Maharashtra is home to several sanctuaries and wildlife parks and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular ones. It is aptly labeled as ‘Green Oasis’ and is located in the southern end of the state. This sanctuary is surrounded by raw nature, beautified by scenic landscape and thriving vegetation. For all wildlife enthusiasts, this sanctuary is a living museum in the outdoors where you can admire the nature and its exotic creations.

Location

At times, when the forest cover in the country is depleting, the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is the classic example of wild terrain and is located in the remote area of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. The name of the sanctuary is derived from ‘Goddess Tipai’, found near Tipeshwar village in the dense sanctuary region. This sanctuary is located in the Parwa and Patanbori Ranges of the sprawling Pandarkawad Forest Division on this remote district.

The sanctuary is scattered across 148.63 square kilometers of land. It adjoins the Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh. The sanctuary comprises of a small region teeming with dense forest area and renders itself with great potential and value for bio-diversity conservation and nature study.

Maharashtra’s heaving landscape is one of the most vital contributing factors for the floral diversity of this area. The basalt area seen here was created owing to a lava explosion that happened 9 years ago and this basalt area is the primary area in this region. Water supply is maintained through key rivers like the Purna, Tapti, Bhima and Krishna and this region is immensely valued for its animal life and vegetation.

Flora

Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary consists of areas with diverse and rich plant communities. The primary forest type found in these Protected Areas is ‘Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests’. In the areas of dry teak forests, teak makes up for around 60 percent of the total composition of crops and its density ranges between 0.6 to 0.8. Teak’s key associates seen in these dense forests are Lendia, Achar, Ain, Dhaoda, Mohuwa, Tiwas, Semal, Tendu, Bhirra and many more. One can also find teak plantations running parallel to the natural forest areas.

Fauna

The Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary houses a wide range of species which include the endangered and endemic species like Panthers, Tigers, Blackbuck and the Small Indian Civet Cat.

Invertebrates are also found in abundance here. One can find several ant species and beetles. Moths and butterflies of various varieties are also found. Here, around 29 different species of mammals are seen. These belong to 11 families and 6 orders and majority of them are endangered species.

In Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, one can find 180 different species of birds that belong to 16 various orders and 46 families. Also, around 26 species of reptiles are found here that belong to 11 families. Out of these, 6 are endangered species.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is between April and May. The sanctuary is in close proximity to Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh and is located at a distance of about 35 kilometers.

How to Reach

Rail

Adilabad is the closest railway station. In Maharashtra, the closest railway station is Yavatmal, which is 70 kms away.

Air

The nearest airport from the sanctuary is Sonegaon in the city of Nagpur.

Road

The sanctuary is well connected as several private vehicles, cabs and buses ply to the sanctuary. Major bus stop is Pandharkawada which is 22 kms away from the sanctuary.

Where to Stay

If you are planning to stay around Tipeshwar Sanctuary while you explore the wildlife, there are many accommodations and rest homes in the town of Pandharkawada. You need to book the accommodation in advance and you can choose one that suites your comfort and budget.

Some of the hotels you can find here are

• Bharat Lodge
• Apurva International
• Center Point
• Dwarka Deluxe
• Midtown Hotel
• Gyansons Hotel
• Galexy
• Rajdhani
• Punam Lodge