Guru Ghasidas National Park: A Protected Reserve Area

Located in Chhattisgarh, India, The Guru Ghasidas National Park is a protected reserve with an area of 1440.71 square kilometres.

It was established on December 30th, 1984 and named after Guru Ghasidas, a saint-poet belonging to the Kabir Panth.

The Guru Ghasidas National Park is a must-visit when travelling to the state of Chhattisgarh. It is located in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh and was a part of Sanjay National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The park was renamed when the district of Chhattisgarh was formed. 60% of the park is in Koriya or Guru Ghasidas National Park.

Guru Ghasidas National Park is in the middle of streams that are very different. There are many flowers and animals there.

The park has lots of trees, and it is quiet. It also has fun safari rides. And you can have a picnic inside the park with a choice of where to sit and eat it.

Guru Ghasidas National Park (Sanjay national Park)

Guru Ghasidas National Park is one of Chhattisgarh’s most essential and unique protected areas. This National Park is a part of the formerly-known Sanjay national Park.

When Chhattisgarh became an autonomous state, Guru Ghasidas National Park was established from 60% of previously held grounds in the Koriya district.

The Guru Ghasidas National Park is a beautifully protected site covering 1440.71 square kilometres of the Koriya district in Chhattisgarh, India. This area has several small rivers and streams that provide lush green forests, which become a perfect habitat for some of the most diverse wildlife collections on the Deccan Plateau.

History

Before the formation of Chhattisgarh, it was part of Sanjay National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which was divided by the new state boundaries during the creation of Chhattisgarh, and most of it went to a new state.

This more extensive part of Sanjay Park was renamed Guru Ghasidas National Park by the government.

In June 2011, the then Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh proposed to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh that Guru Ghasidas National Park be declared a tiger reserve.

Geography

Guru Ghasidas National Park is a beautiful reserve of forested land that stretches over 1440.71 square kilometres.

The park exhibits a Tropical climate zone. The dense forest in the Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve is home to a mixture of subtropical vegetation and deciduous trees with teak, sal trees and bamboo dense.

The graceful hills and flat sandy terrain make for an ideal habitat in the Guruguhas National Park. Streams running throughout are perfect for cooling off during hot days, so pack your bathing suit!

This national park is home to the Banas River. The river’s water flows through the western side of the park and provides an essential water source to animals in this protected area.

The Bijore Nala, which is a northern flowing stream in reserve, also retains water pools during the summer months.

The Guru Ghasidas national park lies between two essential tiger reserves- Bandhavgarh Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) and Palamau (Jharkhand).

The Guru Ghasidas National Park is situated between two important tiger reserves- the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh and the Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand.

The park’s altitude varies from 327 to 736 metres. The maximum Temperature of Guru Ghasidas National Park is 400 C, and the Minimum Temperature is 110 C.

Flora

The wide variety of plant species growing on the Guru Ghasidas National Park’s premises are old, new, and diverse.

The dense forests of the Guru Ghasidas National Park are primarily composed of Teak, Sal and Bamboo trees.

This park offers protection for a variety of different plants and animals. Though the plant life differs throughout the conserved area, you may find variants like Gurjan, Palas, Tendu, Mahua and small plants and shrubs in forests.

Fauna

The Guru Ghasidas National Park is full of animals and insects, including large varieties.

These species live in their natural habitat. They are cared for and provided with an adequate supply of water from the rivers and streams.

The safaris in the Guru Ghasidas National Park will take you through forests and are sure to reveal these wild animals.

Some of the animals in reserve include tigers, leopards, jackals, barking deer and spotted deer, and wild boars and sloth bears. As for snakes, there are cobras and pythons.

In addition to being home to various vegetation and wildlife, the park is also known for having a flourishing bird population.

Some of the many birds that come to this area are Kingfishers, Bulbuls, various Vultures, Halcyonides and woodpeckers.

How to Reach

By Air – The nearest airports are Jabalpur and Ranchi. They are about 200 Km and 250 KM from the Ghasidas National Park. These airports have good connections by road and rail to the Ghasidas National Park.

By Rail – The closest railway station is Jaora, about 20 kilometres from the Ghasidas National Park. It is connected to the park by roads.

By Road – The Ghasidas National Park is well-connected to major Indian cities and towns, owing to the extensive road network that joins it. Several governments and privately operated vehicles can transport you from your town directly to The Ghasidas National Park.

Best Time to Visit

The Guru Ghasidas National Park spans 1440.71 sq kilometres, which falls under the tropical climatic zone. Apart from this, the park is also located at 327 to 736 meters above sea level.

You can find weather extremes in this forest, which include rain during the monsoon season and hot summers.

After the monsoon season, which has an average rainfall of 1400mm, winter starts to cool things down. The temperatures can be as low as 11 degrees Celsius.

Winter months of November to April the best time to visit Guru Ghasidas National Park.