Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged citizens to explore the unparalleled beauty of the landscapes and experience the warmth of the people in Kaziranga National Park during his first visit to the UNESCO world heritage site in Assam.

During his visit, Modi interacted with 'members of the Van Durga' (forest goddess), a dedicated team of women forest guards leading the charge in conservation and lavished them with praise.

"Their dedication and courage in safeguarding our natural heritage are truly inspiring", the Prime Minister said.

In a series of posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi expressed his admiration for Kaziranga National Park. Notably, Modi became the first sitting Prime Minister to visit the park since 1957.

"This morning I was at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Nestled amidst lush greenery, this UNESCO World Heritage site is blessed with diverse flora and fauna, including the majestic one-horned rhinoceros", he wrote in a post. "I would urge you all to visit Kaziranga National Park and experience the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes and the warmth of the people of Assam."

Kaziranga is a place where every visit enriches the soul and connects one deeply with the heart of Assam, according to the Prime Minister. The PM also shared glimpses of his interaction with the majestic elephants – Lakhimai, Pradyumna, and Phoolmai – feeding them sugar cane.

Certain facilities at the park - such as jeep safaris and elephant rides - were closed to visitors in the Kohora range from Thursday to Saturday due to the Prime Minister's visit.

The park, primarily known for the rare one-horned rhino, is largely seen as a symbol of tourism in Assam.

A day ahead of the Prime Minister's visit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave a "sneak peek" of fauna species that awaited the Prime Minister at Kaziranga.

This year, the park reportedly welcomed nearly 1.8 lakh visitors, comprising both foreign and domestic tourists, resulting in an estimated revenue of around Rs 4.58 crore. Notably, tea tourism has been introduced in the park this year to attract more visitors.

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