YAWAL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Yawal Tehsil in the Jalgaon District of Maharashtra. The Sanctuary is 25 kilometers from the Raver Railway Station and it lies along the banks of the rivers Anner and Manjal that flows towards the adjacent border of Madhya Pradesh.

The Yawal wildlife Sanctuary has landscapes of incomparable beauty. The Sanctuary is spread over an area of about 178 square meters and has a great variety of flora and fauna.

The major flora found in the Yawal sanctuary includes Salai, Anjan and Teak trees.

The fauna here is very rich. The Sanctuary shelters many different mammals, such as Leopards, Tigers, Flying Squirrels, Sloth Bear, Deers, Sambars, Wolves, Blue Bull, Chinkara, Wild Dogs, etc.

The flying squirrel floating effortlessly through the forest canopy is an attractive sight here.

Accommodation

There is an old Forest Rest House at Langda Amba which was built during the British era.

Climate

A wet climate..   Avoid visiting during monsoon … 

Best time to visit Yawal

Between February to May

Clothing

Natural neutral colored cotton 

Nearest Railway Station

Raver Railway Station [RV] (Mumbai Bhusawal Khandwa Route) 

Nearest Airport

Aurangabad Airport (Code : IXU)

Contact Numbers Yawal Forest Department

Deputy Conservator of Forest # 0257-2262722 

Nearby Attractions / Places to Visit

Garbaldi Dam, Manudevi Temple, Parola Fort, Swinging Towers of Farkande, Patnadevi, Unapdeo Hot Water Springs, Saint Muktabai Temple, Changdeo Temple

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PENCH NATIONAL PARK

Pench National Park

The Pench National Park is the joint project of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and is named after the river Pench. The Pench National Park is spread over an area of 76000 hectares wherein 28000 hectare area is the core area.

The Pench National Park abounds in wild animals, Sambar, Axis deers, blue bulls, langoor, macaque and even wild dogs.

There are 10 villages and out of 10 only one village named Fulzari is inside the Pench National Park.

Forest department has its rest houses at Totladoh (0712-2560748), Sillari (0712-2524624) etc.

Climate

Tropical monsoon

Best Time to Visit

January to April

Park Timings

Morning 6 am to 10.30 am; evening 3 pm to 6 pm
The Pench National Park remains closed during monsoon (July to September).

Nearby Attractions

Nagzira Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park

How to reach Pench National Park

Nearest Railway Station : Ramtek (Nagpur)
Nearest Airport : Dr. Ambedkar Intl. Airport, Nagpur (CODE : NAG)

Distance

Nagpur Airport to Pench National Park - 167 Kilometers (By Road)
Ramtek to Pench National Park – 120 Kilometers (By Road)
Mumbai to Ramtek – 890 Kilometers (By Road)

MELGHAT

Melghat, located in the northern part of Amravati District, is 225 Kilometers west of Nagpur. In the year 1967, Melghat, established as a wildlife sanctuary and in 1974 it was declared a Tiger Reserve. The Melghat Tiger Reserve was among the first nine tiger reserves notified under the Project Tiger. The Melghat wildlife sanctuary was created in 1985.

The Melghat’s tiger reserve area is around 1677 square kilometers. Mammals include Royal Bengal Tigers, Panthers, Leopards, Jungle Cats, Indian Bison or Gaur, Deer, Sambars, Chitals, Snakes and the Flying Squirrels are familiar sights.

Total 61 villages are there but all outside the core area. The residents are mainly Adivasis (tribes).

Best Time to Visit

October to June
* Due to Heavy Rainfalls avoid visiting during monsoon.

Climate

Summer - Hot and dry (Temperature - 30°C to 43°C)
Monsoon - Very Wet, receives a rainfall of 1500 mm to 2200 mm
Winter - Very Cold (Temperature - 6°C to 15°C)

Forest Department Melghat

Contact Number (Field Director Melghat) # 0721-2662792

Tourist Lodges run by the Forest Department

The Semadoh Tourist Complex (It is situated inside the Melghat Jungle)
[Tourist Hut - Tariff : Rs.350/- to Rs.500/-]

Accommodation

Chikhaldara Convention Complex (MTDC) # 07220-230234 / 230263

Fees and Charges Melghat

Entry Fee
Adult Rs.22/-; Child Rs.11/-
Vehicle Entry Fee (Jeep / Car) Rs.55/-

Charges
Jungle Safari (for each person) Rs.22/-
Tourist Guide Rs.110/- (per Trip)

Camera and Shooting Charges
Steel Camera : for Indians Rs.3/-, for Foreigners Rs.9/-
Video Camera : for Indians Rs.6/-, for Foreigners Rs.22/-
Professional Photography : Rs.500/- (per Day)
Professional Video Shooting : Rs.16500/- (per Day)

HOW TO REACH

Buses ply from Badnera to Paratwada

Nearest Airport

Akola Airport (Code : AKD)

Nearest Railway Station

Badnera Railway Station, Amravati [Mumbai - Nagpur - Kolkotta Route]

Distance

Badnera to Melghat - 92 Kilometers

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NANDUR MADHYAMESHWAR BIRD SANCTUARY

Nandur Madhyameshwar

Nandur Madhyameshwar, situated 53 kilometers away from Nashik, is the sanctuary for colorful birds. Here you can also find migratory birds. So it is called Maharashtra’s Bharatpur. A bird sanctuary has developed here since 1950. Today it is a haven for thousands of beautiful and migratory birds. Several local waterbirds also breed here.

The Madhyameshwar dam is constructed at the confluence of Godavari and Kadwa. The sanctuary is named after the ancient temple of Madhyameshwar.

For tourists the ideal season to be here is from October to March.

Nearby Attractions

Madhyameshwar Temple, Madhyameshwar Dam

Hotels / Rest House

Maharashtra Forest Department's Rest House at Khangaon Thadi
- for Reservation - Contact Nos. 0253-2317114, 2317115, 2310635

Nearest Airport

Aurangabad Airport (Code : IXU, VAAU)

Nearest Railway Station

Niphad Railway Station (Route - Mumbai Bhusawal Railway Line)

Distance

Mumbai to Nashik - 167 kilometers (Via National Highway 3)
Nashik to Nandur Madhyameshwar - 53 Kilometers (By Road)

Photo - Nandur Madhyameshwar

DAJIPUR - RADHANAGARI

Indian Bison
at Dajipur Sanctuary

The evergreen forest, Radhanagari, lies on the border of Kolhapur district. The bison sanctuary at Radhanagari is full of spectacular sights.

The famous Dajipur sanctuary is just 24 kilometers from Radhanagari. The famous Phonda Ghat is at a short distance from here. Though the area of Dajipur is smaller than Radhanagari, the animal life here is pretty rich. Dajipur is located 1200 meters above sea level therefore the atmosphere is pretty chill here.

In the Dajipur sanctuary mighty Indian bisons (local name Gawa) are seen. Wild deers, chitals and other wild animals are also spotted here, besides a host of exotic birds. It is a great place for botanical excursions.

Climate

Temperature 15° to 35°

Timings Dajipur Sanctuary

Morning 7.00 AM to Evening 4.00 PM

Best Time to Visit

Winter, Summer (September to May)

Hotels / Tourist Lodges

Forest Rest House # 91-231-2650042
Bison Jungle Resort, Dajipur # 02321-274024/25

Nearest Airport

Kolhapur Airport (Code: KLH/VAKP)

Nearest Railway Station

Kolhapur Railway Station

Distance

Kolhapur to Radhanagari – 55 kilometers (By Road) Via SH-116
Kolhapur to Dajipur Sanctuary - 79 Kilometers (By Road)

Nearby Attraction

Radhanagari Dam, Gagangiri Maharaj Math, Phonda Ghat

NAGZIRA

Nagzira

Nagzira sanctuary is known for its verdant hills and dales, where the fauna offer a mesmerizing blaze of colors.

Chandrapur and Bhandara districts in Vidarbha region are entirely well known for their dense forest. It is said that there were once elephants (‘Nag’ means Elephant in Sanskrit) in this forest, which is how the name Nagzira came to be.

The majority of the dwellers here are tribal. Because of dense forests the wildlife is also rich. Another special feature of this region is its lakes which have helped for the faster growth of jungles.

Nagzira Sanctuary, situated in these jungles, sprawls over some 153 square kilometers. Wild and rugged and watered by perennial sources, the jungles support a diversity of wildlife. The summer heat is rather intense here, as elsewhere in Vidarbha, but the dense vegetation has a moderating influence and the winters are pleasant.

Nagzira sanctuary has rest houses. There is also a lake set in the midst of dense trees. The mammals including Sambars, bisons, bears, tigers, panthers, sloth bears, antelope, blue bull, spotted deer are some of the animals which can be spotted here. The Indian Bison is yet another special attraction at Nagzira.

How to reach

Nearest Railway Station : Gondia
Distance : Gondia to Nagzira – 25 kms, Napur to Gondia – 130 kms.

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NAVEGAON NATIONAL PARK

Navegaon National Park

Around 132 kilometers from Nagpur lies the Navegaon National Park, most popular forest resort. Here serpentine roads wind their way around a picturesque lake set in the midst of hill ranges. The lake sprawls over some 11 square kilometer area and its crystal clear waters are particularly beautiful in moonlit nights. In winter huge flocks of immigrant ducks dot the lake. A deer park, three beautiful gardens, and a children’s park add to the pleasure of visitors. Here are found more than 60% of the bird species of Maharashtra. The list of mammals too is impressive comprising tigers, leopards, Sambars, chitals, deers, langurs etc. We can watch the wild animals from strategically located towers or machans and tree top dwellings in the heart of the forests.

It is said that Kolu Patel Kohli built the Navegaon lake at the beginning of the 18th century. His shrine is located on one of the peaks surrounding the lake. The peaks are known as seven sisters and it is believed that these sisters deities assisted Kolu in building the lake. The island in the centre is known as ‘Maldongari’. To the northeast of the lake lies ‘Nishani’ peak.

Nearest Railway Station

Devalgaon (South-East Railway)

Distance

Devalgaon to Navegaon - 1 Kilometer

Photo Gallery