Gugamal National Park, Amravati – The National Park

Gugamal National Park, Amravati – The National Park

The national park spreads over an area of about 361.28 sq. kms and elevations ranging from 350 to 1,178 m. It is situated in the Melghat hills in the southern part of Satpura range. The national park forms the core of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. The park is named after the Gugamal Range, a hill range that runs through its core. This national park is popular for its huge number tiger population. It is considered to be the Indian national park with highest number of tigers present. The park is traversed by Tapti River, Melghat River (Khandu River), Dolar River, Sipna River, Gadga River, Khapra River and Wan River.

The Tapti River is the major river that flows along the northern border of the park. The park receives around 1,850 mm rainfall on an average. The national park is inhabited by the Korku Tribe and Gond Tribe. The best time to visit the park is between October and June, especially during early morning hours. Winter season is ideal for bird watching. Tourists can enjoy a stay in the park and do night safari. Kolka Rest House is the forest guest house of the area, where standard accommodations are available based on permission taken from the Amravati Forest Office.

Flora:

The habitat is a typical representative of the Central Indian Highland, forming a part of the Deccan Peninsula- Central Indian Highland biogeographically. The forest is southern tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak (Tectona grandis) and bamboo. The forests comprised of more than 750 species of plants including 316 herb species, 66 shrub species, 56 climbers, 23 sedge species and 90 tree species. The trees found in the forest are teak (Tectona grandis), ain (Terminalia alata), Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), lendia (Lagerstroemia parviflora), dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), and kusum (Schleichera oleosa) trees. Some orchids and strobilanthes are present in the upper hills. The area is rich in medicinal plants.

Fauna:

The mammals found in the park are Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Ussuri dhole, Indian jackal, striped hyena, four-horned antelope, sambar, gaur, barking deer, honey badger, flying squirrel, cheetal, nilgai, wild boar, langur, rhesus monkey, and macaques. The reptiles found in the park are Indian cobra, skink snake, Indian python, dwarf & bark gecko, common Indian monitor, Dhamen and crocodiles. The crocodiles were reintroduced in the region in a systematic manner in Siddu Kund (river Gadga) near Dhakna and Hathi Kund (river Dolar) in the 1990 & 1991.

The national park is also home to 25 types of fishes and many varieties of butterflies. The birds found in the park are jungle & 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, forest spotted owlet, serpent eagles, paradise flycatcher, Indian roller, Malabar pied hornbill, greater racket-tailed drongo and white-bellied drongo. Several migratory birds can also be observed during winter months.