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National Park | Wildlife Sanctuaries

Maharashtra Forest with the diversity of climate and topography varying from arid desert and tropical rain forest to mountain range over 4000 feet in altitude is reflected in its rich flora and fauna. The land of tigers, panthers, bison, deer and antelopes, wld boars, bears, blue bull, great Indian bustards has many challenges - invariably pleasant. Traverse through the thick virgin rain forests to arid landscapes; enjoy the diversity of flora and fauna rarely encountered in such scale and magnificence.

Indian Board of Wildlife defines a National Park, an area dedicated by status for all time, to conserve the scenery and natural and historical objects of national significance, to conserve wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of same, in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. 

Maharashtra has five National Parks. Well known Tiger haunts of Tadoba, Gugamal and Pench are National Parks as well as three Project Tiger reserves of the state. Other two National parks are Navegaon National Park at Bhandara & Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai metropolis. 

Tadoba national Park (116.55 Sq. Kms.) - Andhari wildlife sanctuary (508.85 Sq. Kms.) together form the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (625.40 Sq. Kms.). The National Park derives its name from the local tribal God "Taru", whereas the Andhari river flowing through the forests gives the Sanctuary, its name.

Although the major attraction is the Tiger, the large herds of Chital, the stately Sambar, the elusive Barking Deer, the fleet footed Chausinga, the majestic Gaur, the robust Nilgai, the shy Sloth Bear, the whistling Wild dogs, the omnipresent Wild Boar, and the stealthy Leopard make lasting impressions on the visitors to this Reserve.

As the night falls the Small Indian Civet, the Palm Civet, the Ratel, the Flying squirrel make their presence felt. Hyenas, Wild Boars, Spotted Deer, Barking deer, Gaurs, Blue bulls, Four horned Antelopes, Indian Pangolins, Porcupines and Common Langoors are main wild animals found in this national park.

Best time to visit: Animals are best sighted in the month from February to May.

How To Get There
Nearest Air port: Nagpur ( 155 Kms.)
By Rail: Chandrapur (Delhi-Chennai main line) is the nearest railway station (45 Kms.) 
By Road: Chandrapur (45 Kms.) and Chimur (32 Kms.)

Melghat Tiger is located in Chikhaldara and Dharni tehsils of Amaravati District in Satpuda hill range.

This tiger reserve of 1676.93 Sq. km. was founded in 1974 with objectives of maintaining viable tiger population and preserve the national heritage for posterity. 

There are 750 species of plants in the area. There are 260 species of birds in the published checklist. Serpant eagle, Paradise Flycatchers are commonly seen in the area. The area is rich in wild mammals. Tiger, Leopard, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Jackal, Hyaena, Chausingha, Sambar, Gaur, Barking, deer, Wild boar, Mondeys are commonly seen. Ratel, Pangolin, Cheetal, Mouse deer are rarely seen. There are about 25 types of fishes, many varieties of Butterflies.

Best time to visit: October to June.

How To Get There
Nearest Airport: Nagpur(225 kmw.)
Nearest Railway: Badnera / Amravati (110 kms.)
By road: The Tiger Reserve is approachable by State highway from Paratwada to Dharni. Semadoh village has Nature Interpretation facility. Tourists can reach at Semadoh from Badnera / Amaravati ( 100-110 kms.) within 3 hours by road.

25th Tiger Reserve of India, Pench National Park is located in Ramtek tehsil of Nagpur. The park nestles in a picturesque setting of hills and dales. Being close to Nagpur city, it bids fair to be a popular tourist center, not only on account of wildlife therein, but also due to scenic beauty of park, to which meandering Pench river lends special charm. nature exhilarates and if it is the art of God one will truly behold it here. There are several low lying gradual hill ranges of satpura fringing this river. In summer the river retains water in pools strewn along its bed, locally known as doh. To the east lies Golia Pahar about 670 meters above the main sea level, which is the highest hill in Nagpur district. 

The common animals in this sanctuary are Common Langur, Jackal, Wild dog, Sloth bear, Indian Grey Mongoose, Striped Hyaena, Tiger, Leopard, Jungle cat, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Indian Bison, Nilgai, Chausinga, Large Brown Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Pangolin.

Best time to visit: February to April

How To Get There
Nearest Airport: Sonegaon, Nagpur (78 Kms.)
By Rail: Nagpur (70 Kms.)
By Road: Ramtek (35 Kms). Regular bus service is available from Nagpur.

Navegaon National Park is located in Navegaon, Gondia. Nature here is wreathed in smiles, with the peerless Navegaon Lake spreading its silvery mirror neath the mountains over an expanse of 11 sq. km. The crystal-clear sheet of water presents a scene of sparkling loveliness specially on a moon-lit night. The water impounded by the dam at Itiadoh, not far away from Navegaon, would greatly enhance the picturesque beauty around. There is an interesting legend about Navegaon Lake. It is said to have been built by one Kolu Patel Koli at the beginning of the eighteenth century. He is now defined as Kolasur Deo and his shrine is on one of the peaks surrounding the lake. The peaks are known as sat bahini or the 'seven sisters'. It is believed that these deities helped Kolu in building the lake. On the fringe of the lake is an idol of Hanuman, the deity of strength, whose feet are said to go below the embankment.

Tigers, Panthers, Bisons, Sambars, Nilgais, Chitals, Wild boars, Sloth bears, and Wild dogs are main wild life species in this national park .

Best time to visit: April to May

Entry timings: 0400 hrs. to 1900 hrs.. During the rest hrs. entry in the national park is strictly prohibited.

How To Get There
Nearest Airport: Nagpur (150 Kms.)
By Rail: Deulgaon on Chandrapur-Gondia Railway line is the nearest railway station (2 kms.)
By Road: Navegaon (10 Kms.) is the closest town.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, commonly known as Borivali National Park is the miraculously preserved green oasis in the center of urban sprawl. This national park is "one of the very few" that is surrounded by a metropolis like Mumbai , yet sustaining sizable population of big cats like panthers. The rich and diverse forest holds more than one thousand species of plants, 40 species of mammals, 251 of birds, covering migratory, land and water birds, 38 species of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians besides a large variety of fishes. 

The national Park is a bird watcher paradise. From the tiny Tickell's flower pecker (small bird in India), many species of sun bird (humming birds) to the majestic white bellied sea eagle, it is virtual visual feast with birds like paradise flycatcher, the elusive Trogon, many species of Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and Drongos. The continuous calling of large large green barbet, the wildly screeching parakeets, the metallic calls of the Racket-trailed Drongo, the musical call of the Blue flycatcher or the extremely melodious some of the Malabar whistling thrush or the familiar refrain of the Spotted babbler are just a few facets of nature's symphony in this forest.

The Reptilian world is well represented from Crocodiles in Tulsi lake to Monitor lizards to Pythons, Cobras, Russess' viper, Bamboo pit viper and the extremely rare Ceylonsese cat snake recently discovered by the staff of Bambay National History Society. Smaller reptiles add to the wonder of this part. The invertebrate world from Crabs to Spiders to insects, Giant wood spiders, Signature spiders, Black wood spider with their large webs in monsoon are a real treat. The insect world from Silk cotton bugs to Beetles to various kinds of Mantis.

The Butterfly world is represented in such a fascinating range of sizes and colours, from the spectacular Blue Mormon to the phenomenal artist of camouflage the Blue Oak leaf, the bright jezebels and Large Yellow and White Orange tips, Monarchs, Egg flies, Sailers are some of the many attractive butterflies one can find here. 

Archeological Features: The Kanheri caves located well within the park area is a major point of interest, presenting a accessible and interesting glimpse of the history and the culture of Buddhist India. Most of these 109 Buddhist caves, chiseled out of the volcanic rock are simple small chambers, known as viharas (cells for monks). A few are larger and deeper chambers known as chaityas (for congregational worship). 

The main one which has colossal figures of standing Buddha, 7 m. in height, on each side of the entrance porch, a colonnade of 34 pillars surrounding the interior halls and a overtopped stupa (shrine) bat the far end, all carved from the stone in place. These caves are dated from 1st century B.C. to 9th century A.D., indicating a well organized Buddhist establishment of monks existed on an ancient trade route connecting a number of trade centers & Indian ports. In this area there are nearly more than 100 inscription, out of these, three are in Pallavis, two in sanskrit, one in Devnagri & rest are in Brahmi script.

Best Time to Visit: Park is unique in nature to call a particular time as the best time. For sheer enjoyment of greenery, wilderness, tiny waterfall and stream, monsoon is best time. For bird watching and general viewing November to February is ideal. Serious mammal tracking is possible in April -may when water supply is limited. 

How To Get There
Nearest Airport: Mumbai -15kms.
By Rail: Mumbai to Borivali is 30 kms by train on western railway route. Sub urban trains to Borivali are available on Western Railway on every 5 minutes.
Nearest Road way: Borivali is near Mumbai octrai post on Mumabi - Ahemdabad highway.

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