Orchid park and an Assamese village lunch
The hours between morning and afternoon drives can feel long at a safari lodge, and this outing fills them well. The orchid park at Durgapur village, a few minutes from Kohora, was set up by local people and displays several hundred species of orchids native to the North East, along with gardens of local rice varieties, fish, bamboo, cane and fruits.
Guides explain how communities use these plants, and a small cultural programme often follows, with young dancers performing Bihu to drum and pepa, the buffalo-horn pipe. Its scale is modest, but it is warm and community-run, and the orchids are at their best from March to May.
We then sit down to an Assamese meal: rice, masor tenga, a light sour fish curry, khar, an alkaline dish of raw papaya or greens, duck or chicken, and pitha. Diphlu River Lodge can also arrange a meal in a Mising or Assamese village home nearby, if you prefer something more personal.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
What is the Kaziranga orchid park?
The Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park is a community-run garden at Durgapur, near Kohora, displaying several hundred native orchid species along with local rice, fish, bamboo and fruit collections. It also hosts cultural performances. It makes a good midday visit between safaris.
When do orchids flower at Kaziranga?
Many species flower from March to May, which is the peak, though some bloom in winter. Even out of season the park's other collections and the cultural programme are worth an hour. Combine it with lunch for a relaxed break between morning and afternoon drives.
What Assamese food should I try near Kaziranga?
Try masor tenga, a light sour fish curry, khar, an alkaline dish, duck with ash gourd, pork with bamboo shoot, and pitha rice cakes. Assamese food is mild compared with much Indian cooking and relies on mustard oil, herbs and sourness rather than heavy spice.
Also in Kaziranga National Park
More hours to plan around
