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Kaziranga, Dec 24: To enhance agro-tourism and provide a more immersive rural experience, the Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park has introduced bullock cart and horse cart rides for visitors.

This initiative was officially launched on Tuesday by Shantanu Barthakur, an advocate at the Guwahati High Court, alongside Riki Gogoi, a professor from Guwahati University.

The goal of this program is to familiarize tourists with Assam’s traditional transportation methods while diversifying non-wildlife tourism options in the Kaziranga area.

Akhil Gogoi, president of Raijor Dal and chairman of the Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park, emphasized that this initiative aims to expand tourism beyond the region's famous wildlife.

“We are introducing bullock and cow carts as traditional transport options, along with horse carts for a modern touch at the Orchid Park,” Gogoi stated during the launch event.

He described this initiative as a foundational step towards a broader array of nature and culture-based tourism activities in the area. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam tourism,” he remarked.

Gogoi highlighted the necessity for Assam’s tourism sector to adapt in order to support the rural economy, pointing out that relying solely on wildlife tourism is not sustainable in the long run.

“To keep tourism thriving, we must introduce new elements that benefit the rural economy. Our focus is on promoting agro-tourism and rural tourism, which will transform the tourism landscape of the state,” he explained.

Officials at the Kaziranga National Orchid Garden anticipate that this initiative will not only offer visitors a taste of rural Assam but also create job opportunities for local residents.

Barthakur noted that the Orchid Garden has been dedicated to showcasing Assam’s cultural richness and rural lifestyle to tourists.

“Visitors get an authentic experience of Assam as soon as they enter the Orchid Garden. The introduction of bullock carts and horse carriages is expected to attract even more tourists,” he added.

Gogoi also revealed plans to roll out additional experiential tourism activities in Kaziranga soon, including trekking, cycling, and bird watching.