Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

Location : Mollem town of Goa, 53 kilometers off Panaji

Best Time to Visit : October to March

Attractions : A variety of animals and birds, Dudhsagar falls, Devil's Canyon and Tambadi Surla Temple.

 

About the Sanctuary
The Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the eastern border of Goa. Earlier called the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was later renamed Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. The largest of all the wildlife sanctuaries in Goa, it covers an area of approximately 240 square kilometers. Thanks to its luxuriant vegetation, that it was declared as a sanctuary in the year 1969. It is divided into two divisions by the National Highway 4A.

Besides a large variety of animals, the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife sanctuary has many more attractions for the tourists. The Devil's Canyon, a basalt rock formation is an ideal point to see  wildlife. Along the fringes of the park, there is the Dudhsagar Waterfall. Watching the water fall from a height of about 200 meters is an exhilirating experience. Yet another tourist attraction within the sanctuary is the Tambdi Surla Temple. It was constructed by the Kadamba kings in the 13th century.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation cover of the sanctuary is diverse. Moist Deciduous Forests, West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests and West Coast Semi-Evergreen Forests constitute the main forest cover. It is well endowed with species like Xylia, Terminalia, Dalbergia and Lagerstromia. The grass growth here is sparse. As you move towards the higher altitudes or take a walk along the banks of a river, you will be able to see only evergreen forests. The perennial sources of water inside the sanctuary ensure the availability of water for animals and birds.

The fauna in the park is equally amazing. Animals like Gaur, Wild Dog, Panther, Porcupine, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Civet, Leopard Cat, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Sambar, Bonnet Macaque, Spotted Deer, Slender Loris Common Langur, Flying Squirrel, Wild Boar, and Pangolin can be seen roaming about. Visitors are sometimes lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a tiger. King cobras are found in plenty here apart from others namely Krait, Python and Viper and some non-poisonous species as well. Bird species found in the park exceed 200. The ones that can be commonly seen are  Paradise Fly Catcher, Indian Black Woodpecker, Barbets, the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Fairy Blue Bird, Wag tails, Grey Jungle Fowl,  Shrikes, Great Indian Horn Bill, Kingfishers, Drongo and Emerald Dove.

Reaching There

Dabolim airport, which is 80 kilometers off the sanctuary, is the closest airport. The railway station at Colem is at a distance of 6 kilometers from the sanctuary. Buses are available everyday from the Kadama bus station in Panaji which is 53 kilometers from the sanctuary.