Located in northern part of Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the finest and important wildlife sanctuaries in the region. Established in 1976 under Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the sanctuary is relatively a small one covering an area of only 245 sq km. the topography of the region comprises of flat and hilly terrain with altitudes ranging between 265-400 mts. The Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its lush green vegetations and unique wildlife.
Flora and Fauna – Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
The flora of Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary chiefly comprises of tropical dry deciduous forest with Teak, Sal, Bamboo and Terminalia being the prominent trees. Other major plants found in the sanctuary include Semal, Mahua, Ber and Tendu. The rich and lush vegetation cover supports a wide variety of wildlife in the sanctuary. The major wildlife of the Barnawapara Sanctuary include 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, Python to name a few. The sanctuary also has a sizable bird population with prominent being the Parrots, Bulbul, White-rumped Vultures, Green Avadavat, Lesser Kestrels, Peafowl, Wood Peckers, Racket-tailed Drongos, Egrets, and Herons to name few. Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary tour promises to be an exciting and rewarding experience for all wildlife enthusiasts, bird lovers and nature lovers.
Best Time to Visit – Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
The best time to visit the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is November-June.
How to Reach – Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
The nearest airport from the sanctuary is Raipur (85 km). Mahasamund Railway Station (60 km) is the nearest railhead from the Barnawapara Sanctuary. The place is easily approachable through the PWD forest road, which connects Barnawapara with Raipur via Patewa and with Pithora on NH 6.
Barnawapara Wildlife Count: Tiger – 08, Leopard -50, Gaur – 563, Sambar – 207, Wild boar – 286, Sloth bear – 132, Nilgai – 158, Chital – 4,287.
