Raipurs Wildlife Reserves
Raipur is the largest city located along the fertile plains of Chhattisgarh district. This area was part of South Kosal. It is considered to be the kingdom of Muria and the capital of the Haihaya kings. The city became a center of trade, commerce and home to India’s wildlife sanctuaries.
Raipur district has three wildlife sanctuaries which can be visited during the months of November to June. These sanctuaries offer abundant terrain, wooded hills, natural and evergreen forests. Viewing main species such as Chinkara, Spotted Darling or Chital and Sambar are most loved. Other rare animals are nilgai, barking deer, Kotri, bison, chausinga, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, wild dog, hyena, wolf and jackal.
These sanctuaries have some of the avifauna which includes pigeons, junglefowl, peacocks, woodpeckers, green pigeons, quails, parrots, storks and woodpeckers. Most tourists observe the migratory birds during the summer and winter seasons. This is past the artificial waterholes designed to attract them. There are three reserves offering great features of different animals and their habitats.
Barnavapara Sanctuary
Barnawapara is located in the northern part of Mahasamund of Chhattisgarh. The sanctuary is just 85 km from Raipur Airport. It was established in 1976 and became one of the best in the region. The 245 square kilometer sanctuary is a protected area under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The unique and lush vegetation of the area provides a tropical dry flora with prominent trees such as Sal, Bamboo, Teak, Mahua, Tendu and Terminalia. There is a variety of small animals including flying squirrels, porcupine, black ducks, monkeys and leopards as well as gaur, python, cobra, tiger, egrets and many more. Bird lovers are sure to be enthralled by birds such as bulbul, parrot, egret, peacock, woodpecker and heron, vulture, as well as white-billed kestrels, egrets and drongo.
Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible via the PWD Forest Road via Patewa on National Highway 6 at Pithiora. Forest lodges are available at Raven, Devpur and Pakreed with their many lodges and huts. The place really promises rewarding wildlife knowledge.
Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary
Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is in the southernmost part, with a very large area of 556 square kilometers. It is located along Dhamtari and Chattisgarh districts. The hilly terrain owes its name to the river Sitanadi.
The sanctuary has a rich flora of wet teak, semal, mahua, ber tendu, sal peninsula and bamboo forests. There are many interesting species to see here like the four-horned antelope, gaur, sambar, chinkara and other birds like the teeter, red-breasted barbet and wood pie.
The best time to visit is from November to June. It is just 95 km from the railway station and accessible via the Deobhog State Highway.
Udanti Sanctuary
The Undanti Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its wild buffaloes. The hills and streaks of plains have made this 232 square kilometer sanctuary a favorite among tourists. Forest department officials have taken steps for its survival. Large man-made reservoirs have been built around the sanctuary.
Among the many animals inside are tigers, chitals, black bucks, foxes, cobras and panthers as well as chinkara, nilgai, porcupine and many more. The flora consists of dry forests of the Sal Peninsula and dry tropical mixed forests. Many birds come out during the months of November to June. This is the best time to visit and get a chance to see them.
Bhoramdeo Sanctuary
Bhoramdev Sanctuary is one of the eleven wildlife sanctuary of Chhattisgarh, also known as Bhoramdeo. The place is located in Kabirdham district just 140 km from Raipur. Bhoramdeo is named after the Bhoramdeo temples.
Flora and fauna of rare and wild species make up the wildlife of Bhoramdeo. The river Sakari flows through it, which becomes a source of drinking water for the animals. The river Sakari, which flows through the sanctuary, is the source of drinking water for the animals.
Raipur is a big city covering most of the wildlife sanctuaries in India. These sanctuaries help in growing tourism in Raipur.
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