Jungle Life: Man and Animal

The legend of Jim Corbett is still alive, not only in the mind and hearts of Kumaon and Garhwal, but also all over the world .

Corbett has aptly been described as the land of the Roar, Trumpet and Song. It represents a scene of remarkable beauty.

                  THIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON 11 TH
                    NOV 2006 IN CORBETT.
                               BY
K.K.SINGH

Introduction

Corbett has aptly been described as the land of the Roar, Trumpet and Song. It represents a scene of remarkable beauty.

Corbett had the proud distinction of being chosen as the venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India. The rich biodiversity of the Reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat found here. Due to the location of the Reserve in the foothills of the Central Himalayas, both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the Reserve.

The grasslands, locally known as Chaurs, are limited. The largest grassland is the Dhikala Chaur. Some of the best grasslands including the famous Buxar Chaur and the Beri Chaur got submerged under the Ramganga reservoir in 1974. The areas made available as a result of the relocation of villages, Dhara, Jhirna and Kothirau in 1994 are being developed into grasslands through habitat management.

The Ramganga reservoir which came into being in 1974, stretches over an area of around 82 sq. km. with one half each in Corbett National Park and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary respectively. The Ramganga river is the lifeline of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Its principal tributaries are the Mandal, Palain and Sonanadi. Numerous mountainous streams locally called Sots flow into these rivers. The nullahs and ravines are thickly covered with evergreen shrubs, with pockets of evergreen glades along them, which provide undisturbed cover and water for the tiger. Part of the catchment of the Kosi river falls within the Reserve though the river is outside the Reserve.

Corbett is very rich in avifauna. Zoological Survey of India has recorded over 585 species of resident and migratory birds here. Corbett falls in the newly constituted state of Uttaranchal, carved out of former Uttar Pradesh State in 2000.

The Reserve area was named as ‘Hailey National Park’ in 1936. This was renamed in 1954-55 as ‘Ramganga National Park’ and again in 1955-56 as ‘Corbett National Park’. Its the oldest National Park of India. It was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973. The original area of the Park was 323.75 sq. km. to which 197.07 sq. km. was added later. An area of 797.72 sq. km. was added as buffer of the Corbett Tiger Reserve in 1991. This area includes the whole of Kalagarh Forest Division (including 301.18 sq. km. area of Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary), 96.70 sq. km. of Ramnagar Forest Division and 89 sq. km. The administrative control over the entire area is that of the Field Director of the Reserve.

Sal, khair, sissoo, ber, kuthber, bel, chbilla, dhak, semal, khingan, kharpat, rohini, bakli, pula and bamboo.

Mammals: Tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, elephant Elephas maximus, chital Axis axis, sambar Cervus unicolor, hog deer Azis percinus, barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, wild boar Sus scrofa, langur Presbytis entellus and Rhesus monkey Macaca mulatta;

Birds: Peacock, Jungle Fowl, partridge, Kaleej Pheasant, crow, vulture, parakeet, Laughing Thrush, oriole, kingfisher, drongo, dove, woodpecker, duck, teal, stork, cormorant and seagull;

Reptile: Indian marsh crocodile or mugger Crocodilus palustris, gharial Gavialis gangeticus, King cobra Naja bungarus, common krait Bungarus caoruleus, cobra Naja naja, Russels viper Vipera ruselli and python Python molorus and monitor lizard;

Fish: Mahaseer Barbus tor, kalimuchi Barbus chilinoides, kalabasu Labeo calabasu, chilwa Oxygastro bacaila and goonch Bargarius bargarius.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has two core areas, Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. These are 15 km. apart, with agricultural land in between. Dudhwa National Park is situated on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. The Mohana river flowing along the Indo-Nepal border constitutes the northern boundary of the park while the southern boundary is formed by the river Suheli. The Kishanpur Sanctuary lies in the Lakhimpur-Kheri and Shahajahanpur districts in Uttar Pradesh.

The area of the park is a vast alluvial plain, the doab of the Mohana and Suheli rivers, and interspersed with numerous rivulets, lakes and pools. The rich and extremely fertile Indo-Gangetic plains support a luxuriant growth of forests and diversity of fauna.

Conservation History

The visit of Sir D.B. Brandis in 1860 to the area culminated in 303 sq. mile forest area of the present day Dudhwa National Park being brought under the control of Government in 1861 for preservation. In Kheri District, all the sal and miscellaneous forests and grasslands in Kharigarh Pargana, between the Mohana and Suheli rivers, were included in the then North Kheri Forest Division. More areas were reserved for protection between 1867 and 1879 and added to the Division. The area of the Division was legally constituted as Reserved Forests in 1937.

The Sonaripur Sanctuary comprising 15.7 sq. km. area was created in 1958 to specifically protect swamp deer Cervus duvaceli duvaceli. The area was too small and was later enlarged to 212 sq. km. and renamed as Dudhwa Sanctuary in 1968. Later, more area was added to the Sanctuary and in 1977, it was declared Dudhwa National Park. The total area of the Park was 616 sq. km. of which 490 sq. km. was core zone and a balance of 124 sq. km. buffer zone.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was created in the year 1987-88, comprising Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Sanctuary (203.41 sq. km.). With an addition of 66 sq. km. to the buffer zone in 1997, the present area of the Tiger Reserve is 884 sq. km.

Archaeological Richness

Remnants of a fort are found in Nagra block. The fort has been overrun by wilderness. Remains of mud walls of old habitation are also found in Nawalkhad.

Main Flora

Sal Shorea robusta, asna Terminalia tomentosa, shisham Dalbergia sissoo, bahera Terminalia balerica, khair Acacia catechu, jamun Syzygium cumini.

Main Fauna

Mammals: Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, rhinoceros, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar and ratel.

Birds: Around 400 species including Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork identified.

Endangered Species

Tiger, swamp deer, leopard, ratel, hispid hare, Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork.

Kanha Tiger Reserve

Kanha Tiger Reserve comprises parts of the Mandla, Balaghat, Kawardha and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the Maikal hills of the Satpura hill range. Kanha is internationally renowned for its rich floral and faunal attributes.

The reserve is an excellent interspersion of the dadars (flat hilltops), grassy expanses, dense forests and riverine forests. It is very rich in flora, largely due to the combination of land-forms and soil types, apart from the moist character of the region. The rich habitat diversity of the Reserve supports abundant animal communities and the lesser life forms. The Reserve is the sanctum sanctorum of many typical Central Indian fauna.

Kanha has distinguished itself in saving the endangered Central India barasingha (Cervus duvauceli branderi) from extinction and harbouring the only population of this deer species in the world.

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary in the northeast of Kanha has been made the mini-satellite core of the Reserve.

Conservation History

Kanha National Park is one of the first nine Tiger Reserves constituted in our country when “Project Tiger” was initially launched way back in 1973. The present park area encompasses two important valleys, viz. the Banjar and the Halon. In 1935, these valley forests were declared Sanctuaries. Subsequently, the Banjar valley alone retained that Sanctuary status till its up-gradation as a National Park in 1955. The initial area of the National Park was 253 sq. km., which, with subsequent extensions in 1964 and 1970 assumed a size of 446 sq. km. With the launching of Project Tiger in 1973, the Halon valley area was eventually integrated with the park, thereby increasing the total area to the present size of 940 sq. km.

Kanha Tiger Reserve is constituted on a “core-buffer” strategy. The entire National Park area of 940 sq. km. is visualised as a “core zone”, free from biotic disturbances of any sort. A buffer zone of 1,005 sq. km. (falling in four forest divisions) surrounding the core is treated as a “multiple use area”. The buffer zone comprises almost 40 per cent forest area and the rest is constituted by revenue land. This zone has been notified by the state Government as a separate division and is under the unified control of the management.

The Reserve is a part of the Gondwana tract inhabited traditionally and chiefly by the Gond and Baiga tribes. The villagers had free access to cut and burn forest at will. The system of shifting cultivation, locally called Bewar prevailed almost unhindered until 1870 on the hill slopes. Unrestricted grazing was permitted up to 1915, when grazing rules were introduced.

Main Flora

Shorea robusta, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia tomentosa, Dendrocalamus strictus

Main Fauna

Chital Cervus axis, sambar Cervus unicolor, barasingha Cervus duvauceli branderi, barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, chausingha Tetracerus quadricornis, gaur Bos gaurus, langur Presbytis entellus, wild pig Sus scrofa, jackal Canis aureus, sloth bear Melursus ursinus, wild dog Cuon alpinus, panther Panthera pardus, tiger Panthera tigris.

Palamau Tiger Reserve lies in the western part of the Chhotanagpur plateau in the newly consitituted state of Jharkhand, carved out of the former Indian state of Bihar. The forest stretches from the edge of the Netarhat hill range in the south to the river Auranga in the north and from the Latehar-Sarju road in the east to Madhya Pradesh border in the west. The forest of Palamau is the catchment of the river North Koel.

Palamau is the land of palas Butea monosperma and mahua Madhuca indica and represents the biological richness of the dry and moist deciduous eastern peninsular forests with an interesting association of sal Shorea robusta and bamboo.

The verdant landscape of the Reserve is clothed with stately sal in the valleys and lower slopes, and with dry deciduous forests on the upper slopes and on the mound caps in the northern part. Copious bamboo and scattered open grassy patches are common. Almost pure patches of bel Aegle marmelos are unique vegetation types found mostly in the northern part of the Reserve.

The track is undulating and the important hills are Murhu, Netarhat, Huluk and Gulgul. Gulgul is the highest hill. Hill slops are steep towards the south and gentle on the northern side of the Reserve.

There are many waterfalls. A few of them - Mirchaia Waterfall near Garu, Suga Bandh Waterfall near Baresand and Lodh Fall, which is the highest water fall in Bihar - are a major tourist attraction. There is a hot water spring, Tataha Pani, near Barwadih.

Conservation History

Palamau was one of the nine Tiger Reserves launched in 1973 but actually created on 1^st June 1973.

The present area of the Reserve was duly constituted either as Protected Forest or Reserved Forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 way back in 1947.

Prior to the creation of Palamau Tiger Reserve, the management of these forests was highly commercialized. There were some cattle camps and the area was open to grazing. The entire forest area used to be ravaged by fires every year. Poaching too was rampant.

Archaeological Richness

Palamau Fort of the great tribal king of Palamau, Sri Medini Roy, is situated inside the Reserve in Betla. There are the ruins of two forts situated at New Qila on a hillock and Old Qila on the bank of the river Oranga.

Major Flora

Shorea robusta, Acacia catechu, Butea monosperma, Madhuca indica, Terminalia tomentosa, Pterocarpus marsupium, Adina cardifolia, Anogeisus latifolia, Indigofera pulchela, Moghania species, Mallotus phillipinensis, Holarrhena antidysentrica, Bothriochloa montana, Apluda mutica, Chrtsopogan montanus, Themeda species, Chloris species, Heteropogon contortus, Albizzia lebbek, Bauhinia species, Chloroxylon swietnia, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Diospyros melanoxylon, Buchhanania lanzan, Bridelia retusa, Bombax ceiba, Mitragyna parviflora, Lannea coromandlica, Holoptelia integrifolia, Imperata arudinacea, Dendrocalamus strictus

Main Fauna

Tiger, leopard, chital, sambar, barking deer, wolf, wild dog, elephant, mouse deer, pangolin, fourhorned antelope and Indian ratel

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve falls between the Vindhyan hill range and the eastern flank of Satpura hill range and is located in Shahdol and Jabalpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.

The Reserve is named after the highest hill Bandhavgarh (807 m.) in the centre of the Reserve. A chain of smaller hills, 32 in all, surrounds this hill, forming a number of valleys and spurs in between. Vertical cliffs are more prominent around the Bandhavragh hill. Interspersed in low-lying areas are a number of grassy meadows, such as Chakradhara, Rajbahera, Sehra-Dadra, Bhitri bah, Kolua bah etc. Since the main formation is of sandstone, water percolates through it, forming a number of perennial streams and springs. The western parts of the Reserve and Panpatha Sanctuary area are more or less plain. The hills are mainly flat-topped. The meadows in certain areas are marshy.

Sal trees cover low, undulating and plain tracts and degenerate in growth and quality as they ascend the hill slopes, giving place to mixed forest on upper slopes, mainly due to edaphic factors.

Gregarious flowering of bamboo in the year 1984-85 has resulted in profuse regeneration all over, which is giving good cover to all animals.

A few rare species such as the insectivorous plant Drocera peltata and medicinal plants such as Buch Acorus calamus are found in some isolated patches of the Tala range of the Reserve.

The rivers Johilla and Son flowing on the eastern side, the river Umrar passing through the western fringes and the Bandhavgarh hill, visible from as far as 30 km., are some of the landmarks of the Reserve.

Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of the tiger and is known for its highest density of tiger population in the world.

Conservation History

The Bandhavgarh Fort, in the centre of the Reserve, atop the Bandhavgarh hill, was the seat of the rulers of erstwhile Rewa State until they shifted to Rewa town in 1617 A.D. The area of the Reserve, with its surrounding forests were the favorite hunting grounds of the erstwhile rulers and were zealously protected as such.

After independence and the abolition of the princely States, the process of degradation of forests accelerated due to lax control. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa was deeply moved by the destruction of forests. On his proposal, an area of 105 sq. km. was

declared a National Park in 1965. The area of the park was increased to 448.84 sq. km. in 1982. The area of the 105 sq. km. old National Park was finally notified in 1968. The remaining part of the National Park i.e. 343.842 sq. km. is yet to be finally notified.

Considering the importance and potentiality of the National Park, it was included in the Project Tiger Network in 1993. The adjoining Panpatha Sanctuary, which was created in 1983 with an area of 245.847 sq. km. was also declared a part of the Reserve.

Archeological Richness

Bandhavgarh was the seat of ex-rulers of the Rewa State and its history dates back to the 3^rd Century A.D. Even mythologically, the fort on this hill was built by Lord Rama for his brother Laxman, during the Ramayan. There are about thirty-five man-made caves in Bandhavgarh with inscriptions and carvings, which date back to about 129-168 A.D. Statues of various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, which were carved out of single rock are found in the fort. “Sheshshaiya” the statue of lord Vishnu in reclining pose is the biggest of all and attracts every tourist. These statues date back to the 10-11^th century A.D.

Major Flora

Sal Shorea robusta, Saja Terminalia tomentosa, Dhauda Anogeissus latifolia, Tendu Diospyros melanoxylon, Arjun Terminalia arjuna, Aonla Emblica officinalis, Palas Butea monosperma, Salai Boswellia serrata, Bhirra Chloroxylon sweitenia, Gamar Gmelina arborea, Dhaman Grewia tilifolia, Mango Mangifera indica, Jamun Syzygium cumini, Bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus, etc.

Major Fauna

The faunal assemblage of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is of typical Central Indian species. The Gaur population of 30+ animals was never a viable population. Most of them seem to have migrated out of the Reserve in 1995 and hardly to be seen now.

Main Species

Mammals: Spotted deer or Chital Axis axis, sambar Cervus unicolor, barking deer or muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, chausinga or four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, nilgai or blue bull Boselaphus tragocamelus, Indian gazelle or chinkara Gazella gazella, tiger Panthera tigris tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, wild dog or dhole Cuon alpinus, wolf Canis lupus, scavengers consist of hyaena Hyaena hyaena, jackal Canis aurius, wild

boar Sus scrofa, sloth bear Mellursus ursinus, common langur Presbetys entellus, Rhesus monkey Macaca mullatta, etc.

Birds: 242 species of birds have been identified in the Reserve. The most commonly seen are the Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Grey Hornbill, Common Teal, Red Wattled Lapwing, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-breasted Kingfisher, Lesser Adjutant Stork, etc.

Tiger Panthera tigris, Leopard Panthera pardus, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Wolf Canis lupus, Jackal Canis aureus, Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis, Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, Ratel Mellivora capensis, Hyaena Hyaena hyaena, Chinkara Gazella gazella and Chowsingha Tetraceros quadicornis. Amongst birds are Malabar Pied Hornbill and amongst reptiles Indian Varanus Varanus bengalensis and Python Python morulus.

Park Tips

The park can be entered on elephant back and / or in a jeep or by car. In these safaris a forest department guide always accompanies you. He will direct and tell about the flora and fauna of the park.

The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 p.m.It is during this time that the animals are most active and are easily spotted.

Climate

There are three well defined seasons :

The cool - from middle of October to end of February. The hot - from middle of March to middle of June. The wet - from middle of June to middle of October.

The temperature ranges from a maximum of 42 ° C in May and June, to around 4° C in winter.

Periyar Tiger Reserve lies in the Western Ghats in the Idukki District of the Indian state of Kerala. The terrain of the Reserve is undulating and the drainage is dendrite. The northeastern boundary of the Reserve is a ridge, which also forms boundary between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu for 90 km.

The Periyar Lake, with an area of 26 sq. km., is the nucleus of the Tiger Reserve. Due to the diverticular shape, it caters to a much more extensive area of forest than would be possible if it was merely a compact lake.

The main prey base of the tiger is sambar. The other prey animals of the tiger are the Indian bison and wild boar. Cattle in the fringe area also forms an important prey base.

Conservation History

In the present day Reserve area, a dam was constructed across the Periyar river in 1895 to provide irrigation facilities in Tamil Nadu. The forest around the reservoir, the Periyar Lake, was declared as reserve forest known as Periyar Lake Reserve in 1899. This area was declared as Nellikkampetty Sanctuary (600 sq. km.) in 1934. The Sanctuary was extended to 777 sq. km. in 1950 and renamed as Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The Reserve is contiguous with Ranni extending up to Achancovil. The core area of the Reserve, 350 sq. km. was declared a National Park in 1982.

Archaeological Richness

Mangaladevi – Kannagi Temple falls on Northern boundary of the Reserve.

Main Flora

So far, 1,963 species of flowering plants belonging to 823 genera and 159 families have been documented by Dr. N. Sasidharan, Kerala Forest Research Institute and Kerala Forest Department (1998). Some important species are Hopea parviflora, Dipterocarpus indicus, Palaquium elliptium, Veteria indica and Myristica dactyloides.

Main Fauna

In Periyar Tiger Reserve 49 species of mammals, 265 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, 35 species of fishes and 160 species of butterflies have been identified so far. Some important mammals are tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sambar, wild dog, barking deer, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur and Nilgiri tahr.

How to Reach Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Air : Kochi (Cochin) at 200 km or Madurai in Tamil Nadu at 140 km are the nearest airports from Periyar.

Rail : Kottayam at 114 km is the nearest railhead from Periyar.

Road : Kumily, the nearest town from Periyar is well served by both state and private buses from Kottayam, Ernakulam and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Trips in the Periyar Wildlife Santuary
Boat Cruises
Boat cruises make the best option to check out the wilds of Periyar Sanctuary, as the Periyar lake presents an excellent boating spot for tourists today. Although it is uneasy to see many animals from the boats, still you come across a family of Elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's edge.

The Silent Valley National Park spreads across 89 sq km in Kerala's Palakkad district. The Park, which harbours some of the best evergreen forests in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, is the catchment area of the Kunthi river. The Silent Valley came into the limelight in the 1970s, when the government planned to dam the river. The protests that followed were the beginning of the environmental movement in India. And the entire valley was declared a National Park in 1985.

Today the core area of the park is closed to tourists, and there is no habitation within the Park. So it was a rare privilege to be allowed to trek through the Park, and across the border to the Mukkurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu.

A 24km jeepable road through the Attapadi reserve forest took us from Mukkali to Sairanthri. It's always more fun to walk though, and it's easier to explore the forests en route that way. At Sairanthri, we entered Silent Valley. From here it was a 3km walk down to the dam site on the Kunthi; the metal suspension bridge on the river marks the point till where tourists are allowed.

From Bangitapal to Upper Bhavani was another 12km, after which we were back on a road again.

Silent Valley National Park, is also known as Sairandhri Vanam .It is a unique preserve of natural rainforests.Its area is about 89.52sq.km. Silent Valley National Park is located in the Nilgiri Hills, Palakkad district, Kerala, in South India. Silent Valley was declared a National park in 1980 and it is a core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Silent valley has a wide range of wildlife such as the Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Flying squirrel and Civet Cat are found in Silent Valley National Park. Silent Valley National Park also have a wide collection of butterflies and moth i.e more than 100 buterflies and 400 moth species can be seen in Silent Valley National Park. Birds such as Malabar Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, hoopoes, tree pie, barbets, crow pheasant, woodpeckers, rollers, drongoes, kingfishers and parakeets can also be seen in abundance in Silent Valley National park.

Flora and Fauna
Silent valley National park have more than 110 species of plants in Silent Valley National Park, including many plants that are known for their medicinal properties. The Silent valley include about a 1000 species of flowering plants, 107 species of orchids, 100 ferns and fern allies, 200 liverworts, 75 lichens and about 200 algae.

Silent Valley National Park includes; Nilgiri Tahr, Indian Elephants, Gaur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Lion-tailed Macaque, Niligiri Langur, Sambar deer, Tiger, Fruit bat, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon, other birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and flowering plants.

Climate
The temperature of silent valley is 20.2 °C. The hottest months are April and May when the mean temperature is 23 °C and the coolest months are January and February when the mean temperature is 18o C. Because of the high rainfall, the relative humidity is consistently high (above 95%) between June and December.[8]
The mean annual rainfall ranges from over 5000 mm in the Neelikal area in the west to around 3200 mm on the eastern side of the park.

The area of Silent Valley National Park is 89.52 km² (35 sq mi)

Best time to visit
The best time to visit Silent Valley is from September to March, during the pleasant winter. The nearest airport to Silent Valley National Park is Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, which is 55 Km away. By road Silent Valley is 40 Km from Mannarkkad and there are regular bus services.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Impact of Lantana camara, a major invasive plant, on wildlife habitat in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, southern India

Ayesha Prasad measuring height of Lantana camara in Bandipur National Park

It is contiguous to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to its south and to the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Indian state of Kerala to its south-west. To its north lies a vast stretch of cultivated lands. To its west lies cultivated land and habitation of the state of Kerala at a distance of eight kilometres separated by the Kannegala stream. To its northwest lies the Nagarahole National Park.

The topography of the Reserve is gently undulating, broken by chains of hills, flat topped hillocks, and stream and rivulets. The highest peak is the Gopalaswamy hill.

The Reserve receives rainfall from both southwest monsoon and in the months of October-November from the northeast monsoon. The highest precipitation is in its western portion in Banugadde and the lowest is in the eastern portion at Moyar.

The main rivers of the Reserve are Nugu, Kabini and Moyar. These rivers are perennial. The Nugu river flows in the middle of the Reserve, whereas the Moyar river forms its southern boundary with the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kabini River, across which a major irrigation dam has come up at Beechanahalli, forms the boundary between this Reserve and the Nagarahole National Park of Karnataka. The Kabini reservoir provides water facility and grazing ground on the foreshore for hundreds of elephants during the severe and prolonged pinch period. There are several seasonal streams viz., Wadli, Chammanahalla, Aidasanahattihalla, Hebballa, Warranchi, Chippanahalla and Mavinahalla. In addition, there are hundreds of ponds and small tanks well distributed all over the area.

This Reserve is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the first ‘Biosphere Reserve’ in India.

Conservation History

A Sanctuary with 90 sq. km. area was created in Bandipur Reserve Forest in 1931. It was realised that this Sanctuary was too small for effective conservation of wildlife. Therefore, the Venugopala Wildlife Park was constituted in 1941, extending over 800 sq. km. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was constituted by including most of the forest area of the Venugopala Wildlife Park and its sanctum sanctorum at Bandipur, in the year 1973 and named Bandipur National Park.

All the forests included in the Reserve are reserved forests notified prior to independence. Notification for the proposed Bandipur National Park was issued in 1985. The final notification is still pending.

Archaeological Richness

The Park was named after the deity, Venugopala of the shrine atop the Gopalaswamy hill.

Tectona grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Adina cordifolia, Grewia tiliaefolia, Amblica officianalis, lagerstroemia lanceolata, Terminalia tomentosa, Anogeisus latifolia, Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Butea monosperma, Cassia fistula, Dendrcalamus strictus, Bambusa arundinacea,Chloroxylon swetenia, Acacia catechu, Shorea talura, Randia uliginosa

Main Fauna

Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, Sloth bear, Mouse deer, Wild dog, Four-horned Antelope.

Tiger, Four horned Antelope, Gaur, Elephant, Panther, Sloth bear, Crocodiles, Mouse deer, Python, Osprey, Peafowl.

Bhadra is situated in the midst of the Western Ghats in the Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts of Karnataka. The Reserve is surrounded by a lofty hill range, Babaudangiri. Among the highest hills are Hebbagiri, Gangagiri and Mullaianagiri. Mullaiahnagiri, at 6316 ft., is not only the highest peak in the Reserve but in the State.

The Reserve is drained by the Bhadra river and its tributaries, namely, Somavahini, Thadabehalla and Odirayanahalla. A dam has been constructed across the Bhadra river near Lakkavalli.

A part of the Reserve was previously known as Jagara valley. A local proverbial saying about the valley is “The bamboo swings to the voice of the wind. The tiger wanders for fun and if so, it must be the Jagara valley.”

Conservation History

A part of the Reserve was declared as “Jagara Valley Wildlife Sanctuary” by the Government of Mysore in 1951, vide Government Notification No. A & F. 6175/90/10 FT-112-40-2, dated 21.2.51, covering an area of 77.45 sq. mile. After a systematic survey and census of the entire area including animals, birds and plants, it was decided to bring some more area under the Jagara Valley Sanctuary. The adjacent area, which was rich in wildlife was surveyed and the Sanctuary was reconstituted in the year 1974 as “Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary” vide Notification No. AFD-25-FWL-74, dated 6.9.74, covering an area of 492.46 sq. km. as per section 18 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (Intention), and confirmed under section 26 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, vide notification Fee-58-FW-96, dated 9.3.98. Bhadra was brought under Project Tiger in 1998.

Archaeological Richness

Ancient temples like Mhakta Markandya temple of Khandya, and Bhavani Shankar temple of Hebbe are an attraction. These temples were built during Hoisala regime.

Main Flora

There are more than 120 species identified in the Reserve. A number of important medicinal plants are also found here. Some of the important species are teak, rosewood, mathi, honne, nandi, kindal, etc.

Mammals: Tiger, leopard, elephant, Indian bison, sambar, barking deer, spotted deer, wild dog, wild boar, sloth bear etc.

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve lies in Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri district of the Indian state of West Bengal. The northern boundary of the Reserve runs along the international border with Bhutan. The Sinchula hill range lies all along the northern side of the Reserve and the eastern boundary touches that of the Indian state of Assam. National Highway No.31 C roughly runs along its southern boundary. A number of tea gardens fringe the western boundary.

Buxa Tiger Reserve is the easternmost extension of the extremely bio-diverse northeast India. It thus represents highly endemic Indo-Malayan region. The fragile “Terai Ecosystem” constitutes a part of this Reserve. Buxa serves as an international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan.

Buxa Tiger Reserve was created in 1983. It comprises of entire forest area of erstwhile Buxa Tiger Division and some territory of neighboring Cooch Behar Forest Division. About three years after creation of the Tiger Reserve in 1986, Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary was constituted over 314.52 sq. km. of the Reserve forests. In 1991, 54.47 sq. km. area was added to Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary. A year later, in 1992, the Government. of West Bengal declared its intentions to constitute a National Park over 117.10 sq. km. of the Buxa Wildlife Sanctuary, which was finally notified in 1997.
Archaeological Richness

The only place of archaeological importance lies in the Jalpaiguri district – the historic Buxa fort, at about 2600 feet above msl. People have sentimental attachment to the fort on account of its association with the freedom struggle. A sacred temple, Mohakal, also lies in the Reserve. Around 10,000 devotees of Lord Shiva congregate here on “Shiva Chouturdoshi”.
Major Flora

More than 300 species of trees, 250 species of shrubs, 400 species of herbs, 9 species of cane, 10 species of bamboo, 150 species of orchids, 100 species of grass and 130 species of aquatic flora including more than 70 sedges (Cyperaceae) have been identified so far in the Reserve. There are more than 160 species of other monocotyledons and ferns. Some of the important species are as follows:

Sal Shorea robusta, Champ Michaelia champaka, Gamar Gmelina arborea, Simul Bombax ceiba, Chikrasi Chukrasia tabularis.

In the Reserve, 390 species of birds, 73 species of mammals, 76 species of snakes and 5 species of amphibians have been identified so far. Some of the mega-mammals are: Asian elephant, tiger, leopard cat, gaur, wild boar, sambar, hog deer, Chinese pangolin.

Indian tiger, Asian elephant, leopard cat, Bengal Florican, Regal python, Chinese pangolin, hispid hare, hog deer, etc.

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Sundarbans in the Indian state of West Bengal is the estuarine phase of the Ganga as well as of the Brahmaputra river systems. This littoral forest is the only ecological habitat of the tiger of its kind not only in India but also in the world, except in Bangladesh. The typical littoral forest of the Sundarbans comprises a host of tree species adapted to the peculiar estuarine condition of high salinity, lack of soil erosion and daily inundation by high tides.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve provides characteristic type of habitat suitable for animals inhabiting vast tidal swamp area. Because of their intimate association with the estuarine environment, sizeable portion of aquatic and semi-aquatic animal communities are
inter-related with the animals inhabiting the land areas. The uniqueness of the habitat is said to have contributed to certain behavioral trends, which are characteristic only of Sundarbans tigers.

Chital, wild boar and the rhesus macaque are the main prey species of tiger. Aquatic animals like the crabs and fishes are also eaten by Sundarbans tiger, which occupies the pinnacle of both terrestrial as well as aquatic food web.

Sundarbans mangrove is the home of a number of endangered and globally threatened species. Number of heronries form here during monsoon as well as during winter. The Reserve is home to several Trans-Himalayan migratory birds.

Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, created in 1973, was part of the then 24-Parganas Forest Division. Subsequently, the area comprising the present tiger reserve was constituted as a Reserve Forest in 1978. The area of the Reserve is 2585 sq. km., covering land area of 1600 sq. km. and the water body occupying over 985 sq. km. Within this area,
1330.12 sq. km. is designated as core area, which was subsequently declared as Sundarbans National Park in 1984. An area of 124.40 sq. km. within the core area is preserved as primitive zone to act as a gene pool. Within the buffer zone, Sajnekhali Wildlife sanctuary was created in 1976, covering an area of 362.335 sq. km. Considering the importance of the biogeographic region of Bengal River Forests and its unique biodiversity, the National Park area of the Reserve was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. The entire Sundarbans area was declared as Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

There are 64 plant species in the Sundarbans with the capacity to withstand estuarine conditions and saline inundation as a result of tidal effects. Some of them are listed here:

Excaecaria agallocha, Heritiera fomes, Ceriops decandra, Ceriops tagal, Phoenix paludosa, Sonneratia alba, Avicennia spp., Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum, Bruguiera spp. etc.

Main Fauna

Tiger, fishing cat, spotted deer, wild boar, Gangetic dolphin, water monitor, estuarine crocodile, river terrapin, olive ridley turtle, ground turtle, hawksbill turtle, king crab (horseshoe) etc.

More than two thousand years ago, the Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, ranged all across the Indian subcontinent right up to Greece. The Lord of Beasts was celebrated as the symbol of power and might, feted in verse and art, feared and admired.

Two millennia down the line, the Asiatic lion has fallen prey, despite its strength, to urbanisation, poaching, and all the ills human populations cause as they expand. India’s national emblem- the four-lion Ashokan capital- is one of the places lions can be readily seen. The other, of course, is the famous Gir Forest in Gujarat, the last stronghold of this majestic creature.

Nearly exterminated by 1910- a result of drought, irate villagers and sheer indifference- the Gir lions were brought under protection by the Nawab of Junagadh, who banned all hunting in the area. After independence, in 1965, the Indian government declared the area a national park. The lion population- which had sunk to an alarming two dozen in the early 20th century- has slowly climbed over the years since, and now numbers about 300. The Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary is collectively known as the Gir Protected Area. Gir stretches over 1,412 sq km of scrub and grassland, dry deciduous forest and some marshland. Besides lions, Gir harbours antelope, deer, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and jackals, along with a spectacular array of birds.

An important part of the Gir Protected Area is the 4 sq km spread known as the Gir Interpretation Zone, about 12 km from Sasan Gir Village, the headquarters of the park. The Zone has a cross-section of wildlife within the park, and a visit here almost guarantees a lion sighting, which is otherwise a hit-or-miss affair in other parts of Gir.

Entry Requirements
All visitors to Gir are required to obtain entry permits from the Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge Office. The permits cost Rs 15 for the first day, and Rs 7.50 for every subsequent day. Extra charges are levied for cameras and for hiring vehicles: a jeep ride will cost about Rs 100 per person, and still camera fees range from Rs 50 (for Indians) to $5 (for foreigners). Guide charges are, respectively, Rs 50 or $10.

Access
The nearest airport is Keshod, at a distance of 90 km from Sasan Gir; the other airport is Rajkot at a distance of 140 kms. Sasan Gir has a railway station of its own, with train connections to a number of other cities and towns in Gujarat and its neighbouring states. The towns of Junagadh, Veraval and Delwada have daily trains to Sasan Gir, from where the park is only about a km away.

In addition, fairly good roads link the park to the rest of the country. Junagadh itself is only about 60 km from Gir, and there are frequent buses connecting the town to the park.

Vehicles are available for hire at Gir, and are easily the best way to see wildlife in the park. Some of the most popular routes for a drive are the Sasan-Kamaleshwar Dam, the Sasan-Kankai, the Sasan-Chodavdi and the Sasan-Tulsishyam routes. Time your jaunt through the park for dawn, when there are more chances of seeing lions and other wildlife.

Best time to visit
Gir is open to visitors throughout the year except during the monsoon (between June and October). By far the best time to visit the park is in the winter, from December to March.

Accommodation
Accommodation within the national park runs the gamut from budget to luxury, and almost everything in between. The forest department operates two lodges, the Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge and the Gir Lodge, while some private lodges also exist. A room at the Sinh Sadan Lodge will cost between Rs 575 – Rs 1,000 per night. If you’re a foreigner, you’ll be expected to pay in US$: an airconditioned room will be $50, a non-a/c one will be $30. Rooms at the privately owned lodges cost about Rs 2,000- Rs 3,000 per night, although rates often come down to half during low season. Accommodation is in short supply, so it’s advisable to book well in advance, particularly during the winter months.

Further information on Gir can be obtained from The Sanctuary Superintendent, Sasan Gir, Junagadh, or the Conservator of Forests, Sardar Baug, Junagadh

The Chilka Lake in Orissa is Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon. Studded with small islands- including the picturesquely-named Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island- the lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandy ridge. The pear-shaped lake spreads across 1,100 sq km, and has a unique ecosystem with a range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. An impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant, makes Chilka one of the best places in India for a bit of satisfying bird-watching. White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher's delight: Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world's largest breeding colonies of flamingos.

Other than the birds, Chilka's shores are home to blackbuck, spotted deer, golden jackals and hyenas, and the lake is rich in aquatic life- its waters harbour around 160 species of fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures, including the famous Chilka dolphin. Prawn, crab and mackerel fishing are an important source of livelihood for the local people, and hundreds of small fishing boats set sail each morning to bring in the day's catch from the lake. he Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve harbours India’s second largest pachyderm population, and the chances of seeing elephant herds is pretty high,especially during the dry season. Access

Chilka is approximately 120 km from Bhubaneshwar, the nearest airport; state transport, OTDC tour buses and private operators ply the roads between Chilka, Puri, Behrampore, Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack. The nearest railway stations are at Rambha and Balugaon, both of which have train connections to cities as distant as Kolkata, Puri, Hyderabad and Chennai. From both Balugaon and Rambha buses are available to the lake.

Local transport is basically limited to three wheel rickshaws and auto rickshaws, bicycles and cars are sole modes of private transport. The services of local boatmen and the OTDC's motorboats are available for access to the islands though outboard motors are not allowed near the bird sanctuary. OTDC boats can be hired at Barkul, and cost between Rs 410 (for a 7-seater boat) to Rs 790 (for a 34-seater boat) per hour. A special tour is operated by the OTDC between Barkul and Kalijai, and costs Rs 40 per head.

Best time to visit
The weather remains moderately warm the whole year round, so come any time of the year except during the rainy season from June to September. The best time, however, is from October to March, when the lake is crowded with migrating birds, usually at least 50-70 species. Pilgrims flock here in January during Makar Mela (at the time of Makar Sankranti) to pay obeisance to the Goddess Kalijai, whose temple is situated on Kalijai island in Chilka Lake.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Named after renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, this bird sanctuary is the abode of a myriad of bird species, both local and migratory. Encompassing an area of 1.8 sq. km, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the smallest among the wildlife sanctuaries in Goa. The small area notwithstanding, the sanctuary teems with the winged visitors who come here searching for the ideal habitat.

The island landscape abounds with thick mangrove vegetation found sporadically along the banks of River Mandovi. The mangrove ecosystem facilitates breeding grounds for several varieties of fish and insects that are natural preys for birds. A watch-tower inside the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary serves the cause of enthusiastic bird-watchers.

Flora at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
The flora of the sanctuary largely consists of mangrove shrubbery.

Fauna at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
A veritable paradise for bird-watchers, the sanctuary plays host to exotic varieties of avian species. During the winter season, migratory birds flock to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in large numbers. Apart from birds, flying foxes, jackals and crocodiles are found in the sanctuary.

How to Reach Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Air
Dabolim is the nearest airport, 29 km from Panaji.

Boat
Take a bus or a cab from Panaji to the Ribandar ferry wharf and then take a ferry across the Mandovi River to the island of Chorao.

Welcome to the land of Rhinoceros Unicornis. The great Indian one-horned rhino, more than two tons of frightening muscle and tank-like belligerence. With its armour-plating hide and its 24” long horn- which really isn’t a horn, but compressed hair- the Indian rhino once ruled the roost in the wetlands of north-east India. Hunted mercilessly, it was on the brink of extinction when conservationists awoke to its plight. The result, and a successful one at that, is Kaziranga National Park, in Assam.

Stretching over an area of 430sq km on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river, Kaziranga is one of the last refuges of the

Indian rhino. A vast stretch of coarse, tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical forests, it has managed to survive the onslaught of poachers, urbanization and burgeoning human populations. Plans are already afoot to extend the park’s boundaries to include the Brahmaputra river to the north and a part of the Mikir hill ranges to the south.

Fairly early on- in 1908, in fact- Kaziranga was declared a reserve forest and was officially closed for shooting; at the time it could boast of only a few dozen rhinos. By 1950 the area was a wildlife sanctuary, and in 1974 it was designated a national park. Bounded by the misty blue hills of Barail and Karbi Anglong to the south, the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Today it’s one of the few places in India where it’s possible to see the rhino out in the open- an awesome sight indeed. And, what’s better still, the rhino population of Kaziranga now numbers more than a thousand of the creatures. Endangered, no doubt, but protected too.

Kaziranga is home also to elephants, sloth bears, tigers, leopard cats, jungle cats, hog badgers, capped langurs, hoolock gibbons, pigs, jackals, porcupines, pythons, wild buffaloes, Indian bison, swamp deer, sambhars and hog deer. Besides these, the park has a respectable avian population, which increases considerably in the winter, when migrating birds visit the park.

Visitors to the Kaziranga National Park are required to register at the Tourist Centre in the Bonani Tourist Lodge while entering the park. The entry fee for foreigners is about Rs 200; for Indians it’s Rs 10. Charges for cameras and vehicles are additional (even if you bring your own vehicle, you’ll pay a fee for it). Rented vehicles and elephant rides cost between Rs 750 to 800 for a ride of about an hour and a half. The fees for Indian visitors are appreciably less- generally between Rs 50 for an elephant ride and Rs 150 for a hired jeep.

The two most convenient bases for getting to Kaziranga are Jorhat and Guwahati. Jorhat, 96 km from the sanctuary, is the nearest airport, but Guwahati’s Borjhar Airport, 239 km from Kaziranga, is connected by more flights. Cars are available on rent at both airports.

There are also direct train services to Guwahati from Calcutta, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum. In addition, both Jorhat and Guwahati are accessible by road from all the neighbouring states- West Bengal, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

Once within the park, wildlife-watching trips can be taken at dawn on elephants that wade through the tall elephant-grass and give you a vantage view of animals waking up to the day. Elephant trips cover Baguri, Hole Path, Mihimukh, Kohora-Central Path and Arimarah. On an elephant ride, do wear trousers that fully cover your legs to avoid abrasions from the coarse elephant-grass.

Best time to visit
The best season to visit Kaziranga is the winter- approximately November to April. The weather’s hot and humid through much of the rest of the year. During the monsoons (June to September), when there’s heavy rainfall and the park is closed.

Lying in a 820 sq km swathe across the Shivaliks, at the foot of the Himalayas, the Rajaji National Park spreads across three districts of Uttaranchal- Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal. In 1983, the three wildlife sanctuaries of Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla were amalgamated into a single contiguous park consisting of several distinct vegetation zones. These include broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine vegetation, grasslands, and pine forests in the upper reaches.

Inhabiting these dense green jungles are an impressive array of creatures- furred and feathered, docile and dangerous. 23 species of mammals- including tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, jungle cat, wild boar and sloth bear- and 315 species of birds are found in Rajaji. The most prominent avian species include pea fowl, woodpeckers, pheasants, kingfishers and barbets, supplemented by a number of migratory species during the winter months. Besides that, the rivers which flow through the park harbour fish such as trout and mahseer.

Rajaji’s history of conservation has been rather rocky in the recent past. The park’s been besieged by a host of problems, ranging from soil erosion to poaching. Despite all these issues, Rajaji continues to be one of northern India’s major wildlife reserves- and one of the best places to see the fauna and flora of the terai.

Entry Requirements
All visitors to Rajaji National Park need entry permits in order to be allowed into the park. Permits are available at each of the gates to the park, and cost Rs 30 for Indians and Rs 350 for foreigners. These permits are valid for three days; if you wish to stay longer, you’ll have to pay Rs 20 a day (if you’re Indian), Rs 175 per day if you’re not. Additional charges are levied for cameras and vehicles. Still cameras are free for Indians and Rs 50 for foreigners; vehicles are Rs 500 for both Indians and foreigners.

Access
One of the reasons for Rajaji’s popularity is that it’s conveniently situated for anybody coming from Delhi. The national capital is only 231 km from the park, and there are convenient overnight trains from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun, from where there are connecting buses to Rajaji. Similarly, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is linked by bus to Haridwar and Dehradun. From Rajaji, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, at Dehradun, while the most convenient railheads are Haridwar and Dehradun. Both have railway connections to the rest of the country.

Rajaji is accessible through different gates; the Ramgarh Gate and Mohand Gate are within 25 km of Dehradun, while the Motichur, Ranipur and Chilla Gates are just about 9 km from Haridwar. Kunao Gate is 6 km from Rishikesh, and Laldhang gate is 25 km from Kotdwar.

Within the park, the only way of getting around, if you haven’t got your own vehicle, is by elephant. Elephant rides of about 2½ hours each are organized by the park authorities and cost between Rs 50 and 100 per person.

Best time to visit
Rajaji National Park is open to visitors between November and June. The months from December to March are usually the best time to visit, as the weather’s at its best. Beyond April, things start hotting up, though it never gets unbearably hot.

Further information is available from the Rajaji National Park office at 5/1 Ansari Marg, Dehradun (Tel: 0135-2621669 / 2744225).

Simlipal National Park, 320 km from Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), is a 2,750 sq km sanctuary and a Project Tiger Reserve. Situated in the Mayurbhanj district, the park’s hills, waterfalls and dense foliage hide almost 95 tigers and a number of other species of ‘typically’ Indian wildlife: elephants, deer, leopards, gaur bison, sloth bears, reptiles, langurs, crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life.

The forests of Simlipal consist predominantly of deciduous sal trees, and are crisscrossed by twelve rivers, which meander through the hills and plateaus of Simlipal, creating some of the area’s most impressive waterfalls.

The spectacular Barehipani waterfall, with a 400-metre drop, and the Joranda waterfall, with a shorter drop of 150 metres, are so beautiful that one is forced to reflect on nature’s majesty. Besides the fact that there’s a lot of wildlife to be seen in Simlipal, there’s also a wide range of local flora; the park boasts of at least 82 species of orchids.

The National Park has a core area of about 850 sq km, where most of the tigers are concentrated. Visitors are not allowed into this section of the park, but if you’re lucky you just might see a tiger wandering further out. What you’re more likely to see are elephants, monkeys, deer and birds. Joshipur, which is one of the two entrances to the park, has a maggar centre where you can catch a glimpse of the crocodiles at close quarters.

Entry permits for Simlipal have to be collected from the Field Director, Simlipal Tiger Project, Baripada, before you’re allowed to step into the national park. One has to apply at least 10 days (preferably 30 days) in advance to visit the park. The application has to be accompanied by a copy of your passport, if you are a foreigner. Indians have to provide proof of identity to support the information required.

Foreigners have to pay an entry fee of Rs 100; Indians, Rs 5. Cameras have an extra charge levied on them. All applications for entry to Simlipal must be reconfirmed at the Simlipal Park Office (Tel: 06792 52593) at Baripada.

Access

Simlipal has two entry points, one at Lulung, and the other at Joshipur. The nearest railhead is at Baripada, about 50 from Simlipal. Baripada has direct rail connections to all of India’s major metropolises: Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai, in addition to regular trains from Hyderabad, Guwahati and other cities in the region. Baripada also has extensive road links to other cities and towns within Orissa and other states. From Baripada, regular buses leave for Lulung (a distance of 30