Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary, Ahmednagar Overview

Spread across an area of 2.17 sq.km., the Rehkuri Sanctuary is home to one of the rare and famous animals, Indian Black Buck. The Sanctuary is located at a distance of about 80 km away from Ahmednagar City in the Karjat Taluk. The Sanctuary serves as a safe haven for nearly 400 Black Bucks.

The Blackbuck, called ‘Kalvit’ in Maharashtra, is easily recognised by its magnificent spiral horns, colour and long jump. It is the only member of its genus and is found predominantly in India. Also, known as the Indian Antelope there are only four sanctuaries in India that can boast of the presence and conservation of the blackbuck. The Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary in Maharashtra is one of the best places for blackbuck sightings. The sanctuary was established in the 1980s and at one point the number of blackbucks dwindled to 15. Today Rehekuri is home to about 400 blackbucks making it an excellent example of sustained conservation. Besides, the sanctuary is also the abode to various other wildlife and birds. The jeep safari from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, as well as, walking or trekking along with a guide are the best ways to explore the sanctuary.

Flora and Fauna

Blackbucks prefer inhabiting on low grassy plains and moderately forested areas. The Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary is a dry deciduous scrub forested area with large areas covered in rich grasslands. Though blackbucks are the main species, the sanctuary is also home to much other wildlife and avifauna. The Indian fox spotted chinkara, wolves, Indian jackal, striped hyena and porcupines are some of the other animals that take shelter in the sanctuary and can be sighted during safaris and treks. The sanctuary is also well-known for attracting many bird species, such as the Indian bustard and peafowl.

Best Time to Visit

August to January is the best time to visit the sanctuary. Monsoons from mid- June to October and winters from October to January are the ideal time to visit Rehekuri because of mild and manageable temperatures. The summers can get quite hot from February to June and spotting the wildlife either in safari or by foot can be a daunting task.

How to reach

The Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary is 150km away from Pune and only 8km from the town of Karjat.
By air:
Pune is the nearest airport.
By rail:
the Ahmadnagar Railway station is 66km away, whereas, the Daund Railway Station is 60km away from the sanctuary.
By road:
the sanctuary is easily accessible from many cities, such as Pune, Aurangabad (114km), Nasik (156km), Beed (127km) and Solapur (226km). Since the sanctuary is close to Karjat, it is also seen from the main road itself and the most common route to reach is the Pune-Patas-Bhigwan-Karjat-Rehekuri route. Another route is from Pune-Daund-Shrigonda-Rehekuri. From Mumbai, Rehekuri is 320km. Karjat is a famous town, and there are many accommodation options available. Alternately, one can also book the government guest house within the sanctuary.