The Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary is the northern extension of the Ranthambore National Park and falls within the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
Ranthambhore became a national park on 1 November 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include the Sawai Man Singh and Kailadevi sanctuaries.
The Sanctuary is famous among environmentalists and conservationists for the community-initiated forest protection committees (referred to as kulhadi bandh panchayats) that are operational in the area.
The natural vegetation of the area is of the dry deciduous type with a predominance of Anogiesus pendula, locally known as dhok. The vegetation is spread across the three altitudinal levels of the sanctuary; the vegetation is also of three distinct kinds.
- In the uppermost tabletop area there is an abundance of dhok.
- In the lower tabletop there is a predominance of Euphorbia sp. and ber scrub.
- The lowermost level comprises mostly ravines with flat land near the banks of the river Chambal.
The terrain is characterised by some valleys and river gorges, locally referred to as khos. On account of higher moisture retention and cooler temperatures, these khos are the most suitable habitats for wildlife and nurture a wide variety of flora and fauna. These khos are considered to be richest reserves of biodiversity in the area.
Area & Location:
Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary is located within the Karauli and Sapotra blocks in Karauli district of Rajasthan. It is bound on south-west side by Banas River & eastern side by Chambal River.
Wildlife
Common wildlife in this region are sloth bears, nilgai, sambar, cheetals or spotted deer, striped hyena, and Indian porcupine, among a host of other species.
Nearby Places to Visit
- Kailadevi Temple
- Ranthambore National Park
- Ranthambore Fort
Best Time to Visit & Bookings:
- Open from October to June, Ranthambore is accessible by rail from Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur and by road from Jaipur and Delhi.
- Bookings can be made at online at official Rajasthan Forest Portal – Website
