Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana National Park)

Location : Nearest Access : Main Wildlife Found : Coverage Area : Bharatpur, Rajasthan Bharatpur Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Boar, Migratory Birds 29-sq-kms

About Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary One of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana Natiuonal Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar. Flora in Bharatpur More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of 29-sq-kms of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area.
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One of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana Natiuonal Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar. Flora in Bharatpur More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of 29-sq-kms of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area.

A Man Made Natural World While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of princely India, Keoladeo, popularly known as Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, is perhaps the only case where the habitat has been created by a maharaja. In earlier times, Bharatpur town used to be flooded regularly every monsoon. In 1760, an earthen dam (Ajan Dam) was constructed, to save the town, from this annual vagary of nature. The depression created by extraction of soil for the dam was cleared and this became the Bharatpur Lake. At the beginning of this century, this lake was developed, and was divided into several portions. A system of small dams, dykes, sluice gates, etc., was created to control water level in different sections. This became the hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty, and one of the best duck - shooting wetlands in the world. Hunting was prohibited by mid-60s. The area was declared a national park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage Site in December 1985. Major Wildlife Attractions The major attractions of tourists visiting the park are the numerous migratory birds, who come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia and spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds. Migratory birds at Bharatpur bird sanctuary include, several species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc.

.Other General Information on Periyar Sanctuary Longitude: 7657' and 7725' E Latitude: 916' and 936' N Altitude: 100m. to 2016 m. above msl. Rainfall: 2500 mm. Temperature: Minimum: 15C, Maximum: 31C
Season(Periyar National Park)

Monsoon: Southwest and Northeast monsoon with maximum rainfall in July and minimum in January. Summer: April-May Winter: December-January
Access (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary):

By Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200-kms or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at140-kms is the nearest airports from Periyar. By Rail : Kottayam at 114-kms is the nearest railhead from Periyar. By Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

Area: 777 sq. km. Core: 350 sq. km. Buffer: 427 sq. km Established : 1950 as a sanctuary, 1978 as a tiger reserve.
About Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:

Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in SW India. The centre piece of Periyar National park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar river in 1895.The dam submerged lowlying forest whose dead tree trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in higher areas. The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen 'sholas', the last occurring in the moist valleys and characterised by tall trees and a closed canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands. Periyar's rich bird life includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant, Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King Cobra are among the reptilian fauna. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr, good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion to nearby Eravikulam National Park near Munnar.
Main flora found in Periyar:

Periyar Widllife Sanctuary boasts a quite rich and diverse flora. The flora in Periyar National Park chiefly comprises of Tropical Evergreen forests (30,500ha) and Semievergreen forests (27,500ha) around the reservoir, and Moist-deciduous forests and Woody grasslands in the central part of the park. The major flora in the park include the Teak, Rosewood, Terminalia, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Jacaranda (a hardwood timber tree with purple flowers), Mango, Jamun, Tamarind, Banyan, Pipal, Plumeria, Gulmohar and Bamboo among many others. The thick

vegetation of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses.
Other General Information on Periyar Sanctuary

Longitude: 7657' and 7725' E Latitude: 916' and 936' N Altitude: 100m. to 2016 m. above msl. Rainfall: 2500 mm. Temperature: Minimum: 15C, Maximum: 31C
Season(Periyar National Park)

Monsoon: Southwest and Northeast monsoon with maximum rainfall in July and minimum in January. Summer: April-May Winter: December-January
Access (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary):

Fly to Cochin and drive to Periyar (200 km). The nearest railway station is Kottayam (114 km).

Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Travel Information

Gerneral Information

Location : Junagadh, Gujarat, India. Nearest city : Junagadh Area : 1,412 km Established : 1965 Time to Visit : Novomber to June Safari Timing Morning : 0700 to 1100 Hrs, Afternoon: 1500 Hrs to 1700 Hrs
How to Reach Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

From Delhi By Air : The nearest airport with connectivity to Delhi is Ahmedabad about 390 km from the lodge and the drive takes about seven to eight hours depending on the number of stops

en route. By Train : There are trains to Rajkot and then the drive of about 164 km takes three to four hours. From Mumbai : Mumbai has direct flights to Diu Airport, about 112 km from the national park, and both flights and trains to Rajkot, 164 km from the Gir National park. From Ahmedabad There are trains to Junagadh, 60 km from Gir, or Veraval, 40 km from Gir, and the drive takes about one hour from either. There are also trains and buses to Sasan, near the lodge, from Junagadh / Veraval.

Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat

Location: 64 km from Junagadh and 32 km from Verawal Total Coverage Area:1,412.14 sq. km./ Lion sanctuary 141,213 hectares (of which national park 35,948 hectares).
About Sansan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Gir National Park, was established on 18th September, 1965, as a Forest Reserve, primarily to conserve the Asiatic lion. The total area under national park status is about 2,450 hectares. It is located in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, about 65 km south-east of Junagadh city, and 90 km east of Keshod Airport, in the Kathiawar (Saurashtra) Peninsula. Sasan, with a forest rest-house, is the headquarters of the sanctuary.The Gir is a mixed deciduous type of forest with teak, ber, flame of the forest, jamun, a variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is a hilly tract with plenty of rivers, and offers the visitor long pleasant drives, through the thick forest cover. Gir National Park is the only remaining habitat of the Asiatic lion, which has been confined to this forest, since 1884 ( about 239 lions were reported in 1985 ).The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin, nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold. The best way to observe the big cats is, of course, in their natural surroundings, at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. The Forest Department does arrange lion shows every Sunday, where the spectators can watch prides of lions on the hunt.There are guided trips available, to watch these magnificent animals from a very close range. The chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck, are the other animals, that can be found in this sanctuary. There are over 200 bird species including the peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of doves . The Gir is also home to the marsh crocodile, which can be sighted easily in its rivers,

particularly in the lake of the Kamaleshwar dam. There is also a crocodile breeding farm at Sasan. The Gir National Park is steeped in history and folklore. It boasts of temples of great antiquity, like Kankai Mata and Tulsishyam, a place of pilgrimage with hot springs. The forest is famous for its cattle herders, the Madharis, whose buffaloes form a substantial part of the lions' meals. Extremely hospitable, the Madharis are herders, whose lifestyle has changed little over the years, and their folklore and traditions are a unique record of coexistence of humans with lions. Wildlife viewing in the Girs is best done, by driving around the forest. The best drives from Sasan are, to Baval Chowk and Kankai, to Chodavdi and Tulsishyam, and to Kamaleshwar dam. Though a sturdy car would do, a jeep is definitely more appropriate. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary - home to several water-birds, the Little Rann of Kutch - home of the Indian wild ass, and the fascinating Flamingo Island, render the state of Gujarat a virtual haven for wildlife buffs.
The Topography(Gir National Park ):

The state of Gujarat has some splendid wildlife reserves that are quite out of the ordinary. The Gir National Park is the only home in India of the Asiatic Lion of which there are nearly 300 in the park. This sanctuary lies in the Gujarat peninsula in South West India and is gifted with a terrain that is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is full of mixed deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees, interspersed with large patches of grasslands. On the hills of the trees are sparse and stunted.
Climate(Gir National Park )

From the three common seasons of summer, winter and monsoon, summer takes the longest stretch, in which the average minimum and maximum temperature ranges between 10C to nearly 45C. The hottest months recorded in Gir are April and May. The rains bring some relief from the heat during the monsoons period of, starting from middle of June and September. The maximum recorded during this period in the area is around 1,866 mm and the minimum recorded being 199mm. Because of less rainfall water always remains a critical factor in the well being of the forest. At times the waterholes are required to be replenished through water tankers from outside and the park staff maintains around 350 of such waterholes.
The Lion King (Gir National Park )

Gir Sanctuary is the last and only home of the critically endangered Asiatic Lion. These lions are a smaller more compact version of their African version, and are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move. The major difference between the two is that the African Lion appears larger than the Indian Lion because of its large and luxuriant mane.
Extension Of The Sanctuary

In the past Gir had a much bigger coverage area. After Indian government placed a total ban on killing of Lions in 1955, within the time span of three years the area estimation came around 2,560-sq-km and the Lion population was estimated at 287. Since then, the forest area very quickly got reduced in area to 1,452-sq-km. In 1965, the Gujarat government declared Gir forest as a sanctuary and in 1975; part of the sanctuary was declared as a National Park. And with the success of the protection program there is an incredible increase in the Lion population too, from 177 in 1974 to around 300 in 1995. The main territories of this territorial predator outside Gir in Gujarat include Nagwa Beach in Diu, Sutrapada, Palitana, Mahuva, Savarkundla, Mitiyala, Keshod, Maliya Hatina, and Girnar.

Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wild Life Sanctuary

Tamil Nadu

Located in the Virudhunagar District, 45 kms off Virudhunagar Town, this sanctuary
has a composition of dry decidious forests, moist mixed decidious forests and grasslands. Grizzled Giant Squirrels are abound. Other interesting species are flying squirrel, Tree Shrew, Elephant, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, and many a species of birds. This sanctuary can be visited all through th year. General Information Best time to visit : Year Around. Accommodation : Forest Rest House at Mudungiar, Pudupatti, Mudaliaroothu. PWD Rest House at Srivilliputhur. How to get there : Rail-Srivilliputhur (15 km) Air-Madurai (100 km)

Kaziranga National Park

[ Assam ]

Lying along the mighty Brahmaputra River, the Kaziranga National Park covers an
area of about 430 sq. km. Its swamps and grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of evergreen forest, support the largest number of rhino in the

subcontinent. It was an alarming depletion in their numbers, due to hunting and poaching that led to the conservation of this area in 1926. In 1940, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary. Though poaching still constitutes a major threat to the rhino population, the numbers of this species are fairly healthy. At Kaziranga, the open country makes wildlife viewing fairly easy. A day's outing is often sufficient for visitors to see most of the major species here. Elephants take them into the Park at dawn. As the mist lifts and the rising sun touches the hills in the distance, herds of barasingha and wild buffalo are to be seen in the marshes. The most ferocious bovine in the world, the massive wild buffalo is impressive and can weigh up to 915 kg. Rhinos browse unconcernedly as the visitors pass by and an occasional herd of elephants or wild boar is also sighted. The grasslands are raptor country and the crested serpent eagle, the Pallas fishing eagle and greyheaded fishing eagle can be seen circling over the marshes. The water-bird variety includes swamp partridge, bar-headed goose, whistling teal, the Bengal florican, storks, herons and even pelicans. Located along the main highway, Kaziranga is easily accessible and the chance to see animals in the wild at such close quarters, makes a visit to the Park a very rewarding experience. General Information Best time to visit : November-April Accommodation : Forest Rest Houses and Tourist Lodge (ITDC) Nearest Town : Bokakhat (23 km) How to get there : Air-Jorhat (84 km) Rail-Jorhat Park Entry Fee Rs. 10 per day / person. Elephant ride Rs. 100 per person for Indian Tourists. (3 or 4 seats on an elephant) Rs. 5O for children. Rs. 700 per person for foreigners. Jeep ride Rs. 450 per jeep. Camera fee Ordinary camera - Rs. 10 Telephoto Lens - Rs. 5O For Professionals still camera - Rs. 150 Video Camera - Rs. 1500

Dachigam National Park

Jammu & Kashmir

Dachigam National Park located very close to Srinagar (22km) with its splendid

forests and magnificent scenery, is easily accessible. The two sectors of the Park Upper and Lower Dachigam are spread over an area of 141 sq. km. and altitudes vary between 1700 and 4300 meters. Two steep ridges enclose the Park with its great topographical variety - deep ravines, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and rolling alpine pastures. Tumbling down from the Masrar Lake (4300m), up in the high ranges, the Dachigam River winds through Lower Dachigam .The Park is the habitat of the endangered hangul or the Kashmir stag - the only species of red deer to be found in India. Winter is the best time to view the hangul, when they Musk deer congregate in the shelter of the lower valleys. Other inhabitants include the Himalayan black bear, species of wild goat like the markhor and ibex and varieties of exotic Himalayan birds. Colourful pheasants include the crimson tragopan, the iridescent monal pheasant with its glittering plumage, the blood pheasant and the koklass pheasant. The golden eagle and the bearded vulture or lammergeier are seen circling the brilliant blue skies. The leopard, which is the only predator in this paradise is rarely seen as also the elusive snow leopard which is found in the higher altitudes. Other animals include the rare musk deer and the Himalayan marmot. A metalled road takes visitors from Srinagar into Lower Dachigam. Upper Dachigam can only be explored on foot. General lnformation Best time to visit : May-Aug. Upper Dachigam Sept.-Dec. Lower Dachigam Accommodation : Lodges and Rest Houses or Hotels in Srinagar. Nearest town : Srinagar (22 km) How to get there : Air-Srinagar (22 km) Rail-Jammu (200 km)