Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary or the Narayan Sarovar Chinkara Sanctuary is one of the most popular animal sanctuaries in Gujarat. The popular Sanctuary was set up on April 1981 but it was denotified on 1995 and the land area inside the park was reduced. The entire Sanctuary is located central to the Lakhpat Taluk, inside the Kutch district of Gujarat state, India. The historic Desert Sanctuary is considered to be one of the best in India and it is situated in the arid zone of India. The park is a part of the local wetland but it still houses more than a 1000 different species from all over region. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified it as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India. According to experts, the Sanctuary can be a possible reintroduction site for the cheetah species in the near future. Local poachers and human expansion in the form of deforestation and settlement and mining activities after de-notification has resulted in the Sanctuary reducing in size in the last decade. Current Status: Narayan Sarovar now houses more than 15 different species of flora and fauna that belong to the endangered species. Apart from endangered species, the area also houses more than 50 different mammals, reptiles and birds. The flora in the region is also concentrated in the park with several rare flowering plants and trees being seen in the region. The most plentiful species at present is the Chinkara, a local Indian Gazelle. These animals are rare but they flourish in the park, which has a protected environment. The high heat, high winds, and frequent storms in the region can be detrimental to many species but the Indian Chinkara flourishes. For this same reason, many exotic species have adapted to the biosphere and they can be seen only in this region and nowhere else. The endangered Chinkara in particular is the only gazelle species in the world with horns on both sexes. There are only about 7000 chinkaras known to exist in India and they are highly endangered. However, more than 80% of them inhabit the Kutch. They are also particularly concentrated in the Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, which is wonderful for their particular breeding and their preservation. Geography: The Sanctuary is bordered by the Kori creek on the northwest, with a flourishing mangrove forest on the west, while prominent land features form its northern and southern limits. The park is remarkably flat in the northwest and the western area and it gradually slopes down towards the seashore. Along the northeastern area of the park, minor hill ranges can be seen with heights that vary. The area near the coast (near Tahera village) may extend up to 2.7 metres (above mean sea level). In the hill section, heights of the hill range will extend up to 157 metres particularly near the Manijal hill in Kaniyaro Rakhal. Rainfall is very scanty and erratic in this area as it is primarily a desert region. However, local authorities have set up more than 15 reservoirs around the sanctuary. Ground water potential and reservoirs frequently fall very low and salinity in low reserves is common. The area also has more than 30 villages in the region. Wildlife: There are 161 species valuable species in the region and of that, more than 112 are resident species. About 38 are migrating species and most of them are wetland birds belonging to about 13 families. The most common species seen in this area are as follows: Grey Francolin, Red-vented bulbul, Common Babbler, Eurasian Collared Dove, Plain Munia, Greater Short-toed Lark, Laughing dove, Indian robin, House sparrow, etc were the common birds seen here in large numbers. Although every species of bird are seen, a few of the rarer versions are referred to as the 'Specialists' and they are usually seasonal in nature. The most common species include the Ortolan Bunting, and Yellow- Crowned Woodpecker. The Sanctuary is also home to the Caracal, an endangered cat found in Gujarat and vulnerable to extinction. This species is now in the sanctuary at Kutch after a reproduction drive instituted more than 10 years ago. It’s quite a rare site. Other rare species native to the area includes the endangered Indian Wolf, Ratel, Pangolin, and the Desert Fox. The sanctuary is also home to three different species of birds called the Great Indian Bustards, Lesser Florican and the Black Partridge. How to reach: By road: You can hire a bus from Bhuj to go to Narayan Sarovar twice a day (morning and evening). Private vehicle can are available at Bhuj and they will cost you about Rs. 5.50/- per km to Rs. 10/- per km. By air: Direct flights are available to Bhuj located about 70 km from Kutch By Rail: The nearby railway station is Bhuj located just one kilometer to the northern part of this city. Palanpur is the nearest railway station from Bhuj at the border of Rajasthan at 391 kilometers. Local trains are available. Best time to visit: October to March is peak time at the Sanctuary. You should carry your own food and water. References: http://www.traveladda.com/how_to_reach/west_india/gujarat/narayan_sarovar_wildlife_sanctuary_how_to_reach.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayan_Sarovar_Sanctuary http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=257&webpartid=1151
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Miyani Beach: A Short Guide
Gujarat is a beautiful state and it has an extensive coastline of more than 1,600km. This means that the state has several beautiful but still undeveloped beaches. Although the state has a mixed climate, it has the largest number of natural ports located along its coastline and this makes it a very commercial state. Apart from the port cities, the state has several undeveloped or virgin beaches that have not yet been developed and opened for tourists. Miyani Beach is one of these virgin beaches. Location Miyani Beach is situated about 36km from the city of Porbander. This means that tourists have to travel about 2 hours to reach the beach by driving along the Coastal NH-8E roadway. The beach is located within walking distance of Miyani Village with a local population of about 1,000 locals. Best Season To Visit Summer is the best time to visit the local beach. However, winter season is a good time as well. We recommend you visit the beach from November to March when the tides are and the weather is pleasant. Please do check local weather conditions before traveling to the beach. Attractions Miyani Beach is located near to Miyani Village and regular excursions are planned from the Beach and the village to local attractions like Porbander City. You can also visit local attractions like the Brahma Temple, Brahma temple, the Hsarsidhhi Mata Temple, Kirti Temple and Sudama Temple. Miyani village is a local fishing village and tourists can enjoy the local community and its attractions as well. The local village also has a very famous local mosque called the Kokanshah Pir. This mosque is of archaeological interest and is estimated to be from the 8th Century. For nature loves, the local Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is a must visit and it is within 2 – 5 kms of the beach. A dam has been built on the local Meda River and the freshwater reservoir is located around very near to the beach. You can travel down to the reservoir to see local and migratory birds from all over the region. You may require a local tour guide to help you around the area. Beach Activities Miyani Beach is currently under-development and not many activities are available on the beach itself. The Gujarat Maritime Board has plans to set up a beach resort, beach facilities, water sports, adventure sports and nature trails around the area but this will take a year or two to start. The beach itself is beautiful as the waters are clean and the sand has a very fine powdery texture with very few rocks on the beach surface. Accommodation The beach itself has very little in the form of accommodation. However, the City Of Porbander and Miyani Village have accommodation facilities in the form of budget apartments and homestay facilities. Bed and breakfast facilities may be available in and around Miyani Village but you will have to inquire in the village for additional information. Resort and beach hotels are located a little further off but you may be able to find a simple hotel nearer to the beach. How to Reach By road: The beach is centrally located and it is very easy to reach. ST or government buses ply frequently along the roads and you will also be able to hire private buses to take you to the beach. Direct buses are available from nearly every large city in Gujarat. By rail: Miyani Beach is located near to Porbander city and the city has a railway station that connects it to the rest of the state. We recommend you check local train schedules to find a convenient local train. Although Miyani Beach is still pristine and a little inaccessible from international cities, the Gujarat Maritime Board has recognized the popularity of the tiny beach. In the last two years, the GMB has invested time and effort in to developing the beach for international tourists. The Governements Sagarkhedu Project in particular has included Miyani Beach and beaches in the Okha in Una area in the redevelopment plan. in the next ten years, Miyani Beach could easily become the desired tourist beach in Gujarat. Reference (From where you have taken the content) http://www.gujtop.com/Beach_detail.aspx Description Miyani Beach is one of the lesser known beaches of Gujarat. However, it is centrally located and clean with pristine waters and a clean sandy surface. Take a look at our guide on Miyani Beach if you are planning on visiting the city of Porbander.
