Bhutan: Royal Manas National Park

Royal Manas National Park is the first and largest national park in Bhutan, established in 1966, to protect its priceless biodiversity. It borders India’s Manas National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam) to the south, creating a transboundary conservation area. The park protects a range of ecosystems from subtropical plains to semi-evergreen forests, supporting over 900 species of plants and 426 species of animals. The Manas River cuts through the park. The park is home to iconic species like Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, and one-horned rhinoceros (while we didn’t spot tigers or rhinos – we did get to see elephants and also the capped langur (another rare species of primates). Oh, and we also saw the yellow-throated marten! The forests are rich with orchids, ferns, and towering trees, adding to the lush jungle-like feel.