Barnawapara Wildlife sanctuary

The Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mahasamund district. The reserve is about 100 km from Raipur and about 45 km from Mahasamund city. It was established in 1976 under the Wildlife Protection Act.[1] The Jonk River flows through the sanctuary, which is a tributary of the Mahanadi river.[2]

Tiger in the sanctuary

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Name

The Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is named after the twin forest villages of Bar and Nawapara located in the sanctuary.[1][2]

Area

The sanctuary is spread over an area of about 245 square km.[2]

Terrain

The landscape is mostly flat terrain with occasional low and high hillocks. The Jonk River, a tributary of the Mahanadi river, flows through the sanctuary, and is bisected by a number other of streams and rivulets, besides numerous watering holes.[1][2]

Flora

The sanctuary is full with Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Bamboo is amongst the most commonly spotted tree here. Sal, Teak and other tropical dry deciduous trees like Tendu, Terminalia, Mahua, Ber and Semal trees are also commonly found in the reserve.[2]

Fauna

Wildlife of the sanctuary include gaur, Tigers, Sloth Bear, Flying Squirrels, Jackals, Four-horned Antelopes, Leopards, Chinkara, Black Buck, Jungle Cat, Barking Deer, Porcupine, Monkey, Bison, Striped Hyena, Wild Dogs, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur, Muntjac, Wild Boar, Cobra, and Python. The sanctuary also has a large population of birds that include Parrots, Bulbul, White-rumped Vultures, Green Avadavat, Lesser Kestrels, Peafowl, Wood Peckers, Racket-tailed Drongos, Egrets, and Herons. Bird watching in Barnawapara is one of the most enjoyed and popular activities.

Deer in the sanctuary

Connectivity

The reserve is about 100 km from Raipur and about 45 km from Mahasamund city.

Tourism

There are a number of scenic waterfalls in the sanctuary, like Dhaskund waterfall, Siddhakhol Waterfall, Nakuti Darha waterfall, etc. There are other tourist attractions, such as Gond Nagarjuna caves, which the local Gondi people consider as sacred and have been worshipping there. The Gonds call it 'Chanda Dai'. Once the Dalai Lama had come to meditate in this cave. Other places like Turturiya Dham are also popular. It is situated on the northern boundary of the sanctuary besides the Balamdehi river, 13 km from Barnawapara, is believed to have been the abode of Sage Valmiki and the place where Sita lived in exile, and where Luv and Kush were born.[1]

References
  1. Aggarwal, Bharat (2017-05-17). "Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. Negi, Chaman; Singh, Lalji; Bhardwaj, Daulat (August 2015). "Regeneration Status and Floristic Composition of Natural and Plantation Forest Ecosystems of Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary" (PDF). The Indian Forester. 141 (8): 848–853. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

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