TeresaGuercio23 at 20:55, 22 February 2026

2026-02-22T20:55:07Z

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{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in Assam, India}}
{{primary sources|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary
| image = File:Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary.jpg
| image_caption = Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary
| map =
| map_caption =
| iucn_category = IV
| location = [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Guwahati]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26|05|36|N|91|44|57|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|117|km2|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}
| established =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [[Ministry of Environment and Forests]], [[Government of India]]
| website =
}}

'''Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary''' (formerly Garbhanga and Rani Reserve Forest) is a [[Nature reserve|wildlife sanctuary]] on the southwestern side of [[Guwahati|Guwahati City]], bordering the state of [[Meghalaya]], [[India]].<ref name=":7" /> The forested area is the key urban wildlife site and catchment area near Guwahati City.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Time |first=Pratidin |title=Assam: Garbhanga Reserve Forest to be declared as the Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://www.pratidintime.com/latest-assam-news-breaking-news-assam/assam-garbhanga-reserve-forest-to-be-declared-wildlife-sanctuary |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=Pratidin Time |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Garbhanga Forest |url=https://www.whatshot.in/kolkata/garbhanga-forest-v-175258 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Whats Hot |language=en-IN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718035420/https://www.whatshot.in/kolkata/garbhanga-forest-v-175258 |archive-date=18 July 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Located approximately 15 km (10 miles) away from Guwahati, Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the southern part of [[Assam]], bordering the foothills of [[Meghalaya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gorbhonga Trail |url=https://www.adventura.in/trekking/gorbhonga-trail/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=www.adventura.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2010-05-20 |title=Assam's Garbhanga Reserve Forest villages march towards development |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2010/05/20/assamsgarbhanga-reserve-forest-villages-marchtow.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=oneindia.com |language=en}}</ref> It is located very close to the [[Dipor Bil|Deepor Bill]], and because of its location in an [[urban area]] it is considered a key wildlife area of Guwahati City.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-09 |title=Guwahati: Garbhanga Reserve Forest To Become Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://www.time8.in/guwahati-garbhanga-reserve-forest-to-become-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=TIME8 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-09 |title=Garbhanga Forest set to be Assam's 25th wildlife sanctuary |url=https://themeghalayan.com/garbhanga-forest-set-to-be-assams-25th-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=The Meghalayan |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adventure {{!}} Department of Tourism {{!}} Government Of Assam, India |url=https://tourism.assam.gov.in/portlet-sub-innerpage/adventure |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=tourism.assam.gov.in }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary has a total land area of {{Convert|117|km2|abbr=on}} and lies between the Garbhanga and Rani ranges.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=NE NOW |date=2022-04-10 |title=Assam: Garbhanga forest reserve likely to be notified as wildlife sanctuary |url=http://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-garbhanga-forest-reserve-wildlife-sanctuary.html |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-10 |title=Assam's Garbhanga Reserve Forest to be declared Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://en.mynewsne.com/assams-garbhanga-reserve-forest-to-be-declared-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=MyNewsNE English |language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:Garbhanga WS 6.jpg|thumb|right|'''[[Spangled drongo]]''' at Garbhanga]]

==Etymology==
The origin of wildlife sanctuary's name is unclear. However, some believe that the name comes from the [[Karbi people]], who came from the Markang area of [[Sonapur, Assam|Sonapur]] and eventually entered the hilly forest for [[Jhum cultivation]].

Garbhanga was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the second secretary to the government of Assam, Mr G.T. Lloyd. He was under the supervision of Major Briggs, who surveyed the forest in 1862.

==Brief boundary description==
[[File:Garbhanga WS 5.jpg|right|thumb|'''[[Green imperial pigeon]]''']]
The Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by Guwahati City and Dipor Bill in the South, the Meghalayan ranges on the east and north, and Rani Range on the west.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-02 |title=Garbhanga Reserve Forest Trek: Best Nature Trail Near Guwahati |url=https://travellingslacker.com/garbhanga-reserve-forest-trek-guwahati/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=travellingslacker.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-10 |title=Garbhanga reserve forest likely to be proclaimed as 25th wildlife sanctuary of Assam |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/garbhanga-reserve-forest-likely-be-proclaimed-389593-2022-04-10 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref>

===North===
The northern boundary starts at BSF headquarters near the VIP Road, then runs along the foothills of Matia, Chakradeo, [[Dipor Bil]], Mahua Para, Pamohi, and Mainakhurung up to Paschdhora River, which is the common boundary between Garbhanga Reserve Forest and Rani Reserve Forest.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bezbaruah |first=Achinta |date=March 2014 |title=Railroad impacts on wetland habitat: GIS and modeling approach |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Location-map-of-Deepor-Beel-wetland-and-Rani-Garbhanga-Reserved-Forests-a-part-of-the_fig3_276033743 |journal=ResearchGate}}</ref> From there, the boundary runs along Phalbama, Nawagaon, and [[Nalapara]], up to [[Lokhra|Lokhara]] Village and to the [[Bhimeswar_Dham|Bhimeswar Dham Siva Temple]], which is situated in the northeast corner.

===East===
On the east side, the boundary runs along the [[Basistha|Basistha river]], up to the front side of the Government Art School and then follows the stream. Permanent boundary pillars are situated near the Basistha River, then the eastern boundary runs up to Umthana Forest Camp. The name of the river changes in different locations, such as Umsing, Umpani, Umrit etc. This entire stretch is the interstate boundary with [[Meghalaya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basistha Temple in Guwahati, Basistha Ashram Temple in Guwahati |url=https://www.guwahationline.in/city-guide/amp/basistha-temple |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.guwahationline.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Basistha Temple, Guwahati - Info, Timings, Photos, History |url=https://www.templepurohit.com/hindu-temple/basistha-temple-guwahati/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination {{!}} Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad |language=en-US}}</ref>

===South===
The southern boundary starts at Doomati village, which is the joining point of Umrit and Umsopari rivers. From there, the boundary runs up to Pathar Khama, then up to Rangang River that runs out from Meghalaya.

===West===
The western boundary starts at Pathar Khama, then goes up Jeepable Fair Weather Road along the Umsang River. From this point the boundary runs along Naharpaham, Bhadiakhowa, where it meets Umtru River, and then the boundary follows the stream to where it meets [[Kopili River|Kapili river]]. The boundary then runs along Ganapati, Rani, Bahupara, Andherijuli, Rani Tea estate, Sajanpara, Patgaon, to where it meets at the starting point at the corner of BSF Headquarters.

==Landscape and biodiversity==
[[File:Garbhanga WS 2.jpg|right|thumb|'''[[Hoolock gibbon]]''' in Garbhanga]]
In earlier days, various NGOs and researchers witnessed rare animals such as [[serow]], [[clouded leopard]], and [[bison]] and wanted to study Garbhanga. Therefore, when the Working Plan of the [[Kamrup district|Kamrup East Division]] was prepared, an attempt was made to document the faunal and flora diversity of Garbhanga and Rani Reserve Forest.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-04 |title="Awesome Assam" – 20 Days across Assam with our guest from Slovakia |url=https://kaziranganationalparkassam.in/garbhanga-reserve-forest-and-chandubi-lake-with-our-guest-from-slovakia/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve ~ Tour Packages & Safari Bookings Official |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Flora===
The wildlife sanctuary has diverse flora. A study has found 139 species of [[tree]]s, 122 [[herb]]s and [[shrub]]s, 52 species of climbers, 11 species of [[orchid]]s, and five species of [[bamboo]] and [[rattan]] were documented.<ref name=":0" />

===Fauna===
[[File:Garbhanga WS 4.jpg|right|thumb|'''[[Malayan giant squirrel]]''']]
The wildlife sanctuary is rich in fauna. A total of 36 species of [[mammal]]s, 219 species of [[bird]]s, 38 species of [[reptile]]s, 15 species of [[amphibian]]s, 168 species of [[Butterfly|butterflies]], and 15 species of [[spider]]s have been documented.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 2010 |title=Correlations of Rainfall and Forest Type with Papilionid Assemblages in Assam in Northeast India |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50283863 |journal=ResearchGate}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-12-19 |title=Guwahati: Encroachment threatens Garbhanga reserve forest - News Live |url=https://newslivetv.com/guwahati-encroachment-threatens-garbhanga-reserve-forest/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Disturbance and threats==
In May 2005, at the 15th Annual Meeting of Early Bird, a local NGO warned the Assam government about the danger of losing the wildlife sanctuary in the future.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=NGO push for sanctuary status - Activists fear loss of Rani & Garbhanga forests |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/ngo-push-for-sanctuary-status-activists-fear-loss-of-rani-garbhanga-forests/cid/879879 |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>

The main threats to wildlife are encroachment, dumping of garbage, and [[deforestation]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Land use/land cover change in rani-garbhanga reserve forest area, Kamrup, Assam {{!}} International Journal of Current Research |url=https://www.journalcra.com/article/land-useland-cover-change-rani-garbhanga-reserve-forest-area-kamrup-assam |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=www.journalcra.com}}</ref>

The NGO requested that the government prevent the encroachment on wild animals and also called for a ban on the dumping of garbage in the wetlands.<ref name=":1" />

==Present status==
Groups have been constantly demanding the upgrading of Garbhanga-Rani Reserved Forests into a wildlife sanctuary for its better protection and care.<ref name=":1" />

* Hydrological considerations – Protection of the watershed areas of Guwahati city and its adjacent areas would regulate water flow, maintain water quality and nutrient cycles, and prevent soil erosion and sedimentation.
* Genetic and species considerations – Protection of wild gene pools of flora and diverse avian, mammalian, reptilian, and other fauna.
* Ethnobotanical considerations – Protection of medicinal plants traditionally used by tribal communities residing in and around the forested areas.
* Economic considerations – Protection and maintenance of the areas with high scenic value for eco-tourism, which would provide economic opportunity to ethnic tribal inhabitants.

===Declared a wildlife sanctuary===
On 7 April 2022, in the [[Assam Gazette]], the [[governor of Assam]] proposed that Garbangha Reserved Forest should be declared a [[wildlife sanctuary]], which made it the 25th wildlife sanctuary in Assam.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=JGT |date=2022-04-10 |title=Assam's Garbhanga Reserve Forest to be designated as Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://justguwahatithings.com/assams-garbhanga-reserve-forest-to-be-designated-as-wildlife-sanctuary/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Just Guwahati Things |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718040319/https://justguwahatithings.com/assams-garbhanga-reserve-forest-to-be-designated-as-wildlife-sanctuary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wildlife Sanctuary, Garbhanga}}
[[Category:Tourism in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Tourism in Assam]]
[[Category:Geography of Assam]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of India]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of India]]
[[Category:Biodiversity]]

Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

TeresaGuercio23 at 20:55, 22 February 2026