Overview
Spread across the highest stretch of the rugged Satpura
mountains, the Satpura Tiger Reserve is classic tiger
country, supporting an astonishing array of prey species
that include gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar, chausingha,
nilgai antelope and their predators - tiger, leopard,
wild dog, wolf and sloth bear in such numbers that every
foray into the jungle becomes a high octane adventure.
The bird life is matchless; the scenery composed of the
vast sparkling waters of the Tawa Dam reflecting densely
forested hills rising in a series of forested plateaus,
meadows and precipitous slopes to over 4000 feet - the
most spectacular of any tiger reserve in central India.
Virtually free of tourists, one has the privilege of exploring
this matchless wilderness in a way unknown in any other
tiger reserve - on foot, by canoe and kayak, by elephant,
by jeep and through long silent vigils in carefully sited
hides.
Forsyth's Satpura is a stylish environmentally friendly
lodge that is engaged with the park management and the
local community in a pioneering effort to create an unprecedented
jungle experience in one of the most exciting tiger habitats
in the world. This is an effort to create an exceptional
wilderness experience for those who truly revel in wild
places far from the jeep borne hordes that have defaced
so many other parks. SOFT OPENING MID MARCH 2009, will be Fully functional by October onwards.
The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is a conservation
area in the Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh state, India.
It was created on March 3, 1999 by the Indian Government,
and covers parts of Hoshangabad, Betul, and Chhindwara
districts.
The Biosphere reserve's total area is 4926.28 km².
It includes three wildlife conservation units, the Bori
Sanctuary (518.00 km²), Satpura National Park (524.37
km²), and Pachmarhi Sanctuary (461.37 km²).
Satpura National Park is designated as the core zone,
and the remaining area of 4501.91 km², including
the Bori and Pachmarhi sanctuaries, constitutes the buffer
zone.
The reserve is mostly covered in forest, part of the Eastern
highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion. It is an
important transition zone between the forests of western
and eastern India; the forests are dominated by Teak (Tectona
grandis), but include the westernmost groves of Sal (Shorea
robusta), which is the dominant tree of eastern India's
forests. Large mammal species include tiger, leopard,
sloth bear, wild dog, wolf, hyena, wild boar, muntjac
deer, gaur (Bos gaurus), chital deer (Axis axis), sambar
(Cervus unicolor), nilgai antelope, chausingha, and Rhesus
Macaques. Interestingly it is the only place in Central
India to harbour Malabar Giant squirrels and mouse deer.
A range of smaller mammals include the Indian civet, palm
civet, Indian porcupine, Bengal Fox, Black-naped hare,
Jungle Cat and the rare rusty-spotted cat.
The bird life is magnificent as well and includes such
exciting species as Black eagle, Rufous bellied eagle,
Malabar pied hornbills, Shahin falcons, Bonnelli's eagle,
various species of harriers and an exciting range of smaller
birds. The waters of the Tawa Dam are suitable habitat
for a range of waterfowl like Ruddy Shelduck and Bar-headed
Geese along with terns and kingfishers. As the waters
recede the mud flats and shallow areas provide a happy
hunting ground to waders and in the summer the lake is
a resting and collection spot for vast quantities of waders
and terns on their way north.
Along with the unique assemblages of flora the reserve
also supports an astonishing and colourful array of butterflies,
dragonflies, damselflies spiders and other insects. |
Location and Travel Suggestion:
Forsyth's Satpura is located near the village of Sarangpur
opposite the Madai entrance to Satpura Tiger Reserve at
the northern edge of the reserve with Pachmarhi being
at the southern end. Madai has to be approached by boat
across the Tawa Dam.
It is 180 kms (3 ½ hrs) southeast of Bhopal with
the road passing through Hoshangabad which is the district
as well as park headquarters. Bhopal is well connected
with Delhi, Bombay, Hyderabad, Nagpur and Jabalpur by
air. It is extremely well- connected to by train to every
part of the country. The Delhi - Bhopal Shatabdi Express
connects Bhopal with Delhi, Agra, Gwalior and Jhansi.
Jabalpur is to the east and Pench Tiger Reserve is to
the south east about 6 - 7 hours away.
The fast Jan Shatabdi Express departs Jabalpur at 06.00
AM and reaches Pipariya station at 9.30 AM. From Pipariya
to Forsyth's is a 1 ½ hour drive.
Itarsi junction which is 1 ½ hours from Forsyth's
also allows easy access by train from any direction as
all the major trains pass through this junction and stop
there.
Satpura can be approached from Pench along a very beautiful
road from Seoni via Chhindwara, past the spectacular Tamia
ridge and then ending either at Pachmarhi - where you
can spend a night or two - or directly to Forsyth's.
Pachmarhi - the beautiful Raj era hill-station
- the only one in central India - is 2 hours away by the
main road. It can also be approached over a 5 hour drive
through the park.
Itinerary Suggestions
1, Delhi/Bombay - Pench - Kanha - Jabalpur (overnight
at Jacksons with an evening at Marble Rocks) - Forsyth's
Satpura - Bhopal (seeing the world Heritage Bhimbetka
rock caves en route) - Mandu - Ahilya Fort - Delhi/Bombay
2, Delhi - Agra - Bandhavgarh - Khajuraho - Bhopal
- Satpura - Delhi/Bombay
3, Bandhavgarh/Kanha - Pench - Pachmarhi - Satpura
- Bhopal
4, Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur - Ahmedabad
- Indore - Maheshwar (Ahilya Fort)/Mandu - Bhopal - Satpura
- Delhi/Bombay
Game Drives
Game drives remain one of the best ways of seeing wildlife
simply because wildlife gets habituated to vehicles and
you can cover a large amount of territory in a relatively
short time, tracking wildlife through calls, checking
favoured resting and feeding spots and traversing a range
of habitats. While a vehicle takes you one step away from
the immediacy and excitement of exploring the jungle on
foot, a wee conducted game drive is a joyous experience.
Our vehicles are small, quite petrol engined jeeps with
modified forward facing seating for easy viewing and photography.
The drivers are specially trained both to handle vehicles
in this rough terrain and to treat wildlife with respect
while always being conscious of the needs and comfort
of the passengers. Every vehicle is accompanied by a well
trained naturalist-guide. Game drives can be for 3 - 4
hours in the morning with a packed breakfast and about
3 hours in the afternoon. For exploring the further reaches
of the park, a full day excursion can also be organised.
Walking in the wilderness
This is a unique experience offered only in Satpura.
To truly understand the secret ways of the jungle, to
appreciate the workings of its innermost recesses, to
see and learn the signs and tracks that wildlife leaves
through the forest and to learn to interpret these, to
savour the smell, sounds and sense of wilderness you have
to take to your feet. Get off the vehicle tracks and strike
out across the forest and allow the wild to envelop you.
This is a thrill in any wild place but doubly so in tiger
country. Walking isn't the most effective way of actually
seeing wildlife simply because you can't cover very much
ground and wildlife is always wary of humans on foot.
But if you are properly guided, and the trail is through
prime habitat, wildlife encounters on foot are by far
the most memorable, added to the wonderful opportunity
to learn about wildlife in a way that is impossible from
jeeps. Satpura is unique amongst tiger reserves in permitting
this kind of walking. The walking groups are small - typically
of 4 people and guided by an expert who knows exactly
how to respond and to treat wildlife while being conscious
of the guests comfort and safety. A half-day walk is between
3 - 4 hours. Full day walks are about 6 hours. You need
to be reasonably fit for this. The walking isn't brisk
but across hilly terrain.
Hides
The Satpura Hills are seamed with an intricate network
of streams and rivers and the corrugated landscape punctuated
by waterholes. With an abundance of water it would under
normal circumstances be difficult to site a good wildlife
hide where you could wait for wildlife. Yet - due to an
abundance of wildlife and limited resting areas there
are some excellent areas where animals gravitate to or
congregate. A few small hides allow people to savour the
peace and rhythm of the jungle with no intrusion at al
and view wildlife on it's own terms with minimal disturbance.
Great for photographers. The hides can house only 6 people
at a time.
On Elephant back
As with other tiger reserves in central India, Satpura
supports a small herd of riding elephants that are used
to track tigers and then put on a 'Tiger Show' where visitors
can drive up to the closest road point to the tiger, climb
aboard an elephant and be ferried out to where the tiger
is located. It is as good a way as any to see and photograph
tigers. However, at Satpura it is possible to hire elephants
for an hour or two and just head out into the jungle seeing
what you may see. Unparalleled '4 Wheel Drive' experience
especially for those who love elephants.
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