Nagzira
Nagzira in the Gondia district of Maharashtra was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 27th 1971. It is today a haven for nature and wildlife lovers. Among many of its denizens is the ace predator, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Apart from the king of the forest, Nagzira also boasts of a large herd of spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, sambars, four-horned antelopes, blue bulls or nilgais, sloth bears, panthers, jungle cats, spotted hyenas, jackals and pack of wild dogs. The sanctuary’s avian species include more than hundred species of birds comprising peafowl, grey jungle fowl, red spur fowl and many more. You will also find hundreds of species of insects and butterflies in this beautiful forest. In total, there are 34 mammal species, 166 bird species, 36 reptile species, and four amphibian species here.
Though there are better known reserve forests and sanctuaries in Maharashtra, but word of Nagzira, its stunning beauty and rich wildlife is spreading fast. That’s why, these days, about 30,000 people are coming to this sanctuary every year.
One of the biggest attractions that draw visitors to this small (152.8 square kilometers) yet richly endowed game sanctuary is its lakes. Yes, you will find many beautiful lakes in the Nagzira wildlife sanctuary. There is the Nagzira lake, Chorkhamara lake, Bodalkasa lake, Rengepar lake, Murpar lake, Lendezari lake, Malutola lake, Thadezari lake, Balapur lake and the Badbadya lake. They are scattered within the sanctuary and provide drinking water for the animals all the year round. There are many tribal villages too within the forests. You could visit a few to understand their way of life.
How to reach: Visit this wildlife sanctuary from Nagpur. There are many ways in which you can reach the city. It is the capital of the Vidarbha region, and so, there is a busy airport and railway station. You must hire a taxi to reach Nagzira from there. The forest department runs safaris inside the sanctuary on their own vehicles. Outside automobiles are not allowed.
There aren’t any hotels in Nagzira wildlife sanctuary or resorts in Nagzira wildlife sanctuary, at least not within the forest. If you want to stay inside, you must choose from FRH’s or Forest Rest Houses. However, there are plenty of options in the buffer zone.
