LESSER KNOWN FACTS ABOUT TADOBA BEYOND TIGERS

Facts about Tadoba beyond Tigers

• Jagat Singh
• Comments (1.5k)

A Rich amalgamation of mythology, culture, and nature, Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district has it all! The rich biodiversity of Tadoba and the historic landmarks in the forest landscape are testaments to an ancient, flourishing dynasty dating back to 184 B.C.

Let’s get versed with some of the lesser known facts about Tadoba beyond Tiger, which are: -

One of the sites where Lord Ram spent time during his 14 years of exile is Ramdegi. Ramdegi is a rural hamlet in Chimur. It is not just a popular site for pilgrims but the big cat also walks here with pride during the night. Also, it is a great habitat for sloth bears. The Waterfalls and the lush green habitat of Ramdegi make it a preferred site for most tourists. It is a highly revered spot for tourists as Shiva and Buddha temple are also found here.

Popular for its archaeological structures, Tadoba has a variety of them. In Chimur, there are eight painted rock shelters. At Waghai hills, two different clusters of rock shelters exist namely Pandubara and Nagargota belonging to two different time periods. The Distinct burial sites from the iron age used large stones and along with this, it is an excavated site as well from where glass bangles, copper coins, iron equipment, and other things were excavated. The Reminder of the bygone era, the Gond pillars here are the oldest organized long distance communication pillar systems in India as the top of the pillar has a ring fitted through which a rope is linked to the temple bell.

Being home to an array of species, Tadoba overflows with a rich biodiversity and its flourishing forests are a visual treat for and offer its visitors extraordinary encounters. The Tadoba’s big five include the Sloth Bear, Leopard, Indian Bison or Gaurs, Asiatic Wild Dogs or Dholes, and Marsh Crocodile along with the Royal Bengal Tiger and other wild animals as stated in one of the previous blogs about distinctive species to spot in Tadoba.

To witness the valiant Gond Kings who ruled for centuries, Tadoba’s rich biodiversity and forests were home to three tribes namely Gond, Manna, and Gowaree during the 7th century. Gond’s overpowered these tribes and conquered the other two and further, they were conquered by the Marathas. Unraveling the story of the village chieftain Taru, the Gond dynasty revered Taru as their deity by the locals here and has several shrines dedicated to King Taru. Still, the local tribes continue to gather every Pausha (December/January) to appease their deity. Along with this, the mythology of Sage Agastya also belongs to this region.

Tadoba has several exquisite lakes, water holes, and other water bodies both perennial and even man-made. The Water bodies and lakes here ensure the flora and fauna of Tadoba thrive here like nowhere. The pristine lake which can be accessed from the core gate is Tadoba lake and from the buffer gate, is the Irai lake. Telia lake also offers its visitors excellent birding opportunities and sighting of tigers, if the visitors get lucky.

Birdwatchers always flock to Tadoba Holiday Hour to watch a riot of colours as the birds adorn myriad shades. Hosting an array of aerial wonders, every perennial or man-made water body here has a high value birding hotspot including numerous local and migratory species like a Bar-Headed Goose, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Grey-Headed Swamp hen, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Indian Roller, Oriental Honey Buzzards, Brown Fish Owl, Red Avadavat, and plenty of other unique species which is a delight for many.