Tiger Reserves In India

Madhya Pradesh Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve

Introduction

The Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh is formed by merging the Sanjay National Park and Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary on the state border with Chhattisgarh. Both the protected areas have a combined area of over 830 sq km.

The terrain of the Sanjay Dubri Reserve is undulating at best; this may be accredited to the region being the catchment area of the Son River and its several tributaries. The constant onslaught of the flowing water in the Sidhi district Reserve has created a valley and small and big gorges. The newfound Tiger Reserve is one of the developing protected areas in Central India.

History

The Sanjay National Park in Madhya Pradesh was established in 1981 and was one of the largest in central India with over 1500 sq km in area. When Chhattisgarh was created, a major portion of the National park went to the new state in 2000, leaving Sanjay National Park with only 466 sq km. The Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary was not touched in the separation but originally had a small area of 365 sq km when it was notified as sanctuary in 1975.

In 2008, the Madhya Pradesh government merged these two protected areas to form the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve, which is included in Project Tiger.

Weather And Best Time To Visit

The weather of the Sanjay Dubri region is typical of the Deccan Plateau. The summers are dry and hot. The monsoons bring moderate to heavy rains and are cooler. Winter are pleasant. The best time to visit the Reserve is between November and May.

Places To Visit

The Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve has a lot of surrounding tourist attractions; a Shiva Temple inside the Reserve is worth a visit.

There is a Bandhavgarh National Park nearby, which tourists can visit while they are in the vicinity.

The nearby towns of Sidhi and Umaria are also of interest to tourists.

How To Reach

By Air

The two airports closest to the region are at Jabalpur (220 km) and Varanasi (210 km, Uttar Pradesh)

By Train

Trains arriving at Jabalpur and Varanasi are more efficient and comfortable for tourists. From these points, it is better to travel by road to reach the reserve.

By Bus

There are regular bus services from Jabalpur and Varanasi to the nearby town of Sidhi.

Flora And Fauna

Flora

The prominent vegetation here is that of dry Deccan deciduous forest with moist deciduous to subtropical forest mixed due to the riverine environment. Trees like Sal, teak and dhawa dominate the forests.

Fauna

Mammals

The main large animal species are the ungulates like the Chinkara, Cheetal, Sambhar, Blue Bull, and Barking Deer. Cat species like the Panther, Tiger and Leopard exist but are elusive. Other animals include Bear, Wolf, Wild Dog, Jackal and Wild Boar.

Wildlife

Apart from the popular mammalian residents of the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve, there are over 300 bird species but have been poorly reported, but include many resident and migratory birds. The reptile and amphibian species of the Reserve are common to the Deccan Plateau.

Timings

The Sanjay Dubri Reserve remains closed for monsoons, which means it is only open from 15 October to 15 June

WhereTo Stay

There are Forest Department accommodations at Dubri and Bastua. Many find staying at Sidhi more convenient.

General Information

For any kind of reservation or permits, the visitors must contact the Game Range Officer of the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve, whose office can be found in Majhouli.

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