Complete Guide to Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary thrives in a dense, green forest reserve situated in the heart of Satara district of Maharashtra. The protected forest area was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1985 by the government of India. It is centered in the Western Ghats with abundant water flow and rich vegetation, proving to be a thriving environment for animals to survive in.

The entire sanctuary spans an area of 423 square kilometers and ranges in elevations between 600 meters to 1000 meters of altitude. The sanctuary is nourished by several water bodies, amongst which rivers Kandati, Koyna and Solashi are primary water sources. A wide range of fauna have been found in the region and are protected by the government and forest development authority. Some of the most spectacular species found in Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary include Royal Bengal Tiger and King Cobra. In 2012, UNESCO declared Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary as a World Heritage site, considering the number of architectural findings in the area.

Climatic Conditions

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in a region with tropical monsoon climate, receiving heavy rains during monsoons. It is common for thunderstorms to occur during rainy weather. The insect population thrives during this time of the year along with the flora, which gets a chance to rejuvenate each monsoon. Summers continue from the month of March till the month of June. During May, the temperatures rise drastically, making the climate hot and dry. Most animals are seen near water bodies during this time of the year. Winters are cool with the lowest temperatures seen during the months of December and January.

Best Time to Visit

Ideally the monsoon months between June and August are ideal for tourists to venture into the forests as the temperature is average and climatic conditions are stable. Heavy showers may be experienced durin these months but the observable density of the forest makes it worthwhile. October is the most stable time of the year as the weather is most predictable and pleasant to take trips during. November till March see the most amount of tourism in the year and are not ideal if one prefers to experience nature in exclusivity. The Sanctuary is open between 7:00am to 6:00pm for visitors.

Wildlife at Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

There is a wide variety of wild animals to explore inside the vicinity of the sanctuary. Some of the astounding examples of the Sanctuary’s flourishing Fauna are enlisted below.

Mammals

Indian leopards, Bengal tigers, Indian bison, Sambar deer, sloth bears, mouse deer, barking deer, common Gray langurs, Indian Giant Squirrels and Smooth-coated otters.

Birds

Rufous woodpecker, Heart-spotted woodpecker, Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, Long-tailed nightjar, Crested goshawk and Asian fairy bluebird

Reptiles

King cobras, Indian pythons, Bufo koyanansi and frog

Distance From Nearby Cities

• Pune – 181 km
• Mumbai – 265 km
• Indore – 777 km
• Ahmadabad – 778 km
• Bangalore – 826 km
• Nagpur – 882 km
• Bhopal – 967 km
• Chennai – 1179 km
• Trivandrum – 1564 km
• Delhi – 1617 km
• Kolkata – 2055 km
• Jammu – 2207 km

Nearest Airport

Airport connectivity to the park is good with the nearest airport located in Kolhapur at a range of 65 kilometers with connectivity to all major cities. Other options are Pune, which is 181 kilometers from the Sanctuary and Mumbai, which is 250 kilometers away by road. Mumbai airport has connectivity with all major countries around the world.

Nearest Railway Station

The nearest railway station to the Sanctuary is located at Kolhapur, from where Taxi or bus can be availed till the park. There are train stations around small towns all around the area as well.

Road Accessibility

The Sanctuary is well connected by road and has the Kolhapur-Deogarh Highway passing through it.

Accomodation Facilities

Forest guest houses can be availed around the perimeter of the sanctuary. Other resorts are also available with lake-side views and regular meals. Rooms can be rented within variable price ranges and are cheap as well as well kept.