If you are tired of the crowded sanctuaries when you want to enjoy a safari, listen to and see some amazing wildlife and not deal with overcrowded jeeps and too many people, then you should check out Satpura national park. It is one of the best places to go for real nature lovers who want to get away from the hustle and experience amazing gorges, birding opportunities, hilly terrain, rivulets and herds of animals and lots more fauna and flora. Located in the Satpura mountain ranges in Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh, there is also a tiger reserve there as part of the park. There is a lot to do, walking, elephant safaris, jeeps, canoeing and more.
About the park and the area it sits in
Found in Central India Satpura is a range of hills whose name comes from Shatpura, the Sanskrit word for ‘Hundred Mountains’. The range creates a watershed between the Tapti and Narmada Rivers and parts of the range are folded and heaved up into a horst or uplift. It is part of the Seven Mountains and extends through Maharashtra and ends in Chhattisgarh lasting for a good 900kms. A part of the range is the eastern Maikala Hills, the northern Mahadev Hills, and the western Rajpipla Hills. The highest peak is the Dhoopgarh Peak at 1350m. It forms a triangular shape and is heavily forested making it a great place for wildlife habitats, and something like the Satpura tiger reserve.
A place full of fauna and flora and things to explore
There are a number of national parks and sanctuaries in the ranges which means there are a lot of opportunities for nature walks, bird watching, trekking, fishing, going in on safaris, or even just finding a perfect spot to be in nature and do something more relaxing. You will take plenty of fantastic pictures and see a lot of beauty and be reminded of the natural wonders that are in the world. Established in 1981 the park covers a total of 2133sq.km when you combine the Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuary and the Bori wildlife sanctuary. Then in 1999, it became part of the Tiger Projects of India and a part of the park became Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Enjoy rich biodiversity while hearing those tigers roar!
Because Satpura National Park is less visited it is a great place where you can spot more wildlife that might get shy with all the noise enthusiasts make in other parks. You can also hear a lot more of the life around. There is nothing like hearing a bear snore or a tiger roar! Other mammals living there include Wild Boar, Leopards, Flying Squirrels, Sambar, Bear, Porcupines, Mouse Deer, Chital, Nilgai, Indian Giant Squirrel, Four-horned antelope, Indian Muntjac, Chinkara, Black Buck and Fox to name just a few. Not to mention a range of flora too including Teak, Mahua, Sal, Tendu, Bamboo, Bel and more. Fly in, drive in, or get on the train, it is easy to get to and worth the time.
