Melghat Tiger Reserve

Melghat Tiger Reserve is one of the earliest 9 Tiger Reserves established by the Government of India and is the First Tiger Reserve to be declared in the State of Maharashtra. It came into being on 22nd February, 1974.

Melghat means 'meeting of the ghats' which is just what the area is, a large tract of unending hills and ravines scarred by jagged cliffs and steep climbs. The exquisite hill forests, thick undergrowth and moss-covered trees underscore its virgin confines.

It lies at the northern extreme of the Amravati District on the border of Madhya Pradesh, in the southwestern Satpura mountain ranges. If its tigers were not so famous, Melghat might best be known as a 'raptor' or eagle sanctuary!

It is, in any event, a birdwatcher's dream come true. Remember too, that though you may not easily see them, this forest is part of one of India's most vital tiger breeding habitats. As a whole Melghat encompasses an area of 1,676.93 sq. km. which includes the 788.75 sq. km. Melghat Sanctuary and the 361.28 sq. km.

Gugamal National Park in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra. The rest of the buffer zone includes 526.90 sq. km. of reserve forest. Located in the catchment area of the River Tapti, Melghat, a water harvesting forest, supplies 30 per cent of all the fresh water available to the people living in the vicinity.

Getting There

Melghat Tiger Reserve is approachable by air, railways as well as roads. Semadoh is the most well known, centrally located village of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. The nearest railway station is Badnera located in the central railway zone on Mumbai-Kolkata route.

Amravati is well connected by road, railways and air to the rest of the country. Amravati is on the Badnera – Nagpur rail line and there are many trains that connect Amravati to several important places of the country.

Amravati has its own domestic airport known as the Amravati Airport. The airport is situated at a distance of about 15 km outside city, located at Belora. Currently there are no scheduled airlines operating at Amravati Airport.

Nagpur Airport is the nearest international airport which is located at a distance of about 155 km from Amravati.

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