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Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
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As the dry grass parts and you get a glimpse of deer peeking inquisitively the proximity of these beautiful creatures mesmerize you with their lure, and as you look elsewhere you realize that you are being minutely observed by innumerable gentle and beautiful spotted deer, the always hunted |
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amazing black bucks, gentle sambars, not to mention a host of birds perched upon trees as well as some animals on the ground who are evaluating your every move, at which they will decide to either remain where they are or run for safety.
Welcome to Sagareshwar wildlife sanctuary. As you turn off the highway and enter the protected area the first thing that strikes you are the cluster of temples on your left which emphasize the fact that this sanctuary has a religious, cultural and archaeological significance, and is well known for its complex of temples including the Sagareshwar, Lingeshwar and Kalbhairav temples, belonging to the Satvahana period which have an archaeological significance of their own.
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This is an artificially cultivated forest in an isolated patch of forest & hills surrounded by rich agricultural land situated at the tri junction of three Tehsils, namely Kadegaon, Walwa and Palus in Sangli district. The area is hilly mainly comprising of basalt rock without a sufficient perennial supply |
of water and in which most of the wildlife species were introduced.
The maximum temperature in summer is 44 o c and minimum temperature in winter is 8 o c. The area receives the rains during South-west monsoon (June to September). The main annual rainfall is 600mm.
In 1980 it had a status of reserved forest, covering an area of 10.87 Sq. kms, and was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary vide the Revenue & forest Government notification MV WCP/1085/CR-588/VII/R-5 dated 16-09-1985.
Despite its limitations, today after immense effort it boasts of about hundred and eighty black buck (kalwit); sambar, three hundred spotted deer (chital), ten barking deer, and a number of hyenas, foxes, porcupine, wild boar, hares and peacocks are inhabitants of this shelter.
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Rat snakes, Indian cobras, monitor lizards crawl on the ground while the birds - there are 107 birds from 44 species are found in sanctuary area, while bulbuls, parrots, hud-huds, bayas, ghars, bhardnas, garuds, bahirs-sasanas, etc., are commonly seen flitting from tree to tree. |
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The winter migrant are twelve in number, Breeding - are fifteen, Local - 31 Vigrant - 68
It has taken extremely hard work from dedicated workers like over the past twenty odd years to achieve this. The road length created in the sanctuary area is about five and a half kilometers while the total boundary of the sanctuary area is thirty five kilometers out of which they have managed to fence about four kilometers during last year.
There are no major carnivorous species like tigers, lions or panthers however species like hyena, wolf, fox and porcupines are found in the protected area, so there are no real conflicts for the forest officials to worry about. The only worry is when these timid animals stray from the sanctuary which is not fully enclosed, or when the locals enter to raid food grains or fire wood.
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As you take your jeep or an equally powerful vehicle on the roads created by the forest department you pass the southern forests of dhawda, khair, teak, sandal, karanj, hiwar, neem, mango, pipal, anjan, gulmohar, subabul, sisoo, shiras, australian species, tamarind, |
kushid, nilgiri which have been planted give protection from grazing & fire has resulted in good regeneration of dry deciduous species.
In between these plants and shrubs you will see peacocks pecking food along the ground or nesting peacefully in the trees.
As your vehicle traverses the sanctuary taking you to the important points like Kirloskar point, Ranshul point, Mahan Gunda point, Dhawda forest, Hyena Cave, etc. which command a good view of the surrounding land below as well as giving you a good aerial view of the sanctuary, you are in touching distance of grass like chirka, kusali, rosna, hareli, sheds, ghanya-marvel and shrubs and herbs like dhatri, ghaneri, karwand, murudsing, niggadi, turwad & sher, which cover the hill slopes dotting the vast country side each offering their unlimited aroma to you, for an unlimited period of time to get pleasure from.
Following are
1) Best season to visit sanctuary:- June to December
Approach & Access:-
1) Road - Karad, 35, Kolhapur, 75, Sangli, 50 & Islampur, 20
2) Railway - on Pune-Miraj Railway Takari Station - ½ km, Karad - 31 km.
3) Air - Kolhapur
Accommodation:-
In Sanctuary areas there are
1) Forest rest house - 4 suits for about two people or a small family.
2) Youth house - one - 25 persons can stay.
Reservation:-
Conservator of forests wildlife circle - Kolhapur
Ganji galli, Bindu chouk, Kolhapur.
Telephone No. - 0233 - 30866
Total length of sanctuary - 35 kms
Reneiry works completed - 4 kms completed
remaining boundary should be fenced immediately to avoid movement of animals out side the sanctuary area & too avoid crop damage thereby man animal conflict.
Water supply scheme should be implemented early so that water to the wild animal & tourist, stalt can be provided.
During summer salt/a maize , Jaldal husk etc are provided on water holes to animals
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