BETLA  NATIONAL PARK


Location : 140 kms from Ranchi,  (Jharkhand ).
Coverage Area : 232 sq. Kms.
Main Attractions : Tigers
Best Time To Visit : February to March.

Arrival Information : --
By Rail : The nearest airport is Daltonganj (25 kms.).
-- By Air : The nearest airport is Ranchi.
-- By Road : Betla is easily accessible by road. It is 25 kms from Daltonganj and 140 kms from Ranchi.
-- Nearby Excursions : -- Nearby Cities : Daltonganj , 140 kms from Ranchi

Palamu shot to fame as early as 1932 for its tiger census - the first of its kind in the world. In 1974 it became one of the countrys earliest tiger reserves. Endowed with thick tropical forests and a rich variety of fauna, the core area of the sanctuary has been declared as Betla National park (232 sq. kms.).

This park is a great attraction to tourists. The Park, at an average elevation of 1,000 ft. is open throughout the year although February to April are the best months. It is 140 kms from Ranchi.

Fauna :

Large herds of Gaur and Chital are commonly seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoons up to the time when water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Bear, Sambhar, Nilgai, Kakar, Mouse Deer are also permanent residents. Large families of langurs are an ever present attraction. Palamu is now one of the nine Tiger Reserves in India under Project Tiger

It has waterfalls and hot springs too. The forest department has made arrangements for providing jeeps for viewing the wildlife here.

PALAMU TIGER RESERVE


General Information:
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the Year.
Nearest Town: Daltonganj (25 km)
How to Get Here:
Air: Ranchi (180 km)
Rail: Daltonganj (25 km

Spread over an area of approximately 1026 sq. km., Palamau Tiger Reserve is located within the civil administrative district of Palamau in the South Chhotanagpur plateau of Bihar. The undulating terrain is set off by sal forests and thickets of bamboo. The circuitous Koel River and its tributaries meander through the park.

The undulating terrain is set off by sal forests and thickets of bamboo.

Though the Koel River and its tributaries cut through the Park, the animals are mostly dependant on man-made water holes for their needs and viewing them is consequently quite easy.

Predators like the tiger and leopard, and elephant, gaur, sambar, muntjac and nilgai are found at the Park.

Fauna :

Palamau has the distinction of being the forest where the world's first tiger census was conducted by way of pugmarks, in 1934. Large herds of Gaur & Chital are commonly seen. Elephants are present mostly after the monsoon upto the time when the water holes begin to dry up in March. Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Deer are also permanent residents.

Palamau National Park is now a part of one of nine tiger reserves in India, under "Project Tiger”. Man-animal conflicts, caused largely by elephants are a major problem and pose Project Tiger with one of its greatest challenges.

Hazaribagh

Location : 19 kms from the Hazaribagh town (Jharkhand ).
Coverage Area : 184 sq. kms.
Main Attractions : Wild Bear, Nilgai, Cheetal.
Best Time To Visit : October To April.

Arrival Information :
By Rail : The nearest railway station is Koderma (59 kms), Hazaribagh railway station (67 kms on the Howrah-Delhi Grand Chord line).
By Air : The nearest airport Ranchi (91 km) is connected with Calcutta, Patna, Lucknow and Delhi by regular Indian Airlines flights.

By Road : Hazaribagh town is connected by road to Ranchi 91 km, Dhanbad 128 km, Gaya 130 km, Patna 235 km, Daltongunj 198 km.

Nearby Excursions : Canari Hill-5 km, Rajrappa-Falls 89 km, and Suraj Kund hot spring-72 km.
Nearby Cities : Hazaribagh


INTRODUCTION

Nestling in low hilly terrain, at an average altitude of 615 meters in the Indian state of Jharkhand, the Hazaribagh National Park has an abundance of wild animals like the wild boar, sambar, nilgai, chital, sloth bear, tiger and panther.

VISITING THE PARK

Sighting of wild boar, sambar, nilgai, cheetal, and kakar is assured especially near the waterholes at dusk. Tigers being less in number-14 according to the 1991 census-are difficult to sight. The sanctuary stretches over 184 square km of undulating country and steep hills with dense tropical forests and grass meadows.

A 111-km road in the sanctuary takes motorists to the remotest corners and to masonry towers. Strategically located, the road offers excellent opportunities for viewing the wilds. The sanctuary is surrounded by tribal habitation. There are many watchtowers that provide perfect hideouts to see the wildlife in its true natural habitat.