This Dibru-Saikhowa National Park guide is for travellers heading to the far-eastern corner of Assam, where the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers braid into a world of water, grass and silt. The park sits in Tinsukia district, reached largely by boat, and rewards patience rather than a tick-list. Here you plan around the river, not the road: feral horses on the grass islands, winter waterbirds, Gangetic dolphins and the slow turn of a wooden boat at first light.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a riverine wetland-and-grassland park in Tinsukia district, far-eastern Assam, lying between the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers. It is best known for India’s only feral horses, winter migratory birds, Gangetic dolphins and boat safaris launched from Guijan ghat, about 12 km from Tinsukia town.
About the park and quick facts
Dibru-Saikhowa is a floodplain park, not a dry-forest one. It is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers in the north and the Dibru river in the south, a landscape of river islands (locally chapori, meaning a sandbar or grass island), swamp forest, cane and tall grass.
According to the Tinsukia district administration, the area was declared a biosphere reserve in 1997 covering 765 sq km, including a core zone of 340 sq km. The India Forum notes it was a reserve forest from 1890 and gained national park status in 1999. It is described as the largest salix (willow) swamp forest in north-eastern India.
The district administration lists an average elevation of roughly 110–126 m and annual rainfall of 2,300–3,800 mm, which is why the river runs the calendar here. Assam Tourism, for reference, cites a park area of around 425 sq km; figures vary by source and zone, so treat the exact number as indicative.
Best time to visit
The clear window is winter and early spring. Assam Tourism states the best time to visit is between November and April, when migratory birds arrive and the water drops to safe, navigable levels. The monsoon brings heavy flooding across the floodplain, and the park is effectively off-limits for casual visits in the wet months.
| Period | Conditions | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| November–February | Cool, dry; peak birding; low, calm water | Migratory birds, dolphins, feral horses, boat safaris |
| March–April | Warming; grass still manageable; fewer migrants | Resident birds, horses, photography, quieter boats |
| May–mid-October | Monsoon; rivers rise; widespread flooding | Generally avoid; access and safety limited |
Carry warm layers in December and January: river mornings are cold and the boat wind bites.
How to reach the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Almost everyone comes through Tinsukia, then drives a short way to a river ghat and transfers to a boat. Guijan ghat, roughly 12 km from Tinsukia town, is the usual launch point; Saikhowa ghat near Dhola is the second entry. There is no road that tours the park interior, so the boat is the safari.
| Mode | Detail | Approx. distance to Guijan ghat |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Dibrugarh (Mohanbari) airport is the nearest, per Assam Tourism | ~50 km to the park area; then road + boat |
| Rail | Tinsukia / New Tinsukia Jn; the Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani (12423) stops at New Tinsukia, per Indian Railways listings | ~12 km from Tinsukia town to Guijan ghat |
| Road | Taxis from Dibrugarh airport and Tinsukia; buses serve Tinsukia from Guwahati | Short drive to the ghat, then boat |
| Boat | Country/motor boats from Guijan or Saikhowa ghat into the river channels | The only way into the park interior |
Verify your train and flight live before booking: schedules to the Northeast change seasonally. If you are building a wider trip, see our Assam travel guide for context on the Upper Assam circuit.
The riverine ecosystem and feral horses
The park’s signature animal is its feral horse. According to Mongabay India, Dibru-Saikhowa is the only place in India with a wild, free-ranging feral horse population, with estimates of roughly 150–200 animals as of 2024. Local accounts hold that they descend from horses that strayed from army camps during the Second World War.
The horses live on the grass islands in the northern part of the park, around areas such as Churkey chapori. Mongabay also reports their future is uncertain: floods sweep animals away most years, grazing competition with village cattle is rising, and invasive grasses are changing the habitat. They are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed.
Beyond the horses, the floodplain shelters wild water buffalo, capped langur, and the endangered white-winged wood duck, which Assam Tourism notes the park was primarily set up to conserve. For a wider picture of India’s reserves, our overview of wildlife sanctuaries in India is a useful companion read.
Boat safaris and how they work
A boat safari here is simple in principle: you board a wooden country boat or a small motor boat at Guijan (or Saikhowa) ghat and move slowly along the river channels and around the islands, scanning the banks and water. There are no roads and no jeep safaris inside the core; the river is the trail.
Trips are usually arranged through your eco-camp, a local boatman, or the forest department, and range from a short two to three hour morning outing to a half-day loop. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and bird activity. A good boatman and a local guide make the difference, since wildlife is spread thin across a large, watery area.
| Experience | Where / how | Rough time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn river cruise | From Guijan ghat along the Dibru channel | 2–3 hours |
| Feral horse islands | Northern chaporis; longer boat + short walk on firm ground | Half day |
| Dolphin and bird watching | Main river confluence near Saikhowa | 2–4 hours |
| Maguri-Motapung Beel add-on | Wetland near the park by road + small boat | 2–3 hours |
Winter birding and Gangetic dolphins
Winter is when Dibru-Saikhowa fills with birds. Migratory waterfowl and waders arrive from November, and Assam Tourism describes the migratory birds as the park’s main draw in the November–April window. Sought-after species include the white-winged wood duck and a long list of grassland and wetland birds.
The rivers also hold the Gangetic river dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, which both Assam Tourism and the Tinsukia district administration list for the park. Dolphins surface briefly and unpredictably, so watch the calm water near channel junctions and be patient. Bring binoculars; a lot of the reward here is in the detail.
Maguri-Motapung Beel
Close to the park lies Maguri-Motapung Beel (beel means an oxbow lake or wetland), one of the region’s richest birding spots. Mongabay India describes it as an Important Bird Area of about 10 sq km that has supported well over 100 bird species, including threatened ones. Many visitors pair a park boat safari with a quiet paddle here.
The wetland carries a sober recent history. According to Mongabay India, a blowout at the nearby Baghjan oil well began with a gas leak on 27 May 2020 and a blowout on 9 June 2020; it took more than 173 days to cap. An inquiry it cites recorded heavy biodiversity loss in the beel. Recovery has been partial and uneven since, so treat the wetland gently.
A suggested two-day itinerary
Assam Tourism notes it usually takes about two days to cover the park properly. A relaxed plan based from Guijan:
- Day 1: Reach Tinsukia, transfer to Guijan ghat and your eco-camp. Afternoon short boat cruise for birds and dolphins; sunset on the river; night at a river camp or homestay.
- Day 2: Pre-dawn long boat safari toward the northern islands for feral horses and grassland birds. Return for brunch, then an afternoon visit to Maguri-Motapung Beel before heading back to Tinsukia.
- Add a day if you want a slower pace, better dolphin chances, or a side trip to Tinsukia or Dibrugarh.
Where to stay
Most stays cluster near Guijan ghat: small eco-camps, river camps and homestays, plus tea-estate bungalows in the wider area. Assam Tourism and the district page both note eco-lodges and homestays around the park; hotels proper are in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh. Rooms near the ghat are limited, so book ahead in the November–April season.
| Type | Where | Indicative ₹ band |
|---|---|---|
| Budget homestay / basic eco-camp | Guijan / near the ghat | ₹1,200–2,500 |
| Mid-range river camp / resort | Guijan area | ₹2,500–5,000 |
| Comfort hotel (base town) | Tinsukia / Dibrugarh | ₹3,000–6,000+ |
Camps near the ghat are often basic, with limited power and patchy signal. That is part of the experience; pack accordingly.
Food to try
Expect simple Assamese home cooking at camps and homestays. Look out for:
- Bhaat (steamed rice) with masor jhol (a light fish curry) — the river staple.
- Khar (a dish made with an alkaline extract, often with raw papaya or pulses) — a classic first course.
- Aloo pitika (mashed potato with mustard oil, onion and chilli) — comforting and common.
- Pithaa (rice-flour cakes) and laru (sweet balls), especially around festival time.
- Local Assam cha (tea) — you are in tea country; the estates are everywhere.
Tell your camp in advance about any dietary needs, as supplies near the ghat are limited.
Budget breakdown
The big variables are the boat and how far you travel to reach Tinsukia. The table below is a planning estimate for two days, per person, sharing a room, excluding long-distance transport to Tinsukia.
| Item | Indicative ₹ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night, mid-range) | ₹1,500–2,500 | Per person on twin sharing |
| Meals | ₹600–1,200 | At camp / homestay |
| Boat safari (shared) | ₹800–2,000 | Varies with boat size and hours; split across a group |
| Permit / entry | Reconfirm locally | Set by the forest department; see permits below |
| Local transfers | ₹500–1,200 | Tinsukia–Guijan taxi, Maguri visit |
| Rough total | ₹3,400–6,900 | Excludes travel to/from Tinsukia |
Permits and rules
Entry to Dibru-Saikhowa needs written permission from the park authority, and the forest department sets entry and boat charges. We could not verify an official current fee schedule from a primary source this session, so do not rely on a fixed figure; arrange your permit and confirm charges through your camp or the forest/tourism office before you travel. Secondary travel sites quote small per-person entry fees, but treat these as indicative only.
- No special Inner Line Permit is required for Indian citizens to visit Tinsukia and the park, but foreign nationals should confirm current requirements before travelling.
- Follow your boatman’s and guide’s safety instructions; wear the life jacket provided.
- Do not feed, chase or crowd wildlife, especially the feral horses and dolphins. Keep noise down.
- Carry out all waste. Avoid single-use plastic. Do not light fires on the islands.
If a rule, fee or timing here matters to your plan, reconfirm it with an official source close to your travel date.
Practical tips
- Connectivity: mobile signal is weak to absent inside the park and patchy around Guijan. Download maps and tell people your plan in advance.
- Cash and UPI: carry enough cash; ATMs and reliable UPI are in Tinsukia, not at the ghat.
- Health: the nearest hospitals are in Tinsukia; carry a basic kit, mosquito repellent and any personal medicines.
- Solo women: the circuit is generally calm, but the setting is remote and boat-based; prefer a reputable camp, travel in daylight on the water, and share your itinerary.
- Packing by season: November–February — warm layers, windproof, gloves for dawn boats; March–April — light cottons plus a cover for sun; always — binoculars, sun hat, repellent, a dry bag and sturdy sandals for muddy banks.
Responsible wildlife and the Baghjan reminder
This is a fragile floodplain under real pressure. Mongabay India documents how the 2020 Baghjan blowout damaged the nearby Maguri-Motapung wetland, and separately how the feral horses face flooding, grazing competition and invasive grasses. Your visit should tread lightly.
Keep a respectful distance, let the animals set the terms, and choose operators who do the same. Do not pressure a boatman to approach dolphins or horses closely. The quiet, unhurried approach is both kinder to the wildlife and, usually, the one that produces the best sightings.
Nearby places
| Place | Approx. distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Tinsukia town | ~12 km from the ghat | Base town, market, transport hub |
| Dibrugarh | ~50 km from the park area | Nearest airport, tea heritage; see our Dibrugarh travel guide |
| Tilinga Mandir (Bell Temple), Bordubi | ~17 km from Tinsukia | A Shiva temple hung with thousands of bells |
| Namdapha National Park gateway (Miao) | ~95 km from Tinsukia | Gateway to Namdapha in Arunachal; Deban entrance ~26 km further (separate permits apply) |
Frequently asked questions
What is Dibru-Saikhowa National Park famous for?
Dibru-Saikhowa is famous for India’s only wild feral horses, winter migratory birds, Gangetic river dolphins and the endangered white-winged wood duck. It is a riverine floodplain park between the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers in Tinsukia district, Assam, explored almost entirely by boat from the river ghats.
How do I take a boat safari in Dibru-Saikhowa?
You board a country or small motor boat at Guijan ghat, about 12 km from Tinsukia, or at Saikhowa ghat. Trips run from a two to three hour cruise to a half day. Arrange boats through your eco-camp, a local boatman or the forest department, and go at dawn or late afternoon.
When is the best time to visit Dibru-Saikhowa National Park?
The best time is November to April, when, according to Assam Tourism, migratory birds arrive and the rivers are low and calm. The monsoon from roughly May to October floods the floodplain, so avoid those months. December and January are cold on the water, so pack warm layers.
Are the feral horses easy to see?
Not always. Mongabay India estimates roughly 150–200 feral horses, living on the northern grass islands such as Churkey chapori. Seeing them needs a longer boat trip, a good local guide and some luck, as they are wild and range widely. Keep your distance and never try to approach or feed them.
Do I need a permit for Dibru-Saikhowa?
Yes. Entry needs written permission from the park authority, and the forest department sets entry and boat charges. Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit for Tinsukia; foreign nationals should check current rules. We could not verify a fixed fee this session, so confirm charges through your camp or the forest office.
How do I reach Dibru-Saikhowa from Dibrugarh or Tinsukia?
The nearest airport is Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), about 50 km away per Assam Tourism; the nearest railhead is Tinsukia / New Tinsukia. From either, take a taxi to Guijan ghat, roughly 12 km from Tinsukia town, then transfer to a boat. There is no road into the park interior.
Last updated and sources
Dibru-Saikhowa suits unhurried wildlife travellers who like boats, birds and big river landscapes over set-piece sightings. Go between November and April, build in two days, and let the river set the pace.
Last updated: 1 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Assam Tourism, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park; Tinsukia District Administration, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park; Mongabay India, The last feral horses of India and Three years after an oil well blowout, this Assam lake is slowly coping; The India Forum, The last feral horses of India; Indian Railways/NTES train listings for New Tinsukia. Accessed September 2026.
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