Maharashtra’s Hidden Gem
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Dry Deciduous Forests of Tipeshwar |
About 150 kilometres from Nagpur, in Yawatmal district lies this
small sanctuary called Tipeshwar, named after a God of the same name. The
sanctuary represents the dry deciduous forests of the state and the pre-monsoon
landscape could be out of a film. Nothing quite prepares you for the amazing
array of wildlife that one can spot despite the extreme conditions. What takes
you by surprise is the number of tigers that inhabit this 150 sq kilometre area
and can be spotted. The Forest Department have to be complimented on their
wonderful work on establishing waterholes throughout the area that represent
true innovation and technology. Each waterhole has a solar panel that derives
enough power to pump water into the waterhole. It is at one such a waterhole
that we had the most exhilarating experience of watching an adult female tiger
wallow in the water, followed by her two sub-adult female cubs. The sanctuary
gets a lot of day visitors from Nagpur as well as Adilabad in Telangana.
However, Tipeshwar still remains relatively unknown for the other tourists who
flock larger protected areas such as Tadoba. Perhaps it is these hidden gems
that will help nurture and conserve wildlife populations in the country as the
larger known protected areas gets inundated with tourists and resorts choke their
peripheries.
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Tipeshwar Temple |
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Adult Female Tiger at Waterhole |
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Sub-Adult Female Cub |