Bhagvan Mahaveer Sanctuary | By Parth Joshi
Before you start getting ideas from the heading of this post, let me clarify we will be discussing totally different form of wild. Goa is more than just pristine beaches, feni, floating casinos and a happening night life. Being a place of immense natural beauty, the state is endowed with breathtaking wilderness and there are more places to visit in Goa which are a perfect retreat for someone who wants to get out of a mundane week, and get into something peaceful. So in this post, we will talk about some greener retreats for those who love the wild, other than those covered in Goa holidays packages.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
Beautiful Cruiser Butterfly in Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary | By Raju Kasambe
With an area of more than 240 sq km, this park happens to be the largest Wildlife sanctuary in Goa. It was earlier called Mollem Game
Sanctuary and was renamed to the current one in 1969. However the core area is still called Mollem National Park. Nestled in the Western Ghats, the sanctuary is home to pristine evergreen, semi evergreen and deciduous forests at different altitudes. The fauna includes the rare black panther, varieties of deer, bison, several members of the primate family, porcupines and a number of species of resident and migratory birds. It is also home to a great variety of butterflies.
The sanctuary contains several natural and historical attractions that make this largest protected area. Some of them are Dudhsagar falls, Tambdi falls, Devil’s canyon and ancient Kadamba temples.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is 63 km from Panaji and can be reached by road or train from the capital or Margao. To go around, vehicles are provided by the Forest department at the economical rates. One can get more idea from Goa tourism.
Dudhsagar Falls
A train passes below the Dudhsagar falls
One of the important destinations within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is the Dudhsagar falls. Of the numerous waterfalls in the Western Ghats, this is one of the most impressive and is the second highest in India after the Jog falls. The trip involves a short hike on the road and requires a minimum of fitness. The best season to see the falls is in the monsoons soon after the rains.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Located 60 km south of Panji, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest in Goa. This sanctuary is notable for its dense forest cover with trees as high as 30 m and is a haven for tree lovers. The Talpona river flows through the area and the major watering holes are located on its back. There are fewer big animals in this sanctuary than Mollem, however one can still expect to see bears, wild boars, deer and monkeys. Birds are plentiful in general and some species of eagles which are not easily spotted elsewhere can be seen here. Several tribal communities live inside these forests and one can get an insight into their fast fading lifestyle.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Indian Cormorant at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary | By Blue Chaos
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the famous ornithologist, is located on the island of Chorao at the river Mandovi. Spread in an area of 440 acres, the sanctuary is covered with a thick mangrove forest which are usually a natural nesting ground of birds. Different varieties of swallows, bulbuls, kingfishers, swans, woodpeckers, horn bills etc are found in plenty at this place.
The sanctuary has a 1 km long pathway on which one can walk as close as possible to see the natural habitat of birds, without disturbing them. One can also choose to hire a boat and go around the place. The boat costs Rs 75 per person of Rs 900 per boat. The entry ticket is INR 50.00
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Eastern part of Goa. Spread in around 208 sq km, this sanctuary supports a wide variety of wildlife and is famous as a bird watcher’s paradise.
Image Courtesy: Parth Joshi (Flickr), Dr. Raju Kasambe (Wiki), Bluechaos (flickr)
That’ great post Puru,
Mostly people know about the beaches of Goa and in fact Goa is popular for the same. I am happy to see the wild side of Goa. I am nature loving person and love to visit hill stations and national parks. So I wold love to visit these wildlife sanctuaries too. 🙂