Maharashtra Wildlife

Maharashtra is home to many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. These national parks and sanctuaries are home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Thanks to the state government, these parks are well safeguarded and try to upgrade with every year to attract foreign and domestic tourists.

Modern amenities such as jeep rides, night safaris, library and audio-visual facilities, comfortable accommodation and efficient transport are also available at these parks at a nominal charge. Most of the sanctuaries and the park have lakes with serene beauty.

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, Tadoba National Park, Chikhaldhara, Dajipur, Bharmragarh Wild Life Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Tipeshwer, Bor Wildlife Sanctuary are the important sanctuaries in Maharashtra. Pench Jungle camp is a special accommodation facility available at the Pench National Park, which is located on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary has many types of wild animals like leopard, jungle fowl, wild boar and sloth bear, barking deer, blue bull, peacock and flying squirrel. The entire area is covered with the moist deciduous mix forests. Gond-Madia tribes are the people who are residing in and around the Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

They are still leading their primitive life, mainly depending on the forest for their day-to-day needs. The local dialect is Madia and Gondi. Hemalkasa Lok Biradari Project run by Dr Prakash Amte is the other place of interest around the sanctuary.

February to May is the best time to visit. Nagpur is the closest airport (370 km), while nearest railway station is Ballarpur (197 km). Nearest main bus stations are Aheri (102 km), Ballarpur and Chandrapur (212 kms).

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Hingni in Wardha, Maharashtra. It covers an area of 61.10 sq km. It includes 3,237 hectares of Reserve Forest, 2,213 hectares of Protected Forest, and 660 hectares of Unclassified Forest.

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with southern mixed dry deciduous forest. Teak, ain, tendu and bamboo are the main species of flora in this sanctuary.

Tigers, panthers, bisons, blue bulls, chitals, sambars, peacocks, barking deers, chinkara, monkeys, wild boars, bears and wild dogs are the important faunas of the sanctuary.

April to May is the best time to visit of this sanctuary. Nearest railway station is at Wardha (35 km), while Nagpur is the nearest airport (80 km). Hingni (5 km) is the nearest bus station.

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is home to nearly 131 species of wild animals like tiger, leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear and wild dog. Many of the species are included under the endangered species' list like two species of bird, two species of reptiles, Indian python and common Indian monitar. Wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, blue bull, jungle cat, jackal, peacock, jungle fowl and flying squirrel are also found in this sanctuary.

Tribals of Gond community are local people in and around the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary. Local language is Marathi, Telugu, Madia and Gondi. Prashant Dham at Chaprala, Chaprala Temple and Markanda Temple are other places of other interest around the sanctuary.

Best time to visit this sanctuary between February and May. Nearest airport is at Nagpur (243 km), while nearest railway station is at Ballarpur (70 km).

Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary

Dajipur is situated on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Rugged mountains and dense forests surround this hilly area. This quiet little place is completely cut-off from human blare. Dajipur is home to bison, wild deer, chital, gawa and many more spectacular wild animals and birds.

Situating at 1200 metres above the sea level, it is an exciting and beautiful holiday getaway. An excursion in the vicinity to the Gagangiri Maharaj's Math makes a pleasant outing for the tourists. This scenic resort near the backwaters of the Radhanagari Dam is highly recommended for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts.

Nearest airport is at Belgaum, nearest railhead is at Kolhapur. It is 490 km away from Mumabi, while 80 km from Kolhapur. But it is only 30 km from Radhanagari.

Navegaon National Park

Navegaon is a very popular forest resort in the Vidarbha region. This eastern most part of Maharashtra was built in the 18th century. There is also a picturesque lake that situates amidst the green hills of Navegaon. There is a watchtower at Navegaon National Park; from there one can get a panoramic view of the surrounding forest.

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon is home for almost 60% of the bird species found in the entire Maharashtra. Thousands of beautiful migratory birds flock the lake every winter. While enjoying the jungle safari, one can see leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, sambars, chitals and langoors.

One can also enjoy staying at a unique treetop house, riding a power or sailboat on the lake, are thrilling pastimes. Nearly 50,000 tourists visit this place annually. Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary (60 km), Itiadoh Dam (20 km), Tibetan Camp at Gothangaon (15 km) and Pratapgad (15 km) are the places of interest around the national park.

Nearest airport is at Nagpur (150 km), while nearest railhead is at Deulgaon (2 km). Nearest bus stand is Navegaon at a distance of 10 km.

Pench National Park

Pench National Park is located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which is at a distance of 70 km from Nagpur. The National Park covers an area of 257.26 sq km. It is covered with the southern topical dry deciduous forest. Pench National Park comes under the Project Tiger network for special reserves.

Tiger, panther, gaur, sambar, chital, barking deer, blue bull, macaque, langoor, wild boar, bear, wild dogs and civet cat are the wild animals which are found in this National Park. This undulating terrain is covered with small hills, steeply sloping on the sides.

For accommodation, there is Pench Jungle camp, which spreads out over 11acres with 12 Deluxe Safari style canvas tents, waterproof, pitched on a platform. There are also 4 spacious A/C rooms with attached toilets. All the rooms have attached bathroom, tiled, running hot and cold water, with LPG geysers, anti skid bathroom tiles. Billiards room, Pool table, Badminton courts, host of indoor games, swimming Pool with a filtration plant, Wildlife research center, Coffee maker in room and multi cuisine Restaurant are also there at the camp.

It is best to visit the Pench National Park between February and April. Nagpur is the nearest airport and railway station (70 km).

Tadoba National Park

Tadoba National Park is a large park covered with lush, green forestland. It is situated at a distance of 45 km from Chandrapur. Tigers, leopards, gaurs, nilgais, sambars and chitals can be seen at night in this park. There is also a lake at the park.

Tiger, leopard, leopard cat, Indian wild dog, sloth bear, hyena, wild boar, spotted deer, barking deer, blue bull, four-horned antelope, Indian pangolin and porcupine are the wild animals of this park. February to May is the best time to visit.

Around 90,000 people visit the park annually. Nearest airport is at Nagpur (140 km), while nearest railway station is at Chandrapur (45 km). Nearest main bus stand is Chandrapur and Chimur (32 km).

Tipeshwer Sanctuary

Black buck, blue bull, chital, sambar, peacock, hare, snake, monkey, wild boar, bear, wild cat, wolf and jackal are the wild animals that are abundantly seen at the Tipeswher sanctuary. Temperatures are quite pleasant all around the year, although there are three seasons namely summer, winter and the monsoons.

Best time to visit is during April and May. Nagpur is the nearest airport which 172 km, Yavatmal (70kms) and Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh (35 kms) is convenient railhead, nearest bus station is Pandharkawada 22 km away on NH7.