Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. It is situated in the southern region of Kanha Tiger Reserve close to Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh state borders. The sanctuary was established in 1983 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. It is better known as satellite micro core of Kanha tiger reserve and has been managed by the Kanha tiger reserve management since 1990.

The Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary covers an area of about 111 square kilometres. It is situated adjacent to Kanha National Park in the north east direction and is considered as buffer zone of Kanha National Park. It is located near Mukki entrance gate of Kanha tiger reserve. It is connected to Kanha Tiger Reserve through Motinala buffer range. This forest is an important connective linkage for Kanha - Achanakmar wildlife corridor, through Mawai range in North as well in south and Rajanandgaon of Chattisgarh part.

This sanctuary is known for its varying landscapes and is surrounded by 18 villages within 5 km radius from the boundary. This sanctuary is home to 800 known species of flora. The trees found in the sanctuary are Sal, Teak, Saja, Aonla, Tendu, Jamun, Bel, Bamboo and Bargad. The animals found here are Tigers, Leopard, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Hyena, Fox, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Jungle Cat, Blue Bull, and Sambar.

Safari

The wildlife safari was started in 2017 after it was announced as buffer zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve. The Safari permits are issued by the management of Kanha National Park. This zone is open for jungle safari drives from 15th October to 30th June. During the monsoon period i.e. from July to September, it remains closed for tourists. During safari drives, guide service is compulsory on each safari vehicle. Tourists need to book hotels near Mukki entrance for their convenience.

Safari Timings:

·      From Oct – Feb: 06.30 AM – 11.00 AM & 02.00 PM - 05.30 PM

·      From Mar – June: 06.00 AM – 10.00 AM & 03.00 PM – 06.00 PM

·      Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi & Diwali

Fees:

·      Rs. 250 for Single Seat in Jeep

·      Rs. 1500 per Whole Jeep (max 6 Persons)

·      Jeep Hiring Cost: Rs. 2500 per Jeep

·      Guide Cost: Rs 480 per guide

Connectivity

The sanctuary is located at about 10 Kms from Motinala Bus Stop, 11 Kms from Motinala, 49 Kms from Mukki, 68 Kms from Kawardha, 79 Kms from Mandla, 158 Kms from Bilaspur, 175 Kms from Jabalpur Airport and 186 Kms from Raipur. The sanctuary is situated at about 10 Kms to the north east of Motinala Bus Stop on the Mandla to Kawardha route.

Location

Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Kanha Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in Mandla and Balaghat Districts of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This reserve is also known as Kanha – Kisli National Park. This tiger reserve is the one of the biggest tiger reserves and the largest national park in India. The reserve is located in the Maikal Range which forms the eastern base of the triangular Satpura Range. This park is the only habitat for rare hard ground Barasingha in India.

History

The forests of Kanha region was declared as a reserve forest in 1879 CE and then declared as sanctuary in 1933. Kanha National Park was created on 1 June 1955 and was designated a tiger reserve in 1973. The forests of Kanha were described in the book called “The Highlands of Central India” written by Captain J. Forsyth. The book was published in 1913. Captain J. Forsyth was an officer in the Bengal Staff Corps and discovered Pachmarhi hill located in Satpura National Park. A book called “Wild Animals in Central India” written by A. A. Dunbar Brander in 1923 was solely focused on Kanha National Park. The Jungle Book, an immensely popular and much-loved wildlife novel by Rudyard Kipling, is based on Pench and Kanha National Parks.

The Tiger Reserve

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/kanha-tiger-reserve-tiger-reserve.html

Safari

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/kanha-tiger-reserve-safari.html

Connectivity

Kanha Gate is located at about 9 Kms from Kisli Gate, 18 Kms from Mocha, 29 Kms from Sarai Gate, 38 Kms from Baihar, 42 Kms from Chiraidongri Railway Station, 45 Kms from Bamhani, 52 Kms from Mukki Gate, 59 Kms from Mandla, 104 Kms from Balaghat and 155 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. Kanha Gate is situated at about 18 Kms to the south east of Mocha on Baihar to Bamhani route.

Location

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa – The Fossil Park

This park covers an area of about 75 acres in Ghughwa, Umaria, Deorakhurd, Barb Spur, Chanti-hills, Chargaon and Deori Kohani villages. The fossil record consists of mainly plants belonging to the topmost Cretaceous to early Tertiary periods dating back to about 65 million years. Fossils belonging to 31 genera of 18 plant families have been identified in this park. About 65 million years ago, this area was covered by forests similar to the evergreen and semi evergreen forests of the present Western Ghats and northeast India.

The forests were made up of moisture-loving plants. There was a three-tier forest structure consisting of low trees or shrubs growing below moderate to large-sized trees. The middle level had mostly palm-like trees. Ghughua enjoyed a humid and equatorial climate in ancient times, with uniform temperatures throughout the year and an annual rainfall above 2,000 mm or more, as compared to about 1400 mm now. It is said that it also had a very long rainy season during those times.

Mollusk fossils found here as well as at Matka-Deorikhohani, Palasunder, Silthar-Chanti Hills and Chargaon, indicates the presence of a large waterbody in these areas in those times. Some scientists postulated that an ancient branch of the sea called the Tethys Sea extended up to this area. The park has well preserved fossils of woody plants, climbers, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and shell fossils. Some of the fossilized plants include ancient forms of date palm, neem, jamun, banana, rudraksh, jackfruit and aonla.

The most prominent fossils found here are the palm fossils. Many of these fossil plants have living relatives. Some of these occur in the Western Ghats, Sikkim, and northeast India, while many others are native to Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. The presence of the species native to these countries proves that at one point of time in the distant history of the earth, India, Australia, and Africa formed a single huge landmass called Gondwana.

Petrified trunks of trees have been identified as gymnosperms and Angiosperms Monocotyledons and palms. There are certain Bryophytes also. A eucalyptus fossil found at Ghughua is the oldest fossil of its type ever discovered and are native to Australia. This fossil originally belongs to Gondwana. The dinosaur egg fossil is one of the impressive fossils discovered in this park. There is an interpretation centre situated in the park. It provides comprehensive information on the fossils found here.

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa, Madhya Pradesh

National Fossil Park, Ghughwa, Madhya Pradesh

National Fossil Park is a national park located in Ghughwa Village in Shahpura Taluk in Dindori District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This national park is the largest fossil park in Asia and second largest in the world. This park is situated close to the Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks.

History

The site was discovered in 1970 by Dr. Dharmendra Prasad, a statistical officer of the Mandla district and honorary secretary of the district archaeology unit. Dr. S.R. Ingle from Science College, Jabalpur and Dr. M.B. Bande from Birbal Sahani Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow then conducted systematic study of these fossils. Considering the scientific importance of the fossils found, the government of Madhya Pradesh notified the site as the Ghughua Fossil National Park in 1983.

The Fossil Park

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://explore-natural-beauty-of-india.blogspot.com/2025/01/national-fossil-park-ghughwa-fossil-park.html

Connectivity

This park is located at about 13 Kms from Shahpura Bus Stand, 14 Kms from Shahpura, 23 Kms from Niwas, 65 Kms from Umaria Railway Station, 70 Kms from Dindori, 83 Kms from Jabalpur and 88 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. This park is situated on the Shahpura to Niwas route.

Location

Najara View Point, Bhainsa, Madhya Pradesh

Najara View Point, Bhainsa, Madhya Pradesh

Najara View Point is a view point located near Bhainsa Village in Jabera Taluk in Damoh District in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is situated inside the dense forests of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. It is situated at the top of a hill and offers breathtaking views of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

Connectivity

The view point is located at about 5 Kms from Bhainsa, 14 Kms from Singrampur, 27 Kms from Jabera, 39 Kms from Tendukheda, 65 Kms from Jabalpur, 67 Kms from Damoh, 70 Kms from Jabalpur Railway Station, and 83 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. The viewpoint is situated at about 14 Kms to the north west of Singrampur on the Jabalpur to Damoh route.

Location

Nidan Waterfall, Katangi, Madhya Pradesh

Nidan Waterfall, Katangi, Madhya Pradesh

Nidan Waterfall is a natural waterfall located in Katangi Village in Shahpura Taluk in Jabalpur District in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is also called Katangi Waterfall / Nidan Kund. It is one of the scenic waterfalls in Madhya Pradesh. It is situated inside the dense forests of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

The Waterfall

This waterfall fall from a height of more than 100 feet. There are steps like formation on the black rocks against the flow of the stream, so it makes a beautiful sight when the water flows down over these rocks. The waterfall is situated amidst dense forest. The best time to visit this waterfall is during monsoon and post monsoon.

Connectivity

The waterfall is located at about 3 Kms from Katangi Bus Stand, 39 Kms from Jabalpur, 44 Kms from Jabalpur Railway Station, 57 Kms from Jabalpur Airport and 68 Kms from Damoh. The waterfall is situated at about 3 Kms to the north of Katangi Bus Stand on the Jabalpur to Damoh route. The waterfall can be reached after a trek of about 1 Km from the parking area.

Location

Singorgarh Fort, Singrampur, Madhya Pradesh

Singorgarh Fort, Singrampur, Madhya Pradesh

Singorgarh Fort is an ancient hill fort located in Singrampur village in Jabera Taluk in Damoh District in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is known as one of the most magnificent forts of Gonds. It is situated inside the dense forests of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. It is presently under the control of Archeological Survey of India.

History

The fort was built by the Pratihara Rajputs, who ruled in the Damoh region during the 14^th century CE. The earliest inscription found in Singorgarh is dated to 1307 CE. The inscription records the name of the fort as Gaja-Singhadurggye, meaning the hill fortress of Gaja Singh. Gajsimha or Gaja Singh Pratihar was a Pratihar Rajput ruler after whom the fort is believed to be named. The Pratihara rule over Singorgarh probably ended with the invasion of the Delhi Sultan Ala-ud-din Khalji's forces, who were going to the Deccan and conquered Bundelkhand on their march.

The fort was conquered by the Gond ruler of Garha-Katanga, Sangram Shah in the 16^th century CE. The fort was strengthened by the Gonds of Garha Kingdom. The fort was attacked in the June of 1564 during the invasion of the Garha Kingdom by the Mughal forces. During the invasion, Rani Durgavati, the ruling Queen of Gondwana, resided in Singorgarh and later moved to Chouragarh Fort in Narsinghpur due to the threat she faced during the invasion.

The Fort

This fort is situated on a hill in the dense forests of the Satpura range. The fort is in a ruined state. The fort spread over a vast area and many of its watch towers are still intact. The ruins of Rani Mahal, Hathi Darwaza and a huge bathing tank can be seen in the fort. There are many secret passages in this fort designed to confuse invaders and to provide safe passage for the king and queen.

It is said that there are tunnels deep inside the dungeons known only to Rani Durgavati and a handful of her army. One tunnel discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is said to lead to the hill fort of Madan Mahal. Singorgarh lake is situated close to the Hathi Darwaza. As per local folklore, there is a well inside this reservoir where the treasure of Rani Durgavati along with the Paras Pathar (Philosopher’s Stone) has been hidden.  

Connectivity

The fort is located at about 7 Kms from Singrampur, 19 Kms from Jabera, 44 Kms from Sihora, 46 Kms from Sihora Road Railway Station, 57 Kms from Jabalpur, 59 Kms from Damoh, 62 Kms from Jabalpur Railway Station and 75 Kms from Jabalpur Airport. The fort is situated at about 7 Kms to the west of Singrampur on the Damoh to Jabalpur route.

Location