There has been a refreshing undercurrent of change taking place beyond the limelight in the tourism sector in Assam that may revolutionize the scenario for the entire region in the days to come.The concept of promoting hitherto exclusive holidays in a few at those exquisite tea plantation bungalows, flag bearers of  opulence from the British era, located amid sweet smelling, lush green, sprawling tea plantations is gaining ground.These bungalows have already attracted considerable number of tourists who are always on the look out for something different and cut above the rest in lieu of the money they are going to spend.

It is a heartening change that heritage plantation bungalows are adding a new dimension to the region’s tourism that is hinged heavily on glimpses of the one-horned Asiatic rhino in Kaziranga National Park, the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, a dash of much exploited Shillong, enigmatic monasteries of snow-capped Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and for those who can afford both time and money wise a cruise along the mighty Brahmaputra river.

Thanks to a handful of visionary and enterprising people, a few enigmatic tea bungalows and family heritage property are now ready to welcome an exclusive club of tourists. Though not put on advertisement for popular consumption, words about the uniqueness attached to these are spreading like wildfire within a stratum of people with penchant for green, healthy and decent holidays close to the virgin nature. These properties have already become most sought after destination for the exclusive club.

One is talking about Thengal Manor, the Wild Masheer Lodge, Mancotta Chang and Basbari Lodge for those who crave for exclusivity that comes at a price.The 72-year-old but still majestic Thengal Manor, the ancestral property of tea planters from Khangiya Barooah clan, is one of the best option in the offer. It is an imposing and tastefully furnished mansion comprising spacious bedrooms with carpeted floors surrounded by verandahs facing flower bedecked sprawling gardens.

Located in an Assamese village called Jalukonibari about 30- minutes drive from the heart of historic Jorhat town in Upper Assam, Thengal Manor offers a very comfortable sojourn in the lap of the nature. Glimpses of greenery typical of rural Assam and soothing bamboo groves are omnipresent greeting the tourist as they open  the window of the plush suite in   the morning.Plush suites furnished with furniture carrying the royal touch of British era. It gives a first hand experience of the lifestyle of aristocrat Assamese tea planters that thrived in that age.

Wild Masheer Lodge is located at Adabari Tea estate near Tezpur at a distance of about 250 km from Guwahati. The estate was set up in the year 1900 equipped with a manager’s bungalow. The British Assam Tea Company initially owned it. Till 1962, the manager operated from the single-storied Burma teak house here. Subsequently, the office was shifted, and the sprawling bungalow left unoccupied.

The present owner of the    estate McLeod Russel in a venture with River Journeys & Bungalows of India Private Ltd has promoted the old place to an enchanting destination nestled in the virgin nature.The place has been done up in extremely good taste keeping in mind the requirement of the select band of visitors to occupy it. The property has been renamed Wild Masheer, and the bungalow christened The British Assam Heritage Bungalow that can accommodate 24 persons. The promoter is planning to expand the capacity to about 100 rooms soon.

The Bansbari Lodge is located at the entrance to the picturesque Manas National Park at the foothills of Bhutan Himalayas. Proximity to wildlife, a tiger project, a Tea garden, the awe inspiring Manas River flowing majestically down from the blue of Bhutan imparts a rare value to this place.It is now rated as one of the top five jungles lodges of the country. Besides a comfortable stay, the lodge offers game-viewing excursions either on elephant back or in an open jeep.

The Mancotta ‘Chang’ in Upper Assam’s tea belt in Dibrugarh is another jewel in the emerging heritage plantation tourism in the state. The elevated bungalow is over 150 years old. It belongs to the Jalans, one of the pioneer tea planters’ families in Assam. The family has converted two of their stately manager’s bungalows into guesthouses for select tourists. The bedrooms of these bungalows are so big that it may be compared to the size of a medium-size flats in any .of the booming cities in the country.

All these good things cropping up in the tourism scenario, the Kaziranga National Park, the rhino abode on the bank of Brahmaputra river, can expect to get a respite  from heavy rush of tourists every year. However, the park has remained the hot favourite for all section of tourists.

KazirangaNational Park, the world heritage site, received a total of 81,758 visitors during November, 2005 to March, 2006. This season witnessed an increase in number of domestic tourists that resulted in increase in the earning of the Park. Total 77,047 domestic tourists and 4711 tourists from abroad visited the park during 2005-06 season as against 67,719 domestic tourists and 5154 foreign tourists during the previous season.

The park earned Rs 66,20,168 till March 31 this year. The annual tourist season at Kaziranga ends on April 30 before the onset of Monsoon. The park authority hopes that the number tourists will increase in the coming season with improved infrastructure in place.

The rise in number of visitors to Kaziranga Park has been a boon to the neighbourhood economy with numerous tourists’ season lodging and eateries doing brisk business. Numerous local entrepreneurs are earning their livelihood by running jeep safaris for tourists whose swelling number makes it difficult for Kaziranga National Park authority as well as tourism department of the State to arrange for sufficient number of safaris.

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