Gugamal National Park, Maharastra

If you are touring Maharashtra and are fond of exploring the natural wonders present in the region, then, the Gugamal National Park located close to the historical city of Amravati is definitely worth your time. Spread across a huge area of 361 sq. km. the park is home to several rare animals and birds including Royal Bengal tiger. Nestled in the rugged terrain of the Melaghat hills, it is one of the most well-known parks in Maharashtra. Situated at an altitude of 350-1,178 m; the park is located in Dharni and Chikhaldara tehsils of Amravati district, nestled in the Satpura mountain range. It is one of the last remaining habitats in Maharashtra of the Indian tiger species. The national park forms the core of the Melaghat Tiger Reserve which is spread in 1673.93 sq. km. area.
The Melaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve of which Gugamal National Park is a part, lies at northern end of Amravati district, close to Madhya Pradesh border. The national park is situated in the southern part of the Satpura range. The Gugamal National Park forms the core area while the Melaghat Wildlife Sanctuary forms the buffer area. Apart from dense southern tropical dry deciduous forests, you can also find grassy meadows on the hilltops. Gadga and Dolar rivers flow through the park apart from several tributaries of Tapi River which flows on the northern border of the park. The area receives around 1,850 mm rainfall on an average.

Why should you visit Gugamal National Park?

Gugamal National Park established in 1974 is the central part of the Melaghat wildlife sanctuary which was declared a tiger reserve in 1973-74 under Project Tiger. On 5th September 1975, Melaghat was designated as a sanctuary and a national park to prserve the ecology, flora and fauna of the region. The park extends to a total area of 1673.93 sq. km. and is one of the most famous national parks in Maharashtra for spotting the national animal. In March 1990 and February 1991, crocodiles were reintroduced in the region in a systematic manner in Siddu Kund (river Gadga) near Dhakna and Hathi Kund (river Dolar). The wide variety of wildlife present in the region is reason enough for tourists to visit the Gugamal National Park.

Wildlife which can be observed at Gugamal National Park

Flora–
More than 750 species of plants including 316 herb species, 66 shrub species, 56 climbers and 90 tree species are found in Gugamal National Park including Tectonagrandis, Ain, Amla, Tiwas, Lendia, Dhawada, Kusum, Teak, Bamboo etc. Several medicinal plants are also found in the region. There are around 99 species of grass present in the area which is a typical Southern dry deciduous forest. Several flowering plants including orchids can be found in the upper hilly regions of the park.

Fauna–
Mammals: Tiger, bison, panther, sloth bear, wild dog, jackal, hyena, chausingha, sambhar, barking deer, cheetal, ratel, flying squirrel, nilgai, wild boar, langur, rhesus monkey, squirrel, bear, antelope, gaur, fox, macaque, Indian dhole

Reptiles: Different varieties of snake including Indian cobra, skink snake, Indian python, dwarf and bark gecko, common Indian monitor, Dhamen, crocodile etc.

Birds: Common birds sighted in Gugamal National Park include jungle and common babbler, green bee-eater, crested bunting, yellow-billed babbler, white-checked barbet, laughing dove, common kingfisher, white-eyed buzzard, common stonechat, black-shouldered kite, honey buzzard, white-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl,black kite, rose-ringed parakeet, black-throated munia, rock pigeon etc. Several migratory birds can also be observed during winter months.

Attractions available at Gugamal National Park

Visitors can enjoy a plethora of activities while visiting Gugamal National Park. Apart from jungle safari where you can spot some rare animals, birds and flora of the region, you can also indulge in trekking across the Gavilgarh Hills where the national park is situated. The rugged terrain can be explored to have a magnificent view from the top of the plateau.
Bird watching is another popular attraction of the region as the area boasts of a huge avian fauna. Melaghat is an important site for spotting critically endangered species including the forest owlets, fairy bluebird, great black woodpecker, stork-billed kingfisher, sparrow-hawk, black-capped kingfisher.
It offers several opportunities for photography, both nature photography and wildlife photography.
Meditation for spiritual cleansing is another attraction of the national park.

How to Reach Gugamal National Park?

Air: The nearest airport to reach Gugamal National Park is Nagpur which is 225 km from the park. From here you can hire a taxi to reach the destination

Road: Travellers can reach the Gugamal National Park (Semadoh) by road through Badnera/Amravati which is 110 km from away. It is a 3 hours’ drive by road.

Train: The nearest railway station is Badnera/Amravati which is 110 km from the park. Taxi or bus can be used to reach the national park.

Best Time to Visit Gugamal National Park

The best time to visit the Gugamal National Park is from October to June. The temperature during the summers goes as high as 430C which makes travelling in summer months slightly tough while during winters the temperature is around 60C.

Tips while visiting Gugamal National Park

The safari timings are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The charges for safari are INR 2000; however, they are subject to change.
The Gugamal National Park is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, care should be taken to ensure that the animals are undisturbed due to human presence and herbs and shrubs are not trampled.
You can observe the unique culture of the native Korku tribe while visiting the region.
The national park area is well marked for conserving biodiversity and wildlife. Activities like poaching, hunting, forestry and grazing are strictly restricted here.