Sanjay Dubri National Park, Madhya Pradesh
About the Park 
A lot of things make Sanjay National Park one of the finest wildlife destinations in Central India, whose variety of flora is hugely popular amid the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. This wildlife paradise is located in Sidhi District and Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh in India and is spread over an area of 466.7 Square kilometers. It is a part of the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve, which is known for its rich and varied flora and fauna comprising rare and endangered species like tiger, nilgai, wild dogs, hyena, sloth bear, etc.
This dense forest was declared the national park in 1981, when the state government felt the need of protecting some of its very rich and rare flora and fauna. Earlier it was only Sanjay National Park, but soon Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary was collaborated with it to form Sanjay National Park and Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanjay National Park was erstwhile known as Guru Ghadidas National Park and it comprises of a number of rivers, rivulets, and other perennial sources of water, that serves the need of water for the birds and animals.
Sanjay National Park is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in Madhya Pradesh, visited by tourists, especially nature lovers from different parts of the country. This entire park is a moist deciduous forest with rich plantations of Sal and bamboo that makes for a perfect habitat for animals like tiger, leopard, deer, sambar, wild boar, neelgai, chinkara, and more. Here's what more you need to know about Sanjay National Park.
Flora:
The major part of the jungle is covered by Sal plantation and extensive patches of Bamboo trees. Some of the important plants in the sanctuary are Palas, Salai, Dhawada, Gurajan, Mahua, Semal, Harra, Ber, and Tendu. These plants together form a very rich and assorted vegetation, suitable for a number of wild animals. Sanjay National Park is a combination of tropical moist peninsular forests and southern dry mixed deciduous forests with both hills and plain areas.
Fauna:
Sanjay National Park provides a prosperous and varied environment to a variety of animal species including tigers, leopards, deer, sambar deer, wild boar, chinkara, civet, neelgai, porcupine, monitor lizard, sloth bear, wild dog, python, etc. It is a home to around 309 species of birds, most attractive of which are golden hooded oriole, peacock, bulbul, wagtails, blue kingfisher, teetar, crimson breasted barbet, Indian pitta rufus-treepie, red-headed vulture, racket-tailed drongos, lesser adjutant, Indian white-rumped vulture, Egyption vulture, and nightjars.
Tiger is the most prominent animal in this park along with sloth bear, which can be spotted easily near the rivers and streams. Among reptiles, chameleon, skink, garden lizard, Bengal monitor, etc are common and easy to spot. Some of the popular species of snakes seen here are cobra, krait, scaled viper, rock python, rat snake, russell viper, and saw scaled viper.
Activities in the Park
Tourists can spend their time near the Banas River, which is located just in the center of the park and indulge in exciting activities such as bird watching, swimming, boating, nature walk, and similar activities. They can also visit the Tribal Haat in Chamrdadol to enjoy shopping of tribal antiques, handicrafts, and other souvenir. A bonfire is also organized here followed by a tribal dance to offer an amazing experience to its guests.
Safari Timings:
Morning Safari Timings: 06:00 A.M to 10.00 A.M
Evenings Safari Timings: 02:30 P.M to 07:00 P.M
Nearby Tourist Destinations:
How to reach
By Air: Nearest airport is at Varanasi, which is approximately 275 km from the park. One can hire a taxi or a cab to reach their desired destination around the park
By Rail: Rewa Railway Station is the nearest railway station from the park, which is around 170 km from Sihi city and is linked with Jabalpur-Mumbai and Katni-Delhi railway route
By Road: Sidhi is the nearest city from the Sanjay National Park, which is connected to other nearby cities like Rewa, Jabalpur, & Varanasi
Hotels in Sanjay National Park
There are a few accommodation options in the park that offer tourists a comfortable and relaxing stay. Some even organize activities like tribal dance and bonfire to entertain its guests. Two of the most popular options are listed below:
- Marsili Resort
- Forest Department Guest House
Best time to visit: November-June
