Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary

Chaprala is an animal haven that remains blissfully ensconced in the Chandrapur district of the forested region of Vidharba in Maharashtra. Despite its comparatively smaller forested zone, the sanctuary offers a rich variety of flora and fauna, seldom to be found anywhere else. Just visit this sanctuary on any weekend. You are sure to go back having seen some of the inhabitants of this forest. And if you are lucky, then you might even see the best of them, the Royal Bengal Tiger. There is a profusion of large hardwood trees such as teak, salai, arjun, mowha, bel, tendu, and others that grow within the sanctuary. The area is also dotted with numerous water bodies in the form of tanks, lakes and jheels that attract thousands of migratory birds during the season. Everything together makes a visit to the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary a great travel plan for any weekend.

Of course, the tiger is not the only beast that roams these forests. You are likely to come across a large number of animals that include the stately sambar, herds of spotted deer, the elusive barking deer, the sturdy blue bull and the majestic black buck.

You can never be sure of sighting a tiger. But you may still see one, especially in the early morning when the king of the forest returns to his den after a nightlong repast. So wake up early and go on that animal safari. Also, if you have a good guide in your jeep safari, he might be able to discover a leopard stealthily lurking behind a bush. However, there are no wild elephants in this jungle.

How to reach: If you want to visit Chaprala, you need to go to Nagpur first. There are buses that can take you to the sanctuary from here. The closest railhead is Ballarpur. Alternatively, you can book a taxi from the airport or the railway station at Ballarpur, about an hour away.

You will find a few resorts in Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary and a few home stays in Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary. But the options are limited. The better option is to stay at Gadchiroli.