Melghat Tiger Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary, is all set to conduct a 24-hour-long machan census on Budha Purnima, April 30, at select waterholes.
What’s really unique is that it’s an open event, where those interested to see and know more about tigers have the chance to be a part of this activity. So, this is your chance to know more about the flora and fauna of this particular region, along with spotting the king of the forest.
Bookings have opened for this event {called Nisarg Anubhav}, where you arrive at the tiger reserve {on your own} and are then taken into the forest, to a machan with a forest guide, where, if you’re lucky, get to see tigers and other wildlife like the sloth bear, sambar deer, nilgais, Indian gaur and many more.
An entry fee of INR 1,500 is charged for food, water, administrative expenses, but not the machan. We realise how special all this is, to actually get to be a part of an activity that’s been a closed affair all this while. There’s a lot to learn from this, and the chance of getting to see tigers is something one should really not miss.
Melghat Tiger Reserve is in the Amaravati district of Maharashtra, 225 kilometers west of Nagpur. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1974, and was one of the first nine tiger reserves under Project Tiger {conservation project to protect Bengal tigers.}
Summer time is a great time for tiger spotting, and the accommodation in Melghat is mostly run by the forest department, so if you get a chance to spend the night in the forest, it’ll definitely be a unique experience.
To reach Melghat, you will have to visit four centres or villages – Semadoh, Chikhaldara, Harisal & Shahnur. The nearest railway station to reach Chikhaldara, Semadoh and Harisal is Amravati. Shahnur is the closest to Akola. If you’re planning to fly down, the nearest airport is at Nagpur. You can then book a cab to the reserve.
Wildlife enthusiasts, this is the perfect opportunity to be a part of something so special. Make the most of it; because you will have a very interesting story to tell your kids and grandkids.
For bookings, click here.
We suggest you read the terms & conditions once before you book; they’ve given detailed instructions on what you can and cannot do there.