Samyakk clothing at 14:01, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T14:01:03Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian wildlife sanctuary}}
{{refimprove|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = IV
| iucn_ref =
| image =
| image_caption =
| map = India Chhattisgarh#India
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| location = [[Mahasamund district]], [[Chhattisgarh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|21|24|00|N|82|27|50|E|region:IN_dim:20000|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| established = 1976
| area_km2 = 245
| elevation =
| nearest_city = [[Mahasamund]]
| governing_body =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary''' is located in [[ Mahasamund district]]. It was established in 1976 under the Wildlife Protection Act.<ref name="outlook">{{cite web |last1=Aggarwal|first1=Bharat |title=Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary |work=Outlook Traveller |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/traveller/ot-getaway-guides/barnawapara-wildlife-sanctuary/ |date=2017-05-17 |access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="regeneration">{{cite journal |last1=Negi|first1=Chaman |last2=Singh |first2=Lalji |last3=Bhardwaj |first3=Daulat |journal=The Indian Forester |volume=141 |issue=8|pages=848-853 |title=Regeneration Status and Floristic Composition of Natural and Plantation Forest Ecosystems of Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary | date=August 2015 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chaman_Negi4/publication/283085055_REGENERATION_STATUS_AND_FLORISTIC_COMPOSITION_OF_NATURAL_AND_PLANTATION_FOREST_ECOSYSTEMS_OF_BARNAWAPARA_WILDLIFE_SANCTUARY_CHHATTISGARH_INDIA/links/5671034208ae5252e6f26210.pdf |access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref>

==Name==
The Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is named after the twin forest villages of '''Bar''' and '''Nawapara''' located in the sanctuary.<ref name="outlook" /><ref name="regeneration" />

==Geography==
The sanctuary is spread over an area of about 245 square km.<ref name="regeneration" /> The [[Jonk River]], a tributary of the [[Mahanadi river]], flows through the sanctuary, and is bisected by a number other of streams and rivulets, besides numerous watering holes.<ref name="outlook" /><ref name="regeneration" /> The tributaries of [[Mahanadi]] are the source of water here. Balamdehi River forms the western boundary and [[Jonk River]] forms the north-eastern boundary of the Sanctuary. It is a land mass of undulating terrain dotted with numerous low and high hillocks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chhattisgarhtourism.co.in/barnawapara-wildlife-sanctuary-chhattisgarh.html|title= General Info of Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary}}</ref>

==Flora==
The sanctuary is full with Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and [[Bamboo]] is amongst the most commonly spotted tree here. [[Shorea robusta|Sal]], [[Madhuca longifolia|Mahua]], [[Bombax ceiba|Semal]], Tendu Ber, [[Teak]] and other tropical dry deciduous trees like [[Diospyros melanoxylon|Tendu]], [[Terminalia chebula|Terminalia]], [[Madhuca longifolia|Mahua]], [[Ber]] and [[Bombax ceiba|Semal]] trees are also commonly found in the reserve.<ref name="regeneration" />

==Fauna==
[[File:Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary Chhattisgarh India.jpg|thumb|Spotted deer herd]]
Wildlife of the sanctuary include [[Tiger|Tigers]][[Sloth bear|, Sloth Bear]], [[Flying squirrel|Flying Squirrels]], [[Jackal|Jackals]], [[Four-horned antelope|Four-horned Antelopes]], [[Leopard|Leopards]], [[Chinkara]], [[Jungle cat|Jungle Cat]], [[Barking Deer]], [[Porcupine]], [[Monkey]], [[Bison]], [[Striped hyena|Striped Hyena]], [[Dhole|Wild Dogs]], [[Chital]], [[Sambar deer|Sambar]], [[Nilgai]], [[Jackal]], [[Gaur]], [[Muntjac]], [[Wild boar|Wild Boar]], [[Cobra]], and [[Pythonidae|Python]]. In 2020, wild buffalo were imported from [[Manas National Park]] for reintroduction in the wild.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pair of wild buffalo brought to Barnawapara |url=https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/4/19/Pair-of-wild-buffalo-brought-to-Barnawapara.html |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=www.thehitavada.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]] was reintroduced into the sanctuary, at that time the specie was declared locally extinct in the state of Chhattisgarh. In 2025, its population has grown to 190.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-17 |title=It went locally extinct for 50 years. Then, the blackbuck made a miraculous comeback in Chhattisgarh's Barnawapara sanctuary |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/it-went-locally-extinct-for-50-years-then-the-blackbuck-made-a-miraculous-comeback-in-chhattisgarhs-barnawapara-sanctuary-10311451/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

The sanctuary also has a large population of birds that include [[Peafowl|Peacock]], [[Parrot|Parrots]], [[Bulbul]], [[White-rumped vulture|White-rumped Vultures]], [[Green avadavat|Green Avadavat]], [[Lesser kestrel|Lesser Kestrels]], [[Peafowl]], [[Woodpecker|Wood Peckers]], [[Greater racket-tailed drongo|Racket-tailed Drongos]], [[Egret|Egrets]], and [[Heron|Herons]]. Bird watching in Barnawapara is one of the most enjoyed and popular activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/travel/destinations/story/offbeat-chhattisgarh-a-drive-to-sirpur-and-barnawapara-wildlife-sanctuary-raipur-lakshmana-temple-teevardwo-buddhist-monastery-heritage-monuments-274523-2015-11-26|title= Offbeat Chhattisgarh: A drive to Sirpur and Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary}}</ref>

==Connectivity==
The reserve is about 100 km from [[Raipur]] and about 45 km from [[Mahasamund]] city. The nearest airport is the [[Swami Vivekananda Airport]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

==Tourism==
There are a number of scenic waterfalls in the sanctuary, like Dhaskund waterfall, Siddhakhol Waterfall, Nakuti Darha waterfall, etc. Other places like Turturiya Dham are also popular. It is situated on the northern boundary of the sanctuary besides the Balamdehi river, 13 km from Barnawapara, is believed to have been the abode of Sage [[Valmiki]] and the place where [[Sita]] lived in exile, and where [[Lava (Ramayana)|Luv]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kush]] were born.<ref name="outlook"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Mahasamund district]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1976]]

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

Samyakk clothing at 14:01, 26 February 2026