UMRED KARHANDLA JOURNEYS

Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, about 58 km from Nagpur, spread over Pauni, Umred, Kuhi and Bhivapur Taluka. This Sanctuary has also connection with Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve through forest along Wainganga River. The sanctuary is home to resident breeding tigers, herds of Gaur, wild dogs and also rare animals like flying squirrels, pangolins and honey badger.

It is bounded roughly by the Wainganga River and the Gosikhurd Dam on the northeast, State Highway 9 and Bhiwapur Town on the south, Umred on the west and a narrow 10 km long range of 600 – 800 m. hills to the northwest. It is located 40 km north of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and 50 km southwest of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctury & 60 km from Nagpur, Maharashtra. Pench Tiger Reserve is 80 km to the northwest.

From the last few years, the number of tourists are increasing because it is very close to the Umred and Nagpur city. Tigers are very commonly seen here by many villages around the sanctuary. The sanctuary provides connectivity between key tiger reserves like Tadoba, Pench, Bor and Nagzira. It thus also serves to reduce pressure of tourists and tourist-related activities from those protected areas because they are more Eco sensitive.

Starting a few years, several water management programs have been created by tiger protection NGO Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). About 100 kms of motorable road have been developed out of which tourists are allowed on 44 kms. The road can handle about 40 vehicles- 20 in the morning and 20 in the evening. The Forest department has trained about 20 villagers from the nearby and surrounding areas as guides which provides them employment. The main entrance of the sanctuary is at Karhandla village.

Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, is one of the most visited wildlife sanctuary, after Pench in Nagpur area. The tiger Jai, regularly sighted in the park, has migrated here from the sanctuary at Nagzira.

Type of Forest: Dry Deciduous (Saja, Tendu, Salai, etc.), Dense Bamboo, with patches of Evergreen forest around water bodies.

Weather: Temperatures in winter range from 10 degree celsius during the Day and can Drop to -10C late at Night and early mornings. Temperature in summer range between 20-48 degree celsius.

Type of Forest: Moist Deciduous (Sal); Dry Deciduous (Saja, Tendu, Tinsa, etc.), Bamboo and Meadows.

Weather: Temperatures in Winter range from 10 degree Celsius during the Day and can Drop to -10C late at Night and early mornings. Temperature in Summer range between 10-45 degree Celsius

Accessibility by Train: Nagpur

Accessibility by Air: Nagpur