Historical Significance

The history of Kaziranga began during British rule in Assam. When Lady Mary Victoria Curzon, wife of British administrator Lord Curzon, visited the region of Kaziranga, she heard about the presence of the rare one-horned rhinoceros. However, she couldn’t spot one during her visit. Moved by this, she urged her husband to take steps to protect the animal. As a result, on 1st June 1905, Kaziranga was declared a proposed reserve forest covering an area of 232 sq. km.

Later in January 1908, the area was expanded by 152 sq. km and officially recognized as a reserved forest. In 1916, it was declared a Game Sanctuary, and in 1950, Kaziranga was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary. To curb poaching, the government passed the Assam Rhinoceros Bill in 1954. Subsequently, under "The Assam National Park Act," 1968, and finally on 11th February 1974, Kaziranga was officially declared a National Park.

In December 1985, UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site, recognizing its global importance. Later, in 2006, it was also notified as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.

Origin of the Name:

Several fascinating legends surround the origin of the name Kaziranga. According to one popular piece of folklore, a Karbi youth named Kazi fell in love with a girl named Ronga. However, their families did not accept their relationship. As a result, both of them disappeared into the dense forest. The sanctuary was later named Kaziranga, combining their names, as a tribute to their love.

Another legend suggests a linguistic origin. In the Karbi language, "Kazi" means goat, and "Ronga" is similar to the Assamese word “ronga,” meaning red. So, Kaziranga might mean “the land of red goats.”

A different tale tells of an old couple, an elderly woman named Kazi and an old man named Ranga, who once lived in this region. Over time, the place came to be known as Kaziranga, inspired by their names.