Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary Maharashtra

Sprawling over an area of 150 square kilometers, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Bhandara district; the eastern part of Maharashtra. The sanctuary got its name from the fact that a temple of 'Nag' (Snake) and Mahadeo is located deep inside the forest, and 'zira' (zara) in Marathi means a perennial source of water; thus the name - Nagzira. In the year 1970, the area was tagged as the 'wildlife sanctuary' and in 2012, the state government announced its merger with the project tiger. Along with tigers, which can be seen by looking closely, the wildlife sanctuary is also famous for the presence of many endangered species, such as panther, small Indian civet, palm civet, jackal, and flying squirrel, among others. Wild dogs and Sloth bears are also seen in big groups. Many tourists are also greeted by the incredible sight of sloth bears cubs hitch-hiking on their mother’s back. What makes this sanctuary even more unique is its bird's population flocking to the lakeside. A good number of eagles, orioles, grey-headed fish eagle, drongos, and ground thrushes are prominently seen hovering in the sky.

Despite its location in the business hub of India, the sanctuary is far away from the urban life as solar energy fulfills the demand for all the necessary lighting. So, if looking for a great holiday in wilderness than do consider a vacation in Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.

Highlights

• Fauna in Nagzira Wildlife34 mammal species, 166 bird species, 36 reptile species and 4 amphibian species consider Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary as their home. Wild-dogs, Sloth Bears, Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Palm Civet, wolf, are amongst the famous mammals that can be spotted in the wildlife sanctuary. What catches the attention of tourists the most is the bird population. Bar-headed Goose and peafowl are amongst the 13 endangered birds that can be seen in the park. Along with birds, here one can see multiple species of reptiles that are critically endangered like Indian Rock Python, Dhaman, Indian Cobra, Russel’s Viper, Checkered Keelback and Common Monitor.
• Flora in Nagzira Wildlife Teak Forests, Grasslands, Bamboo, and Weeds are amongst the few other types of forest that can be easily seen in the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary. Adding to the greenery of the park are trees like Mahua, Ain, Jamun, Bombax and Bamboo. As such there is no record of any endemic or rare species presence from this sanctuary, but here one can find around 200 species of medicinal and economic importance.
• Inside the park one can find many small lakes like Nagzira Lake, Balapur Lake, Murpar Lake, Rengepar Lake, Chorkhamara Lake, Badbadya Lake, Lendezari Lake, Thadezari Lake, Bodalkasa Lake, to name a few; which is not only the source of survival for animals but also inhabits many freshwater fishes.
• On a trip to Nagzira Wildlife, stop by Navegaon National Park (50 km), Itiadoh Dam (65 km), Tibetan Camp at Gothangaon (60 km) and Pratapgad (70 km).
• For the better understanding of the park and ongoing conservation initiatives, visit the museum at the Nagzira tourist complex where on display are photographs of wildlife, pugmarks, hoot-prints, plaster casts, etc. Now and then, the museum is used to screen picture related to wildlife conservation.
• To see the uninterrupted view of the park, climb the watch towers and cabins located in the sanctuary.

Best time to Visit

The weather remains pleasant throughout the year, but the best months to visit are April and May.

Safari Timing

To enjoy the best of the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, one should go for a jeep safari, and if travelling in group, mini bus facility is also available.