Gujarat Tourism’s Hidden Gem – Velavadar National Park

Velavadar National Park

Velavadar National Park is a hidden gem. Covering a comparatively small area of about 34 sq Velavadar is one of the world’s best places to watch the blackbuck, an elegant Indian antelope. This national park is also among the few places where the Indian wolf is proliferating in India and one of the top breeding sites for lesser florican. For birdwatchers, Velavadar is an excellent area to watch Stolizka’s bush chat, saras crane and other grassland birds. In winter, Velavadar’s grasslands play host to one of the world’s largest harrier roosts. The sight of a thousand harrier hawks flying towards the Velavadar grasslands in the evening for their roost is one of the great spectacles of the natural world.

The Velavadar National Park is one of the best places for blackbuck viewing in India. The Savannah-like grasslands with its profusion of antelope is reminiscent of the African national parks.

Velavadar National Park Gujarat

VISITORS’ GUIDE:
Transport Hubs (Approximate distances):
Bhavnagar Airport/Railway Station 65km

Accommodation: The Blackbuck Lodge is an up market resort at Velavadar. The forest department also has accommodation facilities in the national park.

When to visit: The Velavadar National Park is open from mid-October to mid-June. The national park is closed during the rains but the surrounding areas can yield good birdlife including endangered species like the lesser florican that breed here in the monsoon months.

For more information on Gujarat tour packages contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in Delhi .

INDIA UNTAMED

Wildlife in India

Are you a wildlife enthusiast? Have you ever felt the urge to see animals in their natural habitat? Do you want to feel the adrenaline rush when an angry elephant chases your jeep or when you come face to face with the majestic tiger? If your answer to all the above is in the affirmative, then India’s wild life sanctuaries are the place for you! Being a tropical country, India is home to 350 mammals and 1200 species of birds, preserved in different regions of the country within 59 National Parks and 372 sanctuaries. Some of the endangered species like the Javan Rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal Tiger may only be found in these national parks.

Some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries are the Corbett National Park (Uttar Pradesh), Ranthambore(Rajasthan), Kaziranga National Park(Assam), Kanha National Park(Madhya Pradesh) etc. These sanctuaries are home to mammals like the Rhino, elephant, tiger, lion, barasingha and birds like thrushes, babblers, bulbuls, cuckoos, doves, bee eaters, rollers, flycatchers, warblers, robins etc.

Visitors have a number of options to choose from for their stay in these beautifully preserved sanctuaries. Most of these hotels provide huts to stay in for a complete jungle experience. The hotel packages generally include a safari into the forest and sighting of animals. Jeep safaris, Tiger Safaris, nature walks, canter safaris are offered to explore the forest. The tour guides are locals with a good knowledge of the forest area.

The Indian wildlife tour packages are offered by a number of operators and may be booked online. One may plan a short stay of two days or a long trip to be assured of sighting the elusive species like the tiger. Seeing the animals in the wild is an experience one must not miss. India is blessed to have such a rich bio-diversity and one must not miss the chance to enjoy it. The sanctuaries are a haven for wild life photographers who wish to capture on lens, these magnificent animals and birds. It’s a good option for families as well, as kids would enjoy seeing animals in the wild. So pack your bags and arm yourself with a camera because the jungle beckons you. For more information on wildlife tour packages in India contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.