Tuesday, 06 October 2009 05:38

Pania Wildlife Sanctuary -Amreli

About:

The cockling and craggy parcel of land that constitutes Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli is the most appropriate destination for undisturbed perseverance of the 'Chinkara' in India. The 'Chinkara' belongs to a species of gazelle, abundantly spotted in South Asia which is scientifically regarded as 'Gazella bennettii'. The Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli can be technically considered as a wing stretching from the Gir Sanctuary.

 

Although the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli possesses luscious grasslands of diverse varieties but the insufficient supply of water can be considered as a major drawback.Another reason why a trip to the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli could turn out to be a thrilling and pulse-pounding extravaganza is that you can spot the mighty lions stomping around the bumpy terrain in their full glory.

Precipitous, undulating landscape carpeted with wild grass and vegetation in-houses the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary. The ecological refuge also known by the name of Chanchai-Pania has been home to varied species of endangered and rare animals and was declared a Sanctuary in 1989. The 39.63 square kilometers sanctuary is an extended stretch of the Gir Sanctuary and the majestic lions and leopards frequently roam around this area. The Pania Wildlife refuge is differentiated from Gir to emphasize preservation of the Chinkaras and antelopes who wander around freely in the grassy region.Patches of grassy land amidst the hilly arid areas render the area suitably for the elegant and graceful Chinkara or Indian Gazelle. Small animals like Hyena, wild cat, civet cat, antelopes bearing four horns, pangolins, and foxes are seen almost playing hide and seek with the varied species of grasses while majestic animals like mighty lions stomping around the bumpy terrain in their full glory might offer a pleasurable surprise.



The crude exuberance of nature basking the glory of the Pania Sanctuary can be best experienced during the period in between monsoon and winters. A haven for eco-tourists this center will provide you with ample treasures and diversity of nature. Drive around the small zone while coming across petite animals shying away from you or apprehend the magical aura of the royal king of jungle lazing around in the rustic wilderness.

Location info:

Address:Pania Wildlife Sanctuary ,Amreli,Gujarat,India
District: Amreli
Nearest City: Amreli
Best time to visit: October to March

Climate/Weather:

summer with temperature soaring up to 45 'C and proper care should be taken to avoid and kind of sickness. The winter in turn are quiet pleasant with average temperature dipping up to 12 'C

History:

Popularly known as Chanchai-Pania, this sanctuary is an integral part of the famous Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Pania Sanctuary was notified in June 1989. This patch of forest, having arid conditions in absence of any natural water source, has given way to abundant growth of grass making the area ideal for chinkara- the Indian gazelle. Although lions, leopards and all other animals that reside in Gir, frequent this sanctuary, chinkaras roam more freely in this sanctuary rather than in the much wooded areas of Gir. The area falls in Amreli district and is easily approachable from Amreli and Dhari. The moderate hills of Chanchai accord a picturesque scene to the area. Here eco-tourists find nature and wildlife in its rawest form. World famous Gir Wildlife Sanctuary forms boundary in south and east while hills of Chahchai are towering in the north-west of Gir. These provide very suitable terrain for chinkaras.

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Fort of Dhari:
Fort of Dhari was in possession of Kathis of sarasia theba, which was given to a notorious outlaw Raningwala free of cost. When Raningwala went outside for out Lawry, Gaekwad amalgamated Dhari Taluka in his territory. It is not certain when Gaekwad first entered into Kodinar, but his one part was in original Dwarka, Navab of Junagadh granted half of the revenue of kodinor for its maintenance.

 

 

Fauna:

  • Lion
  • Blue bull
  • Spotted Deer
  • Wild Boar
  • Leopard
  • Hyena
  • Wild Cat
  • Civet Cat
  • Antelopes bearing four horns
  • Pangolin
  • Python
  • Peafowl
  • Porcupine
  • Fox
  • Desert Cat

Other attraction:

  • Nagnath Temple
  • Rajmahel(Palace)
  • Bhimnath Temple
  • Tapovan Temple
  • Rokadia Hanuman
  • Gayatri Mandir
  • Kamnath Mandir
  • Khodiyar Temple
  • Balaji Hanuman
  • Hanumanpara Road
  • Kamnath mahadev
  • New Khijadia

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:Dhari railway station
Nearest Airport:Rajkot airport,150 Km
Road Transport:Closest Bus Stop is about 10 kilometers away at Visavadar.

Nearest Visiting places:

aulakha Darbargadh:
Some of the tourist attractions in Gondal are the Naulakha Darbargadh Palace. Naulakha palace was built during the 17th century, and is the oldest palace in Gondal. This palace was constructed in nine lakhs and thus named so. There are stone carvings with exquisite balconies, a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase in the palace. The Orchard Palace is located in a huge complex of fruit orchards, lawns and gardens, and is a wing of the Huzoor Palace (the present royal residence) where the ruling family of Gondal entertained guests. The Royal Garages have an extensive collection of vintage and classic cars, sports cars and American cars from the World War II and post war period.

 

Ashokan Edicts:
The Ashokan Edicts, situated at the foothills of the mountains of Girnar, is one of the major Tourist attractions in Junagadh exuding the religious tolerance of the great Emperor, Ashoka. The inscription speaks of the greatness of the king in matters of secularism and depicts him as a king who encouraged unity and integrity.History of the Ashokan Edicts,Etched in a huge boulder, the edicts were founded by James Todd, but it was much later by 1837 that Rev. Dr. John Wilson who made them properly known to the world by copying the edicts and in 1843 they were enlisted in the Bombay branch journal by the Royal Asiatic Society.With roots around 250 B.C, the Ashokan Edicts, Junagadh, fourteen in number, are extremely valuable assets of India's rich cultural past. The edicts of Ashoka have been scripted in Brahmi in Pali language and engraved into large granite stone give and spread the word of Ashoka's philosophy to the world and thereby convey and propagate the word of Buddha to the whole world.

Uperkot Fort:
The state of Gujarat boasts of a number of historical Forts and monuments in Junagadh. Built and rebuilt repeatedly, the Uperkot Fort, Junagadh, one of the two fortifications of the city, has of late become one of the main Tourist attractions in Junagadh. Adding to the advantage of the fort being less thronged has helped it retain the ethnicity without losing any bit of its charm.From the little chronological information that we get regarding the historical origin of the Uperkot Fort, Junagadh, was built by Chandragupta Maurya in 319 B.C. Later, around 10th century, Rah Grahar reconstructed the entire palace out of the ruins and built the fort along with all the updated requirements of a proper one. However, according to whatever evidence is available, it can be said that the fort was erected in or around the third century or in the times of the Mahabharata.

Mahabat Maqbara:
The etymological meaning of Junagadh is "old Fort". It is located in the state of Gujarat in the laps of the sacred hills of Girnar in Saurashtra. Amongst the various forts and monuments in Junagadh, one of the major Tourist attractions in Junagadh, the Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh is an exquisite exhibition of the nineteenth century art and architecture.The city of Junagadh can boast of some beautiful ancient mausoleum erected by the Nawabs of Junagadh in the 18th century in the area around Chitkana Chowk. These mausoleum are charming in their own way, with nicely designed arches, vertical columns, and intricate stone carvings. However, the mausoleum built later; or rather the newer ones are more attractive and lure a greater number of tourists who floch to this place every year.Started in 1878 by Mahabat Khanji and completed in the year 1892 by his successor, Bahadur Kanji, the Mahabat Maqbara, Junagadh houses the tombs of Mahabat Khan, Baha-ud-din, minister of Nawab Rasul Khanji.

Junagadh Zoo Museum:
The Junagadh Zoo Museum, Junagadh is one of the most frequented Tourist attractions in Junagadh for obvious reasons. A museum incorporated within the premises of a zoological garden is undoubtedly exclusive in its own sense. It is situated at the foothills of Mount Girnar.Set up in 1863 A.D, and situated at 4km north of the southern part of Junagadh, the Sakkar Bagh Zoo, Junagadh, is oldest of its kind in the entire state of Gujarat, set up by the Nawab with a view to keep poaching under control of the Asiatic lion. It is a well maintained animal park , home to several species of motley colored birds, including flamingos, tigers, lions, leopards and other royal beasts. In the very premises of the zoo, there exists the Junagadh Zoo Museum, Junagadh with various objects which emit cultural evidences from the past.The co-existence of a zoo and a museum undoubtedly makes Junagadh Zoo Museum one of the most visited Tourist attractions in Junagadh. The zoo, comprising of the various animals and birds of a variety of taxonomic categories, also is home to a museum which preserves the very valuable documents, manuscripts, sovereigns, sculptures, various letterings, miniature paintings.

Temple of Amba Mata:
Tourists coming to Junagadh would be fascinated by its picturesque setting. The religious places and historical monuments of Junagadh attract many travelers from every nook and corner of the world. In the register of the Holy Places in Junagadh, the Temple of Amba Mata, Junagadh stands out and merits a special mention. Owing to buses that ply frequently between Junagadh and other chief locations of Gujarat, you can reach the Junagadh Temple of Amba Mata without any trouble.

Temple of Mallinath:
Tourists coming to Junagadh would be enchanted by its numerous temples, forts and museums. Amongst the Holy Places in Junagadh, the Temple of Mallinath, Junagadh deserves a special mention. As Junagadh is well linked to other key locations of Gujarat via regular bus services, reaching this temple would not pose any problem.The credit of the construction of Temple of Mallinath, Junagadh, Gujarat, India goes to two brothers named Vastupal and Tejpal. Junagadh Temple of Mallinath was erected in 1177 by this duo.Actually the Junagadh Temple of Mallinath is a triple temple. The exteriors of this temple are exquisitely carved and present a stunning sight to behold. At this temple, you would be able to get a captivating insight into Jain religious rituals. Akin to a Hindu temple, pilgrims at this place also offer leaves, fruit, flowers, vermilion, sandalwood paste and grains to the deity, amidst ringing of the bells and chanting of mantras. Once the pooja gets over, these devotees adorn their foreheads with liberal daubs of vermilion as well as sandalwood paste. A generous amount of money is also offered for the upkeep of the shrine.

Bhavnath Mahadev Temple:
Located at the foot hills of the Girnar Hills, the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is one of the foremost Holy Places in Junagadh. Nothing much is known about its precise origin but there is no scope of doubt about its historicity. It has stood their since ancient times. Visited by religious minded devotees all along the year, it is however best known for being the venue of the famous Bhavnath Fair.Held in the month of Magha as per the Hindu calendar (roughly coincides with January/February) this fair is the meeting point of a large number of people and is celebrated with a great deal of mirth and good cheer. It continues for five days. Events include performances put up by folk singers and dancers. One of the most striking features of this fair hosted at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is the active participation of the Naga Bavas.The worship starts at mid night on the 14th day of the dark half in the Magha month and as soon as the puja commences these sages are seen advancing towards the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple seated on elephants holding flags in their hands. The air reverberates with the sounds of the conch shells, the tungis and the turis. A strong belief is prevalent that on this day Lord Shiva himself visits the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple. The organizers serve free meals to the visitors on this auspicious occasion.

Temple of Gorakhnath:
Tourists coming to Junagadh would be captivated by its various museums, temples and forts. In the category of the Holy Places in Junagadh, the Temple of Gorakhnath, Junagadh merits a special mention. As buses ply regularly between Junagadh and other key locations of the State of Gujarat, you would be able to reach this temple without any trouble.The Temple of Gorakhnath, Junagadh, Gujarat, India is an ancient temple. However, no comprehensive records are found till date to establish the date of its construction.Junagadh Temple of Gorakhnath is positioned at the Girnar Hill in the district of Junagadh, Gujarat. Girnar Hill lies about 5 kms to the east of Junagadh. The presiding deity at this temple is Lord Gorakhnath. In the vicinity of this beautiful temple, you would get the chance to see several other Hindu temples along with a number of Jain temples.So, visit the Temple of Gorakhnath, Junagadh at your earliest to experience divine bliss. This visit would surely remain etched in your mind for a long time to come.

Somnath Temple:
The temple of Somnath, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is situated 79 Kms. from Junagadh and 25 Kms. from Chorwad. According to the legend, Somnath is as old as creation, built by none other than the Moon God himself. The remains of the temple of Somanath "withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of destroyers. The temple has imposing architecture and is a beautiful sight facing the blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. A short distance from the Somnath temple is Bakhla Tirth, where Lord Krishna was said to have been struck by the stray arrow of a Bhil tribal. The Present Temple, Kailash Mahameru Prasada is built in the chalukya style of temple architecture and reflects the inherent skill of Sompuras, Gujarat's master masons.

Chorwad Beach:
A visit to Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India, offers ample of opportunity to the tourists to know about the ins and outs of the Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India. Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India is yet another beautiful and scenic spot which if marketed well can figure high in the itinerary of the domestic and international tourists. Chorwad Beach is an interesting and alluring amalgamation of rocky crags and bowlderish seafront along with jaunty boat rides across the Chorwad seafront and to cap it all with opportunities to visit Porbandar and Somnath and other nearby beach destinations and other travel destinations worth their salt in terms of beauty and ambience.Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India, is home to a Palace which has now been transformed into a lovable and attractive resort which was constructed in the past by Nawab Saheb Mohabbat Khan, who was the regional satrap of the times. Nawab Saheb Mohabbat Khan, is one person who organized his dog's bizarre weddings, royal banquets and other related royal processions to his own merriment and since then the memories of such a memorably royal past lie embedded in the confines of the Palace Resort on the Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India. The Daria Mahal Palace is another structure which is considered attractive in the confines of the Chorwad Beach in Gujarat, India. Then, the exquisite Chorwad Beach, also has an association with Mahatma Gandhi.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Reliance Petrol pump:Amreli,Gujarat,India

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Riverside Palace:Gondal,Rajkot,Gujarat,India

 

Hingolgadh Palace:Gondal,Rajkot,Gujarat,India

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Aastha Hospital:B.M.Chowk,Manek Para,Amreli,Gujarat,India,ph:02792 221828
dr kj desai 'hospital:Amreli,Gujarat,India
Hospital Ground:Kundla, Amreli ,Gujarat,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:www.mapsofindia.com

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Pania Wildlife Sanctuary
The cockling and craggy parcel of land that constitutes Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli is the most appropriate destination for undisturbed perseverance of the Chinkara in India. The Chinkara belongs to a species of gazelle, abundantly spotted in South Asia which is scientifically regarded as Gazella bennettii. The Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli can be technically considered as a wing stretching from the Gir Sanctuary.Although the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli possesses luscious grasslands of diverse varieties but the insufficient supply of water can be considered as a major drawback.Another reason why a trip to the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary at Amreli could turn out to be a thrilling and pulse pounding extravaganza is that you can spot the mighty lions stomping around the bumpy terrain in their full glory...more