National chambal sanctuary

Location :Etawah, Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
Coverage area : 635 sq. kms
Main attraction : Dolphin
Best time to visit :November to February
Nearby excursions :
Nearby cities :Agra

Spot the rare reptiles at national chambal sanctuary

National Chambal Sanctuary is named after one of India?s cleanest and longest rivers Chambal. Sprawling over an area of 1240 sq km across the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, this was named as a Protected Area in 1979. The headquarters of the Sanctuary is situated in Agra and managed by the Wildlife Wing of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department.

Captive breeding and reintroduction program was started to protect the almost-wiped

out the Gharial population from the country. Chambal was chosen as one of the main areas for the reintroduction the species back in to the wild and to save it from rampant poaching and fishing. Tourists can enjoy a boat ride in its tranquil waters to explore the spectaculars sightings.

The Chambal River originates in Kota in Rajasthan, and finally merges with river Yamuna at Bhareh. There are many tales of the infamous dacoits of this region and is once you have a local guide, there can be number of stories to dig into.

Climatic conditions

This sanctuary experiences wide variations in the climatic conditions s it is a part of three states. Temperature during summer swings between 25?C to 35?C with days being hot and nights a bit pleasant; while during winters, the temperature sees a deep steep to the range of 2?C to 10?C. The nights are colder in mid-December and most of the tie seems foggy.

Best time to visitNational chambal sanctuary

The span in between October and March is ideally the best time to visit this Wildlife Sanctuary. It is during these seasons that the place has an all-day long pleasant weather condition and the chances of spotting wildlife also remain much higher compared to those during the scorching summers.During the months of November to March when the temperature isn?t swinging between the extremities, tourists can witness a lot of migratory birds

Animals that inhabit the sanctuary

National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the finest places to spot the Gangetic River Dolphin, Marsh Crocodile and the endemic fish-eating Gharial up close. Notable amongst the mammals at this sanctuary is the highly endangered Gangetic River Dolphin. The other animals that can be spotted easily include the Jungle Cat, Blackbuck antelope, Indian Hare, Indian Flying Fox, Golden Jackal and Small Indian Civet.

This place is a refuge for the rare and endangered reptiles. There have been constant efforts in protection and breeding of crocodiles. The rare muggar crocodile and a huge population of gharials are clearly spotted while in a river safari. Smooth coated otters, terrapins and many species of fishes come as bonus!

Avian species

The place also boasts of an impressive bird list, of which the most distinguished is the Indian Skimmer that breeds here. Other key bird species includeSmall Pratincole, Great Thick-knee,Black bellied and River Tern, Barred button Quail, Grey throated Sand Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Crested Bunting, Greater Short toed and Crested Larks, Chestnut bellied Sandgrouse, Indian Grey Hornbill, Brown Hawk Owl, Sarus Crane, Coppersmith and Brown headed Barbet, Brooke?s and Tickell?s leaf Warbler, Humes Warbler and raptors like the Laggar Falcon, Long legged Buzzard, White eyed Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Bonneli?sLesser White throat, Orphean Warbler, Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark,Steppe Eagle, Dusky Eagle Owl and Brown Hawk Owl.

Water birds are fairly widespread and include some of the rare species such asSpot-billed Duck, Common Merganser,Bar headed Geese, Northern Shoveler, Great crested Grebe, Steppe Gull, Red crested Pochard, Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Indian Black Ibis, Pallas?s, Common and Spotted Redshank.

The vegetation of the forest here mainly supports freshwater ecosystem to accommodate the reptiles such as crocodiles and turtles.

Distance of National chambal sanctuary from major cities:

Delhi ,374.3 km
Mumbai ,1234.5 km
Kolkata ,1177.2 km
Jaipur ,3983.8 km
Lucknow ,262.1 km
Chennai ,1904 km
Hyderabad ,1280.5 km
Bhopal ,527 km
Bharatpur , 125 km
Mathura ,120 km

How to reach the National park ?

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Airways

The closest airport is Gwalior which is about 150km and takes approximately three hours to reach. It is connected with regular flights from Delhi and Bhopal.

Railways

There is a well connected Indian railways network that covers Madhya Pradesh State. All the major cities and tourist destinations are connected with direct trains to Madhya Pradesh. Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Chhindwara, Dewas, Khandwa are some of the major railway junctions inside the state each of which have ways to reach this Sanctuary. Nearest Railway station is Agra Cant and Agra Fort. Some tourists also prefer Gwalior station.

Roadways

To enjoy some fresh air amidst lush green meadows, many plan to opt to head out from Delhi in the morning, and drive through the new Agra expressway. While road-tripping from Bhopal, the route is via Gwalior to reach Chambal Sanctuary. Coming from Gwalior, people head towards Morena which is some 12 km away from the Chambal river. Some major National Highways like NH-7, NH-12A, NH-25, NH-26, NH-27 passes through this state that connects the ajor cities such as Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Raipur, Vishakhapattnam, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Mount Abu, Chambal Sanctuary, Lucknow and more. NH2 connects Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary with Delhi and Agra.

Tourists usually rent a motorized boat and go up and down the Chambal River to explore the region. It flows through the ravines that makes them see places that's not accessible by other means

Accommodation facilities

There are government maintained accommodation facilities as well such as the PWD Inspection Bunglow and Forest Rest house but they need to be booked beforehand. The Chambal Safari Lodge is a friendly, family-owned property which is a preferred choice for many travelers. The other options include but not limited to Ranthambore Regency, The OberoiVanyavilasRantham bore, Anuraga Palace, Neelam Guest House, Bhadrawati Safari Lodge, Jungle view resort and more. Plenty of private stays are available in Agra, Jaipur and Gwalior.

Safaris

Jungle Safari in Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary often surprises the visitors as it is an easy way to spot the animals while on the move. Elephant Safari is a common one where the tourists come in contact with the beautiful nature. It's indeed a lovely tie riding on these majestic animals while trolling through the chirping and singing birds. For tourists visiting in groups, the bus safari is a preferred choice to explore the Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary.

Birdwatching

Both Indian and migratory birds are seen here, specially during the months of November and March. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the visibility is high of these birds as the river banks leading up to the ravines are devoid of forests. The place has been listed as a high priority wetland because of its biodiversity and socio-economic importance.