12 Jan, 2026

Night Skies, New Possibilities: Kaziranga Moves Towards Astro Tourism

The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is exploring astro-tourism by piloting a new model, which allows visitors to do low-impact tourism in addition to enjoying nature. The new model was initiated on January 5 and 6 with a two-day training camp called "Cosmic Kaziranga - Stargazing & Astro-guide Training Camp" held at Rhinoland Park in the Burrapahar range. Through programme activities, young participants, participants who are actively involved in the conservation profession as well as women forest frontline staff, and experts in astronomy worked in collaboration with one another to develop recommendations for how to responsibly use stargazing and astro tourism as a tool to expand tourism in Kaziranga while protecting the area's delicate ecosystems.

How Astro Tourism Is Taking Shape at Kaziranga

The establishment of the camp helped to formalise astro tourism development for Kaziranga. The camp sought to highlight dark skies as an important resource similar to other natural resources, such as the forests and wetlands.

The camp aims to train local youth as potential astro-guides and create an opportunity for them to "learn and earn" through the astrotourism & stargazing experience.
Astro tourism and star gazing offer local people a chance to become engaged with astronomy and their local environment by using their knowledge of astronomy and their ability to navigate the night sky for both personal development as well as for commercial purposes.
Astro photography techniques will allow for artistic expression and will provide a means for local people to engage with visitors through creative arts.
Stressing the need for the controlled use of light and sound pollution to protect wildlife behaviour and visibility of the night sky.

Through the Telescope: Assam After Dark

Astro Tourism in Kaziranga National Park

Expert presenters opened with how astrotourism in Kaziranga is a sustainable, low-impact form of tourism that will operate as a sustainable extension of existing safari-based tourism in Assam. Beginning with an introduction to the solar system, planetary features, and stars, participants were guided through direct experience of using a telescope to observe the amazing night sky, allowing the forest surrounding the park to become a natural observatory.

The evening programs provided opportunities for participants to identify constellations and create stories about them while they lay on their backs, watching an immersive Starscape; one that will probably not be seen again in an urban setting. Eyepieces were affixed to a telescope so participants could experience viewing through a telescope at the same time as the starscapes, illustrating how guided nighttime sky viewing can create a stronger connection with nature while protecting vital wildlife areas.

During day two of the astro-photo workshops, experts taught attendees how to obtain photos of planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects with basic equipment, stressing that acquiring these photogaphic techniques will enable localised communities to diversify their income and ultimately improve the quality of tourism in Assam.

Presenters emphasized that responsible astrotourism needs to be ecologically sensitive. They pointed out that artificial light and noise impact the behavior of animals and compromise the darkness of the night sky that allows people to view and experience astrotourism. Examples from around the world (specifically, Chile, New Zealand, Namibia and Andaman Islands) demonstrated how regulated astrotourism can accomplish both conservation objectives and the desire for astrotourism experiences.

The Kaziranga concept includes conducting wildlife safaris and nature interpretations during the day, as well as guided stargazing in the evenings. This would help increase the length of stay for visitors and distribute the pressure of tourists more evenly, thereby using a more balanced means to promote wildlife tourism in Assam through sustainable methods.