| - Elina Mohanty
Dajipur, amidst thick forestation, housing Bisons and other
wild creatures, lies Dajipur. Dajipur is the wildlife sanctuary
in the south of Kolhapur. The rugged mountains and the dense
forest make Dajipur a perfect place for camping and trekking.
Other than wildlife, Dajipur houses different types of trees.
Wild life lovers, botanical students for excursions, mostly
prefer it.
Dajipur Bison Sanctuary is situated on the border of Kolhapur
and Sindhudurg districts is a must visit for all nature lovers.
Places to visit:
The Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary
It is well known for housing Bisons. Bison is the tallest
and the most splendid of living Wild Oxen. Other animals,
sheltered in the sanctuary are Leopard, Sloth bear, Wild Boar,
Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Sambar, Giant Squirrel, Wild Dogs,
etc. This sanctuary protects many animals. Many types of Reptiles,
amphibians and bird species such as Vultures, Eagles, Jungle
Fowl, Quails, Plovers, Sand Pipers, Owlets, Doves, Owls, Nightjars,
Kingfishers, Sunbirds, etc are also commonly seen over here.
Other than animals, Dajipur is famous for housing different
types of trees and plants. Forests in Dajipur can be classified
as " Southern semi evergreen forest", " Southern
Moist Mixed deciduous forest" and " Southern evergreen
forest". One can find Karvi almost all over the area.
Climbers such as Shikekai, Garambi are quite frequently seen
over here. Dajipur forest also hosts a lot of medicinal plants
such as Karvand, Vagati, Ranmiri, Tamalpati, Toran, etc. Small
quantity of Bamboo is also found and quite a large numbers
of ephemerals, bulbs of seasonal plants are also found here.
Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary
Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary is 30km from Dajipur Sanctuary.
This is located between the major reservoirs viz. "Shahu
Sagar"and "Laxmi sagar" in Kolhapur district.
The entire protected area is undulating with steep escarpments.
This sanctuary is also famous for Bisons and other wild creatures.
However this area has rich reservoirs of Bauxite ore. Randhanagari
Dam is also a famous tourist spot here.
Villages: Padmasati and Manbet
These villages represent true countryside beauty. Aligned
by thick forests and amidst the fear of wild creatures, Padmasati
village has hardly any inhabitants.
Gangagiri Maharaja's Math
This math is in the forest area. It is famous for excursion
outings, trekking and camping.
How to get there:
By Air, the nearest airport is Kolhapur, 80-km from the
sanctuary. Kolhapur is well connected to Mumbai.
By Rail, the nearest railway station is at Kolhapur.
By Road: Nearest bus station is Phonda at 20-km from the sanctuary.
Where to stay:
Government Rest Houses are available for accommodation at
Radhanagari and Dajipur. There is a dormitory and reservation
can be done at a regional office at Kolhapur. Provision of
seasonal tents is also available.
Best Time to Visit:
March to May
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