The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, in Jorhat district, Assam, is the only place in India where you can reliably hear and see the western hoolock gibbon — the country’s only ape. It is a small, dense patch of semi-evergreen forest crossed by a railway line, and a guided dawn walk here is one of the most rewarding wildlife mornings in Northeast India. This guide covers the primates, the canopy-fragmentation issue, the best season, how to reach from Jorhat, permits and ethics.
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a roughly 21 sq km protected forest in Jorhat district, Assam, home to the western hoolock gibbon (India’s only ape) and six other primate species. According to the official Assam Tourism portal, it lies about 25 km from Jorhat town. Visit on a guided morning walk, October to April, to hear the gibbons’ loud territorial songs.
Key takeaways
- Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, in Jorhat district, Assam, is the only sanctuary in India with seven primate species, per Assam Tourism — and the only Indian home of the western hoolock gibbon, the country’s sole ape.
- A Wildlife Institute of India study reported 125 gibbons in 26 family groups in its focus area as of 2023; earlier sanctuary censuses recorded 106 individuals in 2008–09 and 77 in 2019.
- A single-track railway, dating to the British era, cuts the forest and leaves a canopy gap of up to 50 metres that gibbons cannot cross; artificial rope canopy bridges were installed in February–March 2025.
- The sanctuary is about 25 km from Jorhat town (Assam Tourism) and roughly 5 km from Mariani railway station; the nearest airport is Jorhat.
- The best months are October to April; go at first light, on foot with a forest guide, because gibbons are arboreal, shy and most vocal soon after dawn.
- Exploring is on foot only; keep your distance, stay quiet, and carry water and leech protection in the wetter months.
About Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a compact evergreen forest of about 20.98 sq km (2,098.62 hectares) in Jorhat district, Assam, surrounded by tea estates and villages. The forest was first set aside as a reserve forest in 1881. According to Assam government notifications, it was constituted a wildlife sanctuary on 30 July 1997 as the “Gibbon Sanctuary, Meleng” and renamed Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary on 25 May 2004. The name is spelled Hoollongapar, Hollongapar or Hoolongapar across sources.
The sanctuary sits at a low elevation of about 100–120 metres on the alluvial plain near the Bhogdoi River. It is classed as Assam plains alluvial semi-evergreen forest, with tall hollong (Dipterocarpus retusus, the Assam state tree, which gives the sanctuary its name) forming the upper canopy and nahar (Mesua ferrea, Assam’s state flower tree) dominating the middle layer. The Assam Tourism portal records 219 bird species alongside the primates.
| Location | Jorhat district, Assam; about 25 km from Jorhat town (Assam Tourism) |
|---|---|
| Area | About 20.98 sq km (2,098.62 ha) |
| Status | Wildlife sanctuary (notified 1997; renamed 2004) |
| Famous for | Western hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape; seven primate species |
| Forest type | Semi-evergreen; hollong and nahar canopy |
| Nearest railhead | Mariani (about 5 km); Jorhat Town station also nearby |
| Nearest airport | Jorhat (Rowriah) |
| Best season | October to April |
The seven primates, and India’s only ape
The sanctuary protects seven primate species, which the Assam Tourism portal describes as the only such sanctuary in India. The headline resident is the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), India’s only ape, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Gibbons are apes, not monkeys: they have no tail, move by brachiation (swinging arm over arm beneath branches), and live in small, monogamous family groups.
The other six are the Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis, Northeast India’s only nocturnal primate), the stump-tailed macaque, the northern pig-tailed macaque, the eastern Assamese macaque, the rhesus macaque and the capped langur. A 2023 Wildlife Institute of India team described Hoollongapar as holding among the highest primate diversity of any protected area in India.
Western hoolock gibbons are almost entirely arboreal and rarely come to the ground. They are frugivorous, favouring figs (ficus), and supplement fruit with leaves, shoots and flowers. A family is usually three to four animals — a breeding pair with a juvenile and an infant — and a female bears a single young about once every three years, per Roundglass Sustain (updated May 2025). Males are black; adult females are tan-brown. Groups defend territory with loud duet songs, usually delivered in the morning, which is what most visitors come to hear.
| Figure | Source and year |
|---|---|
| 125 gibbons in 26 family groups (focus area) | Wildlife Institute of India study, reported 2023 |
| 77 individuals | 2019 census, cited by Roundglass Sustain |
| 106 individuals | 2008–09 census, cited by Roundglass Sustain |
| Range-wide decline of more than 90% in ~40 years | Reported by Down To Earth / Mongabay |
These counts come from different surveys and focus areas, so they are not strictly comparable. Treat them as a range and reconfirm the latest census with the Assam Forest Department before quoting a single number.
The railway line and canopy fragmentation
A single-track railway, dating to the British colonial era, runs through the sanctuary and splits the gibbons’ forest, leaving a canopy gap of up to 50 metres that the animals cannot cross. This is the sanctuary’s central conservation problem, because gibbons need continuous canopy to travel, feed and find mates. A 2006 census found most families on the larger side of the line and a small number isolated on a roughly 150-hectare fragment, cut off from the rest.
Conservation responses have come from several quarters, and the picture is best stated neutrally. From 2006, the NGO Aaranyak and the Assam Forest Department planted native food and sleeping-tree saplings along a one-kilometre stretch; by about 2019 branches on either side had grown together to form a natural canopy link used by langurs, macaques and squirrels, as reported by Mongabay (2021).
The line, part of the Lumding–Dibrugarh broad-gauge section, is being electrified. As a mitigation measure, artificial rope canopy bridges designed by the Wildlife Institute of India, with the Assam Forest Department and Northeast Frontier Railway, were installed between February and March 2025. In May 2026, officials reported the first confirmed crossing of such a bridge by a male hoolock gibbon — described as possibly the first documented case over a railway line anywhere. Researchers have also discussed rerouting a short stretch of the track outside the sanctuary as a longer-term option. These are evolving measures; check current status before you visit.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is October to April, when the weather is dry and wildlife is easier to see, per the Assam Tourism portal. Many visitors and guides single out February and March for reliable gibbon activity. Whatever the month, early morning is the key window, because gibbons are most active and most vocal soon after first light.
Assam’s monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain — the sanctuary receives about 249 cm a year — waterlogging near the Bhogdoi River and swarms of leeches, so the forest is harder to walk then. Winter mornings are cool and misty; carry a light layer for the start of a dawn walk.
| Period | Weather | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Dry, pleasant, post-monsoon green | Comfortable walks, clear canopy views |
| December–January | Cool, misty mornings | Crisp dawn walks; carry a layer |
| February–March | Mild, dry | Often the best gibbon sightings and calls |
| April | Warming, humid | Still workable; go very early |
| June–September | Heavy rain, leeches, waterlogging | Least suitable; forest hard to walk |
How to reach from Jorhat
Reach the sanctuary from Jorhat, about 25 km away by road, per the Assam Tourism portal, using a hired taxi or private vehicle — the last stretch runs through tea estates. There is no public bus to the gate, so a car is the practical option. Jorhat is the usual base for food, fuel and stay.
By air, the nearest airport is Jorhat (Rowriah), which has domestic flights; Dibrugarh airport is a more distant alternative. By rail, Mariani Junction, roughly 5 km from the sanctuary, is the nearest station and a stop on the Lumding–Dibrugarh line; Jorhat Town station also has services. Specific flight and train schedules change, so reconfirm on the airline, IRCTC or NTES before you fix dates.
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jorhat town | About 25 km (Assam Tourism) | Taxi/car, roughly 45–60 min; main base |
| Mariani railway station | About 5 km | Nearest railhead; short taxi hop |
| Jorhat (Rowriah) airport | About 22–25 km | Nearest airport; hire a taxi |
| Dibrugarh | Longer road transfer | Alternative airport/rail hub |
Guided morning walks: what to expect
A visit to Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is a guided walk on foot, not a jeep safari, and the only way to explore is by trekking the forest trails with a staff guide. Arrive at or before opening so you are inside the forest around first light, when gibbons wake, feed and sing. You will often hear the whooping territorial duet before you see anything.
Spotting takes patience. Gibbons stay high in the canopy and move fast, so your guide listens for calls and rustling, then positions the group below. Expect to crane upward, use binoculars, and move quietly between sightings. You may also meet capped langurs, macaques, giant squirrels and plenty of birds; the slow loris is nocturnal and rarely seen by day. Allow two to three hours for the walk.
Permits, guides and fees
Entry and a forest guide are arranged at the range/forest office near the sanctuary, and visitors should contact the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Jorhat, in advance, as some accounts say prior permission is required. A local guide is effectively compulsory and strongly recommended, both to find the gibbons and to keep to the trails.
Entry and guide charges were not published on the official Assam Tourism or Assam Forest Department pages as of October 2026, and third-party figures conflict, so treat any amount you see online as indicative only and confirm the current fee at the office on the day. Do not rely on a quoted number for budgeting without checking. Booking a guide through your Jorhat hotel or a local operator the day before can save time at the gate.
Where to stay
Stay in Jorhat, the nearest town with a full range of hotels, since most visitors do a morning trip to the sanctuary and return. There is a basic forest inspection bungalow within the sanctuary, but it offers only minimal facilities and must be arranged through the forest department in advance.
Jorhat has budget lodges, comfortable mid-range hotels and a few heritage tea-bungalow and resort stays on surrounding estates. Book ahead in the October–April season and around Assamese festivals. The ranges below are planning estimates for a double room per night and should be reconfirmed at booking.
| Type | Indicative band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget lodge/guesthouse | ₹1,000–₹2,000 | Simple rooms in Jorhat town |
| Mid-range hotel | ₹2,500–₹5,000 | AC, restaurant, easy taxi access |
| Tea-bungalow/resort | ₹6,000–₹12,000+ | Heritage estate stays; book well ahead |
| Forest inspection bungalow | Nominal (forest dept.) | Basic; arrange in advance with the department |
Budget breakdown
A simple one-night Jorhat trip to the sanctuary can be done for roughly ₹4,500–₹8,000 per person on a mid-range basis, excluding long-distance travel to Assam. The biggest variables are your room and the taxi, which you can split in a group. The table below is a planning estimate, not a quoted price; reconfirm each line before you travel.
| Item | Indicative cost | Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (mid-range) | ₹1,500–₹2,500 | Double room split between two |
| Taxi (Jorhat–sanctuary return) | ₹800–₹1,500 | Shared car, round trip |
| Entry + guide | Reconfirm at office | Not published officially; pay on the day |
| Meals | ₹500–₹1,000 | Local restaurants in Jorhat |
| Buffer/incidentals | ₹500 | Water, tips, extras |
Rules and ethics
The single most important rule is to keep your distance and stay quiet, because gibbons are shy, easily disturbed and under pressure from habitat loss. Follow your guide, keep to the trails, and do not try to attract the animals’ attention. A calm, low-noise group sees far more than a loud one.
- Do not feed any animal, and never offer or leave food that primates could reach.
- Speak softly; switch phones to silent; avoid flash photography and sudden movements.
- Stay on marked paths and do not wander off to get closer — keep well back from the gibbons.
- Carry out all litter; single-use plastic should stay out of the forest.
- Do not play recorded gibbon calls to provoke a response.
- Respect the railway crossings and any canopy-bridge structures; do not loiter on the track.
Nearby places
Jorhat is a good hub for Upper Assam, with Majuli, the tea country and Kaziranga all within reach for a longer itinerary. Pair a gibbon morning with a river island or a wildlife safari to round out a trip. For a wider plan, see our Assam travel guide.
| Place | Distance from Jorhat | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Jorhat town | Base town | Tea estates, Gymkhana Club, food and stay |
| Majuli | By road + ferry via Nimati Ghat | Large river island; Vaishnavite satras, mask-making |
| Kaziranga National Park | Longer road transfer west | One-horned rhino, big cats, grassland safaris — see our Kaziranga National Park guide |
| Tea estates around Jorhat | Short drives | Estate tours, heritage bungalow stays |
| Sivasagar | North-east of Jorhat | Ahom-era monuments and tanks |
Practical tips
Plan the sanctuary as an early-morning outing and keep the rest of the day flexible. Mobile coverage is reasonable in Jorhat but patchy in the forest; download maps and carry a power bank. ATMs and UPI work in Jorhat town; carry some cash for the gate, guide and taxi, since card payment is not reliable there.
- Wear neutral, full-cover clothing and sturdy shoes; add leech socks and carry salt in the wetter months.
- Bring binoculars and a zoom lens — gibbons stay high in the canopy.
- Carry drinking water, as the walk is on foot and can take two to three hours.
- Start at or before opening; the gibbon calls fade as the morning warms.
- For medical needs, Jorhat town has hospitals and pharmacies; the forest has none.
- Solo and women travellers generally find Jorhat and the guided walk comfortable; still, go with a forest guide and tell your hotel your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary?
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is in Jorhat district, Assam, about 25 km from Jorhat town, per the Assam Tourism portal. It is roughly 5 km from Mariani railway station, and the nearest airport is Jorhat (Rowriah). The usual base is Jorhat, from where visitors take a taxi to the forest for a morning walk.
What is special about the gibbons here?
The sanctuary is the only Indian home of the western hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape, and the only sanctuary in India with seven primate species, per Assam Tourism. The gibbons are tail-less apes that swing through the canopy and sing loud territorial duets at dawn, which is the main reason visitors come early.
How many gibbons live in the sanctuary?
A Wildlife Institute of India study reported 125 gibbons in 26 family groups in its focus area as of 2023. Earlier sanctuary censuses recorded 106 individuals in 2008–09 and 77 in 2019. The figures come from different surveys, so treat them as a range and reconfirm the latest count with the Assam Forest Department.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time is October to April, when the weather is dry and wildlife is easier to see, per Assam Tourism; February and March are often best for gibbon activity. Go at first light, because gibbons are most active and vocal soon after dawn. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when heavy rain and leeches make the forest hard to walk.
Do I need a permit and a guide?
Yes, arrange entry and a forest guide at the range office, and contact the Divisional Forest Officer, Jorhat, in advance, as some accounts say prior permission is required. A local guide is effectively compulsory. Official entry and guide fees were not published as of October 2026, so confirm the current charge at the office on the day.
Why does a railway run through the sanctuary?
A single-track railway from the British colonial era crosses the forest and leaves a canopy gap of up to 50 metres that gibbons cannot cross, fragmenting their habitat. Conservationists planted a natural tree bridge from 2006, and artificial rope canopy bridges were installed in February–March 2025; the first confirmed gibbon crossing was reported in May 2026.
Last updated and sources
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary suits wildlife lovers, birders and anyone who wants to hear India’s only ape. Go between October and April, on an early guided walk, and travel light and quiet.
Last updated: 14 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Assam Tourism — Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary; Wikipedia — Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (notification dates, area, flora); Mongabay India — Saving India’s only ape (WII study, 125 gibbons/26 groups, 50 m canopy gap); Mongabay India — A bridge of trees (Aaranyak natural canopy bridge); EastMojo (Feb–Mar 2025 artificial bridges; May 2026 first crossing); Roundglass Sustain (gibbon ecology; 2008–09 and 2019 census figures). Accessed October 2026.
