Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 on a huge 555 Sq.km area near Bilaspur. Categorized as a tropical deciduous forest, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is breathtakingly beautiful with the most varied flora and fauna. This tiger reserve is a part of the huge Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, and hence, it is home to more than 600 species of different medicinal plants.
The scenic Maniyari River flows right from the center of this reserve which is the lifeline of the forest. Even if it’s not for a proper trail through the jungle, one can get bowled over by the beauty of this reserve in just a small trek through a few parts of this park.
The notable and unique feature of this sanctuary is that several watchtowers are erected in different places to enable the tourists to view the roaming wild animals, and there is great news for vehicle owners as they can take their vehicles inside the jungle to tour. And all the more there are no chances of getting lost in this huge jungle as guides are provided for the tourists.
And when you are tired from walking around the jungle, take some rest in the in-built rest houses, take a nap, energize yourself, and go around again.
Safari in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary
A visit to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve would be incomplete without a jungle safari and if you are planning a trip there, don’t forget to book your safari beforehand.
The safaris start every year from November till June and any time between these months is a good time to visit Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. However, the forest experiences the greatest number of tourists from November to January. So, if you want to avoid the crowd, then you can skip visiting the sanctuary during these months. However, the park remains closed during the monsoons, i.e., from June-October.
The safari has two options, bus safari and jeep safari. The jeep safari timings are 6:00 am – 10:00 am and from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The costs range from Rs. 2000 - Rs.3000/ jeep and the jeeps can carry six tourists, one guide, and one driver. The bus safari timings are just the same; however, the cost is Rs. 500/person. The buses can carry 20 tourists + the driver.
