BIHAR

PALAMAU

Located at a distance of about 180 km from Ranchi lies the Palamau National Park which is spread over an area of 1026sqkms.  The beautiful forests of  Betla, cover around 1000 sqkms of hilly terrain rising south towards Madhya Pradesh. Part of the Project Tiger scheme, Palamau has been hard hit by drought, which has hit the tiger population drastically. Though the Koel river and its tributaries run through the reserve, the animals mostly depend on man-made water holes for their needs. Leopards, tigers, elephants, the Indian wolf, gaur, sambar, munjtac and nilgai are some of the inhabitants of the reserve. The best way to see the park is from the back of an elephant, and the earlier in the morning you go the more animals you are likely to spot.

ThePalamau Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of 1026sq km in the Chotanagpur Plateau. The dense and dry deciduous forest of Palamau is replete with the finest bamboo groves, sal, mahua, bel and khair trees. The sixteenth century fort alongside the Auranga River adds a touch of history to this forest. The other rivers that drain Palamau are the Koel and Burha that eventually empty themselves into the famous Sone River. 

Palamau shot to fame way back in 1932 for the tiger census – the first of its kind in the world – that was carried out here. In 1974, it became one of the country’s earliest tiger reserves. The core area of the sanctuary has been declared as the Betla National Park (232 sq km), famous for its wild elephants, tigers, gaurs (Indian wild ox), chitals (spotted deer), sambars (Asiatic deer), panthers, wild dogs and boars. 

Betla is easily accessible by road. It is 25km from Daltonganj and 175km from Ranchi, the nearest airport. The best time to visit Betla is in October-November and February-March. For accommodation, one can opt for B.S.T.D.C’s Ban Vihar or the Forest Department’s Rest Houses, besides other tourist lodges, cottages and dormitories. 

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