National Parks

Top 4 Tiger Reserve Forests In Tamil Nadu

Fathima Fahmiya · February 1, 2020

Welcome to Tamil Nadu! A state with diverse flora, fauna, mountains, forests and coastal lines. The Tamil literature itself classifies the landscapes of Tamil Nadu into five types.

Kurinji – Mountains
Mullai – Forests
Marudham – Agriculture fields
Neidhal – Coastal areas
Paalai – Deserts

The second type Mullai is mentioned in many Tamil literary works and it is also an integral landscape that supports wildlife. Talking about forests, they deserve special care since their destruction can be highly disruptive. There are many big and small forest areas in Tamil Nadu. A few of them are designated to protect tigers.

1. Mudumalai national park

Mudumalai national park is located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu. It is well known for protection of tigers and elephants. Started in 1940, this forest reserve spans around 320 square kilometers and divided into five divisions. The forest area touches the borders of Kerala and Karnataka. The mudumalai elephant camp is very famous, as elephants from all over the state are brought here frequently to let them live in their natural habitat for a while.

2. Aanaimalai tiger reserve

The Aanaimalai reserve is located in Valparai and Pollachi region of Coimbatore district. Since this forest is situated in the Aanaimalai hills, it was previously called as Aanaimalai wildlife sanctuary. It was also known as Indra Gandhi wildlife sanctuary. Total area of this forest is 1480 sq km. In 2007, in an effort to protect tiger species, this sanctuary became a tiger reserve.

Main tourist attraction of this place is “topslip”. There are cottages and view points for tourists to spend time amidst thick green fields. They provide a wonderful atmosphere and options for safari is also available at topslip. Tourists can enjoy exciting experiences of sighting wild animals at topslip.

3. Kalakkad mundanthurai tiger reserve

The Kalakkad mundanthurai wildlife sanctuary was created in 1988 by joining two separate wildlife sanctuaries – Kalakkad and Mundanthurai. It is formed by covering parts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts and spans around 895 sq kilometers. As like other reserve forests, this sanctuary is also committed to protect tigers under “project Tiger”.
It is the second largest wildlife sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, spread across the southern part of western ghats.

4. Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary

Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary is located in Erode district, and it is the largest forest range in Tamil Nadu. Spread over 1410 sq kilometers, this sanctuary is also committed to save tigers. It is the fourth tiger reserve declared in 2013, following the three other above mentioned reserves.

The Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary is located in the western ghats, close to Tamil Nadu – Karnataka border. It acts as an important point for gene flow, as its flora and fauna easily migrate and populate around the other nearby forests of eastern ghats. The Sathyamangalam sanctuary is home to over 860 elephants which makes it the largest reserve for Asian elephants.

There are many more small forest covers in and around the western ghats and they all contribute significantly towards wildlife protection and ecosystem balance. Most of the thick forests are committed towards protecting tigers as their population was diminishing at an alarming rate. Due to such swift acts and actions, the Indian tiger, also called as Bengal tiger, is under special care.

Threat for wildlife arise due to urbanisation and deforestation. Humans extend their living circles by encroaching forests. This causes the forest lands to reduce into smaller blocks or fragments. This cuts the availability of prey and loss of habitat for wild fauna. On top of that, they are killed in the name of man-animal conflict. By spreading awareness and imposing legal acts, forest covers are now under protection, better than how it was few decades ago.

Featured Photo of ‘T 17’ by Koshy Koshy under CC BY 2.0

Kanger Valley National Park – An Exotic Biodiversity Park in Jagdalpur

kuntala · December 1, 2019

Kanger Valley National Park in Jagdalpur is a captivating forest dominated by rich flora and fauna. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in Chhattisgarh alluring wild life lovers from all across India and abroad. The park presents a plethora of natural beauty with dense trees, mysterious caves, the meandering waterfalls, and the deep gorges. Nature blooms with the varied species of animals and birds. Trekkers, bird watchers, and adventure enthusiasts are sure to witness a stunning experience inside the park.

The park, located on the banks of the river Kholaba, is also known as Kanger Ghati National Park. Spread across an area of 200 sq km, it was declared a national park in 1982. It hosts the limestone caves of Kotumsar, Kailash and Dandak. The caves act as a home for several the wild animals residing inside the park. The crocodile sandy beach of Bhainsandhara and the Kanger Dhara park, present in the park, serve as excellent picnic spots. You can also visit the beautiful Tirathgarh waterfalls inside the park.

The Flora

Innumerable varieties of wild trees and plants adorn the forest. You can mostly find deciduous trees like teak, sal, saugaun, mahua, and bamboo. Several surveys have revealed that the forest hosts about 553 floral species. Among them, 43 species have been designated as rare ones and 12 are not found in any other location in Chhattisgarh. There are climbers and creepers trailing along the thick trunks of the dense forest trees. Medicinal plants are found in abundance in the park. Different species of ferns are also observed in the forest.

The Fauna

Wild life is at its best in the picturesque Kanger Valley national park. The park is inhabited by some common as well as rare species of animals and birds. The famous among them being the Bastar Hill myena. The bird is famous for imitating a human voice. Several other migratory and resident birds are found in the park. The owl, drongo, peacock, fowl, eagle, parrot, the water birds like heron, crane, etc. can be found in almost all the corners of the forest. The chirping sound of the birds echoing through the forest entertains the tourists. The park is said to host about 144 species of birds.

Due to the marshy lands, the sloth and the wild bear are found in abundance since they survive well in this habitat. Tiger, leopard, jackal, fox, deer, langur, chital are some of the most common animals found inside the forest. It is amazing to watch the animals within their natural habitat. You can also find 56 different species of fish in the water pools inside the park and the caves. Reptiles and amphibians are too available in few numbers.

The Topology

The stalactites and stalagmites of the caves are formed of limestone deposits whereas the hills and the slopy areas are part of the Cuddapah group pf rocks. The soil is brownish in colour and is residual. The topology of the park is a unique combination of gorges, valleys, plateaus, hilly areas, and plains.

How to reach the Kanger Valley National Park?

The nearest airport is Raipur. You also travel to Jagdalpur from the airport in Vishakhapatnam. There are cabs and buses available from Raipur to Jagdalpur.

The nearest railway station is Jagdalpur. Trains operate between Jagdalpur and various cities of Chhattisgarh and Vishakhapatnam.

Private and public buses operate between various nearby cities and Jagdalpur. There are buses available from Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, and Vijayawada.

Best time to visit the park

The best time to visit the park is in the winter and the summer. The months from November till June are preferred by the tourists. In winters especially the weather is pleasant and cool. Monsoons should be avoided since the soil becomes slippery. Water seeps inside the caves which are not safe for exploration.

Tourists can avail the gypsy safari to travel inside the park and experience the wild life and the lush greenery of the forest. Travelling within the looming majestic trees creates a feeling of excitement and adventure. One can feel the adrenaline rush inside the heart while venturing into the deep wildness of the forest. The spectacular landscape of the park with the gushing sound of the waterfalls adds to the beauty of the forest. The park is a photographer’s delight, providing ample opportunities to click the wonderful flora and fauna of the forest. On one side you can capture the astonishing natural wonders and on the other side, you can capture the wild moments of the rare and common animal and bird species. The park offers an exotic combination of nature and wild life at its best.

National parks like Kanger Valley uplifts the tourism industry of India. Several adventure lovers, nature admirers, bird enthusiasts, researchers, anthropologists visit the park every year to indulge in its enigmatic charm. It is essential to protect and preserve nature and wild life inside the park.

Featured Photo of ‘Bandipur National Park , Karnataka’ by Swaminathan under CC BY 2.0

Why Papikondalu National Park Is A Great Choice For Your Holiday?

Rahul · November 10, 2019

If you are a person who likes to go to the hill station and also an animal lover then papikonda National park is a great choice for your holiday trip. Papikondalu is a small village in Andhra Pradesh which is around 180 kilometres away from Vijayawada and 260 km away from Vizag. So if you are planning to visit Andhra Pradesh then papikondalu should be on your list. You have to stay there for one or two days to enjoy the whole area and the best season to go to this place is from October to January. The village is located on the banks of Godavari River and has an awesome tropical rainforest which is announced to be a protected National park in 2008.

Photo of ‘Godavari River’ by Amar PR under CC BY 2.0

The whole National park is spread for around 1000 kilometre square area and the best season to go there in October to May. Papikondalu village is actually between the East and West Godavari district. If you want to visit inside the national park then you have to get the entry from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The ticket price for the adults to go to this National park is 10 rupees and that amount is reduced to 5 rupees for the children.

Papikondalu hills station also has an awesome waterfall named Munivaatam. It is an area where you will find the beauty of nature to the fullest and all of your stress from work will go away at once. People believe that the lord Rama and Sita came to this place at the time of their example and that is why it is considered to be a holy village altogether. The whole hill station has three hills in total and the mountain range looks like a woman’s hair which is a great sight for everyone.

If you want a place which will be perfect for your trekking and camping plan then papikondalu is the best choice without any doubt. It has nice tropical rainforest with a national park in it where you can set up your camp and enjoy a bonfire with your loved ones. The trekking area is also in between the words which are bliss for a trekker. But if you want to stay safely at night then you can also opt for going to Rajahmundry or kollur camp in the nearby area.

Papikondalu has some tribal communities there who are amiable people in general. Their major occupation is fishing and agriculture. But they also make some awesome handicrafts. That handicraft set available in that area and you can buy them from those tribal people only. So if you want a place with a perfect amalgamation of the forest as well as hill then papikondalu is a great place for you. And also if you want some adventurous trip in the woods with the tinge of trekking then also papikondalu National park can be considered at the top of the list. So get ready and plan your trip to papikondalu National park as soon as possible to enjoy the serenity of nature with the wild animals.

Featured Photo of ‘PapiKondalu’ by Amar PR under CC BY 2.0

Here’s The Guide To Rajaji National Park For Your Next Jungle Safari

Madhurima · October 12, 2019

Rajaji National Park is famed for being one of the most prominent tiger reserves. Since it is a national park, it houses 600 elephant, thereby also being popular as an elephant habitat. The reserve boasts about 11 tigers and 250 leopards which are soon to be outnumbered. It is located in Himalayas’ Shivalik range and is spread over a distance of 820 km. The Rajaji Tiger Reserve is Uttarakhand’s second Tiger Serve, while the first one is, of course, Corbett.

Created in the year 1983 by three sanctuaries’ amalgamation of it has gone through a number of developments in the recent years! Want to visit here for jungle safari? Keep reading on!

An Overview of Rajaji Tiger Reserve or Rajaji National Park

It seems that Uttarakhand’s second tiger reserve is very well witnessed by the travelers who visit here for jungle safari! A visit to the tiger reserve would leave every wildlife enthusiast jaw-dropped. And most importantly, they can pick up any brochure and pay the fees for entering inside the reserve. A jeep safari can be a great fun to organize from the office of Forest Ranger to Chilla’s guest house.

Here’s the Guide to Rajaji National Park for Your Next Jungle Safari — _{Photo of ‘zebra crossing’ by Parth Joshi under CC BY 2.0}

Rajaji Tiger Reserve’s wilderness has lured nature lovers, adventure junkies, and photographers! For this reason, they spend a couple of days in the midst of the refreshing vistas here. Local and foreign tourists visit here to enjoy the beautiful surrounding and spot deer or elephants around! And if you are lucky enough, you might get some glimpses of how royalty go hand in hand with tigers, or maybe you can take a snap of tiger paw’s footprints! Besides, you will be blessed to have an encounter with some scenic surroundings, grasslands, bubbling rivers, or scrublands!

Entry Fees and Jeep Rates

According to Rajaji national park packages, the Rajaji National Park things to do activities are in plenty. However, before anything else, you need to be aware of the opening dates! While the dates and entry fees for 2019 is soon to get updated, here’s what is tentative!

The Rajaji National Park entry fees for Indian tourists can be Rs 750
The Rajaji National Park entry fees for the foreigners can be Rs 1500
The jeep rate can be Rs 1500 every safari, and 150 each person.

Activities in Rajaji Tiger Reserve

Bird Watching

Rajaji National Park things to do activities include bird watching as an amazing activity here! The chirping of the birds, the colorful creatures flying and resting on the tree brunches are wonderful! Besides the animals, you will find over 300 bird species both migratory as well as resident including the pied hornbill, fire tailed sun bird, pied kingfisher, pheasants as well as barbers in this region. Bird watching and secretly aiming at taking the perfect shot can take the entire day here!

Jungle Safari

Rajaji National Park things to do activities also include jungle safari! Now this is something that you can certainly not miss! Since the reserve is the second tiger reserve after Corbett, it is home to myriad animals’ species such as the Royal Bengal tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, Himalayan Bear, sloth bear, Jackal, King Cobra, sambhar, Barking Deer, and more!

Some Travel Tips beforehand

Rajaji Tiger Reserve houses some of the rare species. Hence, you should be a responsible tourist to abide by forest authorities’ guidelines. Don’t forget to perform a survey about Rajaji national park packages. The Tiger Reserve remains closed during rainy seasons. It would be wise to check with the tour guides and go for the trip! The best time to pay a visit here is between the months of November and March when the weather absolutely remains pleasant!

_{Featured Photo of ‘twilight encore’ by Parth Joshi under CC BY 2.0}

Why Should You Pay A Visit To Valmiki National Park?

Madhurima · August 22, 2019

There’s no denying that Nepal and India individually have their own share of tourist prominence. However, there’s the India-Nepal border in Bihar where traveling would become amazing! And if you wish to pay a visit to the India-Nepal border in Bihar, you can blindly pick up one name from the prominence of Bihar’s tourist spots – the Valmiki national park!

Valmiki National Park in Geographical Terms

In general, national park happens to be a strictly reserved area for wildlife and biodiversity’s betterment. A national park is a place where activities such as developmental, poaching, forestry, grazing, and hunting and are not permitted.

From the Valmiki national park pictures, it is evident that the domination of colorful flora and fauna defines the beauty of Valmiki National Park. In geographical terms, the park is situated in Bihar’s West Champaran district on the bank of the River Ganges. It happens to be the only national park in the lands of Bihar. Previously, the extensive area of Valmikinagar forest was owned by Bettiah Raj & Ramanagar Raj until the 1950s. The forest also managed for the timber production.

Although the Valmiki national park pictures can give you a close glimpse of how beautiful it is, there are other important things to know about the park! VTR or Valmiki Tiger Reserve happens to be one natural virgin recess in India located in Bihar’s northwest corner. The wilderness and its pristine forest are excellent examples of the landscape of Himalayan Terai. VTR also consists of National Park as well as Wildlife Sanctuary. The forest area ranges to 899.38 square km. it is about 17.4% of total geographical areas of West Champaran district. There happened to be just a total of 40 tigers in this reserve as of 2018.

Why should you pay a visit to Valmiki National Park? — _{Photo of ‘similipal mpg 044’ by Chandan Singh under CC BY 2.0}

VTR’s Establishment and Influence

According to Valmiki national park tourism, VTR happens to be an amazing place, which is situated in the district of West Champaran in Bihar. The total area of is round about 335.65 Km. VVTR got its establishment in 1990. Home to a plethora of flora & fauna, VTR happens to be a protected area in India alongside Nepal’s Parsa Wildlife Reserve as well as Chitwan National Park and assessed as the Level-1 TCU by the US.

A diversity of animals including tigers are there in this national part. Some of the animals include leopards, deers, fishing cats, wolves, blackbucks, sloth bears, deer, Cheetal, Nilgai, Indian Bison, One-horned Rhinoceros, jungle cats, hyenas, rhesus monkey, and more. As a matter of fact, a Jungle Safaris happens to be the best way to spot the species in this national park.

If you have already decided to pay a visit to the national park, you should have already been concerned about the deals regarding Valmiki national park hotels. There are multiple deals that you can find on the Internet concerning Valmiki national park hotels. All you have to do is to book your preferred one as soon as possible.

The Valmiki national park tourism has gradually garnered immense popularity over the past few years. So, if you wish to get the beautiful glimpses of the national park, a visit is a must!

_{Featured Photo of ‘Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus’ by Brian Gratwicke under CC BY 2.0}