way we could see Brahmaputra river, as we were driving all along it.
We took a break in middle to buy some Assam team and went ahead towards temple. But traffic was following us as well, but we had kept a buffer and planned it.
All along the way, we could see lots of railway stations, not sure if Dispur is the main railway connecting the north east.
The road from entrance till temple is all curvy climbing a hill, also giving a view of Guwahati. We reached the temple parking around 12:30 pm and decided to have quick darshan and leave by 1 pm, but things doesn’t go as planned 😊
There was long queue for darshan, so we decided to pray from outside and leave. Meanwhile the support worker of temple helped us to connect with the pandit of the temple. The Pandit did all the puja and gave us the teerth, we took the blessings of goddesses and in a hurry made ourselves towards the parking (still as souvenir bought a cloth towel that is used in Assam for puja ). It was late and we had to rearrange the things as well, and at that very moment we remembered the physical Aadhar card of my sister was with the rent car owner (It was taken as a security). It was already past 1 pm and still 1 hour to reach airport and to add more complications we were low on fuel.
It was all chaos, before we decided to just arrange the bags and quickly reach downhill towards main road. The main road showed all red on maps. We had a really long wait in Shillong a day before and that was still running in our mind. We were running cut to cut on time, but somehow through moving traffic we made course to petrol pump, filled Rs 200 petrol and dropped my sister at airport at 2:10 pm sharp,
“UIDAI downloaded e-Aadhar can act as physical card verification at airport”
But as we reached airport there were huge queues. Somehow she managed to check-in the baggage and pass the security (more time because of tea powder, which went through multiple testing)
“Guwahati airport is a bit busy , so better go a bit early, or you will need to rush badly”
While she was going through it, I just took car to near by hotel ( Manikanta , where we had our first breakfast of trip ). As her flight took off for Goa (via Hyderabad, where she got hardly 15 minutes to board flight 😊), I had my lunch and tea and than I decided to drop the car at parking.
First I booked a oyo room for myself just opposite to airport and than took the car, hearing songs and relishing memories explored through six mile area of Guwahati(which can be said as one of main happening place ).
Gave the car back and for first time booked Ola pilot.
The pilot was very informative, but I was too tired to grasp all info .He dropped me to my room near airport. I was so tired that I got fresh , booked my flight (Guwahati – Delhi – Goa) for next day morning and fell asleep, only to wake up in morning and making my way towards airport to say Bye Bye to this trip.
Thanks everyone for reading till here. If you like please share and signing off until next destination 😊
Travel Diary 