WILDLIFE PARKS

Maharashtra is home to a large number of animals and bird species, including the tiger, Crocodile, Bison, Gawa, Neelgai, Wild Deer, Sambar and rare migratory birds. The state has taken adequate steps towards setting up many wildlife parks and sanctuaries to protect these regions and promote them as tourist attractions. The parks offer splendid opportunities to see a variety of wildlife in a spectacularly natural setting. Modern amenities such as jeep rides, night safaris, comfortable accommodation and efficient transport are also available at a nominal charge.

Melghat Tiger Reserve

This Reserve is in the enchanting sylvan beauty of the woodlands and greenery of Melghat, in the Amravati district, roams the tiger, and it is here that a greater part of Project Tiger is being implemented. In the heart of the luxuriant teak forests of Dhakna-Kolkaz is the Melghat Tiger Reserve, where Panthers, Bison, Sambar, Chital and the Flying Squirrel are familiar sights.

Nagzira Wild Life Sanctuary

Another wildlife sanctuary which is known for its verdant hills and dales, where the fauna offers a mesmerising blaze of colours, is the Nagzira Wild Life Sanctuary. Ambling around in these idyllic environs is the sloth bear, tiger four horned antelope, the Bluebull, Chital, Barking Deer, Bison and the Panther. Besides these sanctuaries are alive with the Chirruping of the colourful and varied birds.

The Navegaon Forest Resort

Navegaon, a popular forest resort in the Vidarbha region, was built in the 18th century. The picturesque lake set amidst lush green hills at Navegaon has a watch-tower beside it, from which visitors may find a bird's eye view of the surrounding forest and its abundant wildlife. Best known for the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon is home to almost 60 per cent of the bird species found in the entire state. Every winter, flocks of migratory birds visit the region. Visitors can join the Jungle Safari and have a stroll to see the Sambar, Chital and Langurs. Staying in a unique tree-top house and riding a power or sail boat on the lake, are thrilling pastimes.

The Dajipur Bison Sanctuary

The jungle resort of Dajipur is situated on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts, near the backwaters of the Radhanagari dam. Surrounded by rugged mountains and dense forests, this secluded area is completely cut-off from human habitation. A home to bison, wild Deers, Chital, Gawa and many more spectacular wild animals and birds, Dajipur is an exciting and beautiful holiday getaway. An excursion to the nearby Gagangiri Maharaj's Math makes for a pleasant outing.

The Tadoba National Park

This is a large park spread over many acres of lush green forested land. Situated 45 kms from Chandrapur, Tadoba is an extremely beautiful jungle of mixed teak forests around a tranquil lake. The Tadoba National Park has migratory ducks visiting its lake, and also swarms with crocodiles. The rest houses are ideal for nature lovers as it commands a lovely view of the lake and the distant green hills beyond. Late nights are ideal times to see tigers, leopards, gaur, nilgai, sambar and chital. The park has facilities for tourists to stay overnight.

Bird Sanctuaries
There are many more types of birds than animals in Maharashtra, like the bulbul, shama, cuckoo, parakeet, drongoes, Wagtails Flycatchers, Purple Sunbirds, Grey Jungle Fowl, the great Indian bustard and above all the beautiful peacock. The great Indian bustard which is an endangered species, is an ostrich-like bird, found in the Ahmednagar and Sholapur districts. It is known for its royal gait and is a fast runner. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a must for ornithologists and so is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary which is the home of winged birds like the golden oriole.

Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary Notified in 1958, theRadhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary was the first wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra state. The sanctuary is popularly referred as the "Bison Sanctuary" as the Indian Bison or Gaur is the prime species found in the region. Located at the southern end of the Sahyadri sub cluster of the Western Ghats, the sanctuary lies between the catchment areas of the major reservoirs of Rajarshi Shahu Sagar and Laxmi Sagar in Radhanagri taluka of Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.The rivers Bhogavati, Dudhganga, Tulshi, Kallamma and Dirba flow through the sanctuary before draining out into the Krishna River - one of the major rivers of the Deccan peninsula.

The highlight of Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra is the Indian Bison, which is the tallest and most magnificent of living wild oxen species. While at the sanctuary, you can commonly spot bull and calf running with its mother, or a large herd of bison grazing in the forests. These sights are a treat to the eyes and they surely let you feel ensconced in the surreal magic of nature. Some other animals encountered on visit to Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolhapur Maharashtra include Leopard, Sloth bear, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Sambar, Giant Squirrel, Wild Dogs, Wild Deer, Chital and several other rare species.

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Ambegaon taluka of Pune District. Pune District is located in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. TheBhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is the home of the Giant Indian Squirrel and a huge number of other animals and birds. TheBhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra is spread across an extensive area of 120 square kilometers on the Western Ghats or the Sahyadri Ranges. The densely forested area of the Maharashtra, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in India receives heavy monsoon rainfall. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in is a very popular weekend gateway from the cities of Pune and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Mumbai.

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is positioned in the Thane District of Maharashtra. This sanctuary spread on the sprawling land of 320 sq kms attracts a healthy footfall throughout the year. Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary consists of the catchment region of Tansa Lake in addition to the neighboring forests of Khardi, Vaitarna, Shahapur and East Wada Ranges in the Tehsil of Shahapur in Thane district. Tansa Lake serves as the perpetual source of water to the various species of fauna of this sanctuary. For

reaching Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary via air, the nearest airport of Mumbai, 90 kms from here may be used. Travelers taking trains to come here, should target the nearest railhead of Atgaon, 13 kms from this place. Tansa wildlife sanctuary is located about 95 kms from Mumbai. So, this place can also be reached via road from the town of Shahapur, situated on Mumbai-Agra National Highway No.3. The months of November to May comprise of the best time to come here. Tourists coming to this sanctuary also visit some other attractions in the neighborhood like Mahadeo Temple located at Tilsa, the historically renowned fort of Mahuli as well as Plateau of Suryamal. Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary plays host to an extensive variety of fauna and flora. Nearly 50 types of animals and approximately 200 species of birds can be found in this region. Some animals which could be seen here consist of the Barking Deer, Panther, Mouse Deer, Wild boar, Jackal, Hyena, Leopard, Chital, Hare, Sambar, Common Langur, Four-Horned Antelope, etc.

Tipeshwar Sanctuary Located at Pandarkawada Tehsil of Yavatmal District in Maharashtra, Tipeshwar Sanctuary in Maharashtra covers an area of 148.63 square kilometers. The main attraction in this area is peacock, Wild Boar and Bear. The best time for visiting Tipeshwar Wild Life Sanctuary in Maharashtra is from April to May, you can come from Adilabad located 35 kilometers from Andhra Pradesh. Sonegaon is the nearest Railhead. Animals found here are Blue Bull, Chital, Sambar, Peacock, Snake and Monkey.Tipeshwar Sanctuary in Maharashtra is an ideal place for tourist gathering, being a conspicuous cotton producing district, the cool air of the lake and gentle breeze would definitely invigorate you.

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary A visit to the different wild life sanctuaries gives one an idea of the rich wild life of India. The Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is also home to a variety of wild animals and birds. Do make sure to make it a part of your tour itinerary of Maharashtra. If you belong to the group who loves watching animal planet on television, is fond of reading about books on animals, is very keen on seeing these wild animals in their natural habitat and capturing those priceless moments on camera, then the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is definitely well worth a visit. You are sure to be amazed by the wide array of wild animals that have made the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary their home. The Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary covers an extensive area of 139.44 sq km and reserved forests form a major part of it. Patches of grasslands are found in this thick forest cover which is bordered in the west by the perennial Pranhita River. The fauna of the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary includes several exotic and endangered species. Some of the animals that can be sighted here are tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs and jungle cats in addition to reptiles like the famous Indian python and the common Indian monitar. The list also includes inhabitants like wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, blue bull, jungle cat, jackal, peacock, jungle fowl and flying squirrel. The greatest attraction however remains the Giant Indian squirrel which is the state animal of Maharashtra. Unfortunately its number is steadily on the decline.

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary The gentle Hills of thePhansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigad in the state of Maharashtra are positioned in between the northern Sahyadri range and the western coast of India. The hills found in this region are quite similar to the ranges of the Western Ghats, though these are not directly connected to them. The forest of this sanctuary consists of mainly of moist teak trees, the southern part of the forest is mixed deciduous and the western coast is semievergreen. The south-western part of the sanctuary has plots of mangrove vegetation. Some of the plants which are found in the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary are Ain, Kinjal, Teak, Hirda, Jamba, Mango, Ficus and many more. The Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigad is a bird's paradise. The region includes a large number of bird species like the Malabar Pied Hornbill, the Black Eagle, the Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, the Pompadour Green Pigeon, the Forest Wagtail, the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, the Shikra, the Black Drongo, the Brahmini Kite, the Spotted Owlet, the Golden Oriole, the Iora, the Plum-headed Parakeet, and many more. About 71 species of butterflies are found in this wildlife sanctuary.

Wan Sanctuary Chilkahrada Wild Life Sanctuary, nicknamed the Wan Sanctuary at Amaravati in Maharashtra has been named after Keechaka, the infamous villain in the Mahabharata, is a great tourist attraction. For the nature lovers, this place is a veritable heaven on earth. The main attraction here is the ample reserve of fauna like Sloth Bear, Sambhar, Panther and Wild Boar. Wild Dogs are also present here; a region of dales, with majestic trees raising their heads to bid welcome to a discerning traveler. The enveloping velvet mist also encompasses the entire landscape with a strange homeliness, making it an innate resting ground for the wild animals.

Kalasubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuaries and national parks in Maharashtra are quite a few, making it a popular tourist destination for wildlife lovers, photographers and bird watchers. The Kalasubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra is located at the Ahmednagar district of Maharshtra. The Kalasubai Harishchandragad Wildlife sanctuary spreads from Kalasubai to Harischandragad in Akole Tehsil of Ahmadnagar district. It is part of the Sahyadri hill ranges. The Kalasubai peak 5550 ft high is situated nearby and gives the name to the sanctuary. The Kalasubai peak is a hotspot for climbers and trekkers.

Ratanmahal and Jessore Sloth Bear sanctuary

India is a storehouse of exotic species of animals and birds. Being a country with varied topographical features and climactic conditions, the flora and fauna of India are multi faceted too. Different animal projects taken up by the government organizations and environmental studies are instrumental in bringing about a sea change in the biological sphere of the country. Ratanmahal and Jessore Sloth Bear sanctuaryis an ideal place to visit if you are an avid animal lover.

Ratanmahal and Jessore Sloth Bear sanctuary is situated on Ratanmahal hills 45 kilometers from Baria. The endemic sloth bear is the special attraction of this sanctuary. Statistics shows that its population has dwindled over the years due to the many unforeseen circumstances that hampered the eco system of this specific species. Conservation of sloth bear is carried out in Ratanmahal and Jessore Sloth Bear sanctuary with pronounced methods and ecological surveys which are carried out twice every year. The behavioral patterns of sloth bear are taken into account and preservation techniques are chalked out accordingly.