Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, Amarkantak

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and is located 60 km from Bilaspur. It has been declared a Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger in 2009. The sanctuary is close to Amarkantak and the source of the Narmada River. The Maniyari river that flows right through the reserve is its lifeline. Even a short trek through this park reveals it’s amazing biodiversity. The Sanctuary has been set up in a hilly terrain covered with thick green forests making it an ideal place for protecting wildlife and exploring it. The entire area of the Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary is 552 sq km and the region is mainly hilly. The altitude ranges from 200 m to 1000 m above sea level. The stunning canopy of the dense forest has been nourished by the waters of the tributaries of Narmada, Sone and Johilla rivers. The sanctuary is covered with Sal trees, thick vegetation and houses more than 500 species of animals. The sanctuary is natural habitant to species like leopards, Bengal tigers, and wild bison. Other animals include chital, striped hyena, canis, sloth bear, dhole, sambar deer, nilgai, Indian four-horned antelope and chinkara. It covers the beautiful Sal forests of the Malkal hills and is linked by the hilly Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor to the tiger reserve in Kanha. Several watch towers are erected at different places inside this sanctuary, from where tourists can clearly see the wild animals roaming in their natural habitat.