GUWAHATI | Kaziranga National Park has attracted around 22,000 visitors in the first 26 days of the 2026-27 tourism season, which began on October 3, with the Forest Department considering opening the Burhapahar Range to accommodate the growing tourist rush.

Of the total visitors, around 400 were foreign tourists, while the overall footfall rose sharply during the Durga Puja holidays and exceeded the figure recorded during the corresponding period last year, Divisional Forest Officer Arun Vignesh said on Thursday.

“Till now, 22,000 tourists have visited the national park, of whom around 400 are foreign tourists. The footfall increased during Durga Puja and is higher than last year,” he said. Currently, the Kohora, Bagori and Agoratoli ranges are open to tourists. With visitor numbers continuing to rise, the department is considering opening the Burhapahar Range as well.

“As tourist footfall is rising, we are thinking of opening the Burhapahar Range,” Vignesh said. He also confirmed that elephant safaris would resume on November 1, in keeping with the park’s annual schedule.

“Every year, we open the elephant safari on November 1, and this time as well, we will open it on November 1,” he added.

Kaziranga reopened for the 2026-27 tourism season on October 3, with Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and Agriculture Minister Atul Borah marking the occasion. At the time, Mallabaruah said visitor numbers at the UNESCO World Heritage Site had been increasing consistently and expressed hope that the park would set another tourism record this season.

Kaziranga recorded its highest-ever foreign tourist footfall during the 2025-26 season, with 30,474 international visitors reported up to March 31, 2026. This marked a substantial rise from the 17,693 foreign tourists recorded during the 2024-25 season.