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{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
| iucn_category = IV
| image = Otomops wroughtoni.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Critically endangered]] [[Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat]] near Bhimagad Wildlife Sanctuary
| map = India Karnataka#India
| relief = 1
| mapframe = Yes
| coordinates = {{coord|15|32|39|N|74|21|03|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Belgavi]], [[Karnataka]], India
| area_km2 = 190.4
| elevation = {{cvt|800|m}}
| nearest_city = [[Belagavi]], [[Karnataka]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary''' is a [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India|protected area]] in the [[Western Ghats]], in [[Khanapur]] Taluk of [[Belagavi district|Belgavi District]] near Jamboti Village, [[Karnataka|Karnataka state]], [[India]]. This {{convert|19042.58|ha|mi2|abbr=on}} of [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] forest area was long awaiting to be a wild life sanctuary and finally declared in December 2011.<ref name="IBN">
{{citation
|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/state-notifies-bhimgad-as-wildlife-sanctuary/207893-60-115.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126040643/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/state-notifies-bhimgad-as-wildlife-sanctuary/207893-60-115.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=26 January 2013
|title=State notifies Bhimgad as wildlife sanctuary
|work=IBN Live Saoth, Karnataka
|publisher=IBN Live
|date=1 December 2011
|place=Belgavi
|access-date=14 January 2012
}}</ref>

The Bhimgad forests are notable for the Barapede caves, the only known breeding area of the [[Otomops wroughtoni|Wroughton's free-tailed bat]], a [[threatened species]] on the verge of extinction. The sanctuary is also home to other rare species of flora and fauna.<ref name="RK">
{{citation
|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Bhimgad-gives-Goas-greens-hope/articleshow/10975841.cms
|title=Bhimgad gives Goa's greens hope
|author=Rajendra Kerkar, TNN
|work=The Times of India
|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd
|date=1 May 2011
|place=Keri
|access-date=13 January 2011
}}</ref>

==Etymology==

The area takes its name from the [[Bhimgad Fort]] which was built and commanded by [[Shivaji]] in the 17th century. It is located in the heart of the forest valley, Built by Shivaji to defend from the Portuguese troops who controlled Goa that time, rises 1800 ft near vertically above the plains. The fort occupied the summit of an extraordinary rock, with sides about {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}} in perpendicular height. The defenses were almost entirely natural, requiring little additional construction. The ruins of the 380-ft high and 825-ft broad Bhimgad fort are located right in the heart of the Mahadayi forest, and is of great historical significance.<ref name="Babasaheb Purandare">{{Cite journal|title=Raja Shivachhatrapati (Marathi: राजा शिवछत्रपती)|first=Babasaheb |last=Purandare|author-link = Babasaheb Purandare|publisher=Purandare Prakashan| date=August 2003 |location=[[Pune]]|edition=15}}</ref>

==Geography==

The sanctuary is about {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest from [[Belgaum]] city.and 10 km from volpoi(goa) town It is contiguous to the east of [[Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary]], north-west of the [[Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park]] and north of [[Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary]] in Goa and north of [[Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary]] in Karnataka.<ref name="RK"/> The western border areas encompasses several geomorphological limestone formations with several caves.<ref name="Uppar">{{cite web
|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/hubli/30467037_1_forest-mahaveer-wildlife-sanctuary-anshi-national-par
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103122118/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/hubli/30467037_1_forest-mahaveer-wildlife-sanctuary-anshi-national-par
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=3 January 2013
|title=Bhimagad forest is now wildlife sanctuary
|author= Ravi Uppar, TNN
|date=2 December 2011
|work=[[The Times of India]]
|access-date=3 December 2011
}}</ref>

==Rivers==

This area is the headwaters of several rivers including the Mhadei, Malaprabha and Tillari and hundreds of perennial streams. The Mhadei originates in the Bhimgad forests with a cluster of 30 springs forming the river Mahadayi, which is joined by two other streams Marcidha nala and Pannera nala. The waters flow down in the valley and over the {{convert|150|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Vajrapoha falls]]. The evening sun falling on the veil gives a glittering touch thus the name ''vajra''. The Mhadei river goes on to be the important [[Mandovi river]] in Goa.<ref name="Pai">{{citation
|url=http://www.veabgoa.org/VEAB/images/File/Mahadayi%20Article%20III.pdf
|title=Mahadayi/Mandovi River Valley
|pages=6–9
|author=Mohan Pai
|place=Bangalore
|year=2008
|access-date=2011-08-17
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402224036/http://www.veabgoa.org/VEAB/images/File/Mahadayi%20Article%20III.pdf
|archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref>
Notification of this area as a wildlife sanctuary has given protection to Goa's water resources.<ref name="RK"/>
{{Wildlife of India}}

==Fauna==

The application states: "''This section of Bhimgad that lies in Karnataka reflects the bewildering complexity in plant, animal and bird life. It represents an area having a unique ecosystem that has significant biological and ecological importance. The region has numerous endemic plants and animals and also provides a critically important tiger corridor between Karnataka and Goa.''"

The sanctuary, with beautiful mosaic of woodlands and grass lands, is home to [[Bengal tiger|tigers]], [[Indian leopard|leopards]], [[gaur]], [[sloth bear]]s, [[Sambar (deer)|sambar]], [[spotted deer]], [[chital]]s, [[fox]]es, [[dhole|wild dogs]], [[king cobra]]s [[Indian elephant|elephants]], and other [[threatened species]] of mammals, birds and reptiles. The forests are a part of vital [[Wildlife corridor|tiger corridors]] – one linking the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and [[Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Maharashtra]] and the other linking Dandeli and the Molem Wildlife Sanctuary.<ref name="RK"/><ref name="SA">{{citation
|url=http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=693:bhimgad-awaits-protection&catid=119:campaigns-archive
|title=Bhimgad awaits protection
|publisher=Sanctuary Asia
|date=June 2006
|access-date=13 January 2011
|archive-date=26 June 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626125858/http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=693:bhimgad-awaits-protection&catid=119:campaigns-archive
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==Flora==
The sanctuary is a mosaic of [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] and [[grassland]]s. It is rich in [[medicinal plants]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External sources==
[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ar8MAAAAIAAJ&dq=wolf+Bhimgad&pg=PA9 Bhimgad]

{{Western Ghats}}
{{Protected areas of Karnataka}}

[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Geography of Belagavi district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Belagavi district]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 2011]]

Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

Beefurb at 06:30, 22 February 2026