Gugamal National Park

Flora

Surrounded by the rugged hills of the Melghat region, the forest cover comes under the Southern dry deciduous forest category. Some of the trees that you can find here are Ain, Tectona grandis, Lendia, Tiwas, Aola, Dhawada and Kusum. The area around Gugamal National Park is famous for the wide variety of plants of medicinal value that grow around the region. While bamboo covers the forest in abundance, the upper areas on the hills have orchids and strobilanthes growing. There are a total of 90 different kinds of trees, 56 climber trees, over 300 herbs varieties and more than 750 plant species that's spellbinding for visitors.

Fauna

The Gugamal National Park boasts of an extravagant fauna of which wild mammals such as Bengal tiger, sloth bear, Ussuri dhole, Indian jackal, striped hyena, fishing cat, Indian leopard, chausinga, sambar (known to be the largest Deer on the planet) gaur, barking deer, ratel, macaque, flying squirrel, cheetal (a sub-species of Deer), nilgai, python, rhesus monkey, wild boar and langur are an integral part. If you are interested in aquatic life, then you must know that there are more than 25 different fishes here and a larger number of butterflies, merrily flying around the green surroundings. In March 1990, crocodiles were the newest addition to the Siddu Kund in Gadga river near Dhakna, and several more crocodiles were added to the Hathikund in the Dolar river in February 1991. There are also 260 bird species found at the Gugamal National Park which gives a great opportunity for photographers to capture some rare species of birds.

A nearby village, named Semadoh, is located 25 kms away from Chikhaldara is where the first Nature Interpretation Center of the Project Tiger was established. For nature and wildlife lovers, some of the main attractions for them are wildlife viewing in vehicle safari and a visit to the Project Tiger Museum. There are also plans in the pipeline for upgradation of the museum to the national level and a separate Nature Interpretation Centre. The present Interpretation Center at Gullarghat serves the purpose of educating tourists about the value of medicinal plants grown locally. Another Interpretation Center at Amravati imparts education to the diverse flora and fauna to the tourists to enable them to understand the mission and vision of Melghat.

Gugamal National Park forms the central region of the Melghat Tiger Reserve established in 1974 under the Directorate of Project Tiger. The Tiger reserve was inaugurated on February 22, 1974, as an initiative to conserve the rich eco-system of the region. Considering the diverse flora and fauna in the surrounding areas, on September 5, 1975, the Melghat Tiger Reserve was categorized as a National Park.

Reaching Gugamal National Park is possible through airways, railways and roadways. If you are flying to the National Park, the nearest airport is at Nagpur, 225-km away whereas the nearest railway station is 110 km away from the park at Badnera / Amravati. Renting private cabs to reach the Gugamal National Park is another option where the shortest route is via State highway from Paratwada to Dharni.

The Semadoh village close to the National Park has accommodation facility for the tourists who are on a 2-3 day's long trip. There are also Forest Rest Houses available in Dhakna, Chaurakund, Jarida, Dhargad, Ranguveli, Chunkhadi, Kolkaz, Makhalara, Raipur and Hatru. For availing the facility at the rest houses, one needs to make a reservation at the Deputy Conservator of Forests, at Paratwada, Amaravati.
The eco-huts available at Semadoh are available at INR 700 whereas the VIP Rest House at Kolkhas is available at INR 1800 per day.