GUWAHATI: World Heritage Site Kaziranga is set to witness a new chapter in adventure and sports tourism with the launch of Kaziranga Ultra Trails (KUT), a trail-running event that aims to bring endurance sport into the unique landscapes of Kaziranga.
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The inaugural edition of Kaziranga Ultra Trails will be held on December 27, at Agoratoli, with the Kaziranga Endurance Foundation (KEF) organising the event in collaboration with the Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ATDC) and in association with Mind Over Miles.
A launch event was held in Guwahati on Saturday, September 12.
Organisers said the ultra-distance race in Kaziranga will be a calendar event going forward.
The inaugural edition will carry a total prize purse of about Rs 6 lakh across the three race distances and age categories.
Registrations will remain open until December 14, or until the available slots are filled, whichever is earlier.
The event will feature three race categories: 50 km, 25 km and 10 km, and organisers said it has already received an encouraging response from runners across the country and abroad.
Online registration opened on September 1 and has already attracted registrations from 16 Indian states and four countries, according to the organisers.
Unlike conventional road races, Kaziranga Ultra Trails has been conceived as an immersive experience where the landscape forms an integral part of the race.
Participants will run through the distinctive terrain around Agoratoli, experiencing open grasslands, wetlands, forest edges and expansive natural landscapes that define this part of Kaziranga.
“This is not just a race you finish; it is an adventure you live,” said Mriganka Hazarika, President of the Kaziranga Endurance Foundation.
“The idea behind Kaziranga Ultra Trails is to give a new dimension to Kaziranga tourism and particularly promote the Agoratoli Range as a destination. Through endurance sport, we want people to experience another side of Kaziranga and appreciate its landscape and character.”
At the launch event, wildlife rescuer, naturalist and advisor to the Kaziranga Endurance Foundation, Manoj Gogoi, said that when people around the world hear the name Kaziranga, they think only of its forests and wildlife.
However, people often overlook the surrounding environment and, more importantly, the role of local communities in conserving Kaziranga National Park.
The event comes as Assam increasingly looks to adventure and experiential tourism to complement its established wildlife and cultural tourism offerings. The race will be directed by Satish Gujaran, who brings two decades of running experience to the event. Gujaran is the only Indian to have completed 13 consecutive Comrades Marathons, one of the world's most recognised ultra-marathons.
“Our aim is to create an international-standard running event in a landscape that is unlike any conventional race venue,” said Pratibhu Dutta, Secretary of the Kaziranga Endurance Foundation and an experienced runner.
“Runners are increasingly looking beyond conventional road races and are seeking challenging terrains and distinctive destinations,” said Anupam Deka, Director, Mind Over Miles, an experienced trail and ultra runner who has completed the Comrades Marathon and several national and international endurance events.