Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
River Chambal in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Map of India
Location	Mandsaur and Nimach districts Madhya Pradesh, India
Coordinates	24°34′59″N 75°42′43″E / 24.583°N 75.712°E / 24.583; 75.712[1]Coordinates: 24°34′59″N 75°42′43″E / 24.583°N 75.712°E / 24.583; 75.712[2]
Area	368.62 km2 (142.32 sq mi)
Established	1974

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (Hindi: गांधी सागर अभयारण्य) is a wildlife sanctuary situated on the northern boundary of Mandsaur and Nimach districts in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is spread over an area of 368.62 km² (142.32 sq mi) adjoining Rajasthan state in India. It was notified in 1974 and more area was added in 1983. The Chambal River passes through the sanctuary dividing it into two parts. The western part is in Nimach district and eastern part is in Mandsaur district.

Flora and fauna

The Sanctuary is open throughout the year. With a varied terrain of wooded hills – the forest being dry, mixed and deciduous- and flat grasslands around Gandhi sagar dam submergence, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of wildlife. The principal tree species found in the Sanctuary are Khair (Acacia catechu), Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash etc.

The Predominant wild animal species that inhabits the Sanctuary are the deer, of which the most easily sighted are chinkara or Indian gazelle, nilgai, sambar, leopard,common langur, wild dog, peacock, otter, crocodile etc.

Places archaeological and religious importance

Chatubhujnath temple in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Sanctuary has many places of historical, archaeological and religious importance. These are Chaurasigarh, Chaturbhujnath temple, Bhadkaji rock paintings, Narsinghjhar, Hinglajgarh Fort, Taxakeshwar temple etc.

• Chaturbhujnath temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is located about 8 km from Gandhi sagar dam site
• Hinglajgarh or Hinglaj Fort is an ancient fort situated near village Navali in Bhanpura tehsil of Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh
• Taxakeshwar temple or Takhaji is a place of religious and historical importance in Mandsaur district
• Bhanpura Museum is located in Bhanpura, 30 km from Gandhi sagar dam and 127 km from Mandsaur in north-east direction. The museum depicting the popular arts of Mandsaur
• Dharmrajeshwar is an ancient Buddhist and Hindu cave temple site of 4th-5th Century in Mandsaur

How to reach

• Road - One can reach Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary by road from Madhya Pradesh towns Mandsaur (135 km) and Nimach (100 km) or from Rajasthan city Kota, RajasthanKota (100 km).
• Rail - Nearest rail heads are Bhawanimandi (53 km), Jhalawar (53 km) and Shamgarh (85 km).
• Air - Nearest Aerodrome is Udaipur in Rajasthan at a distance of 220 km.

See also

• Tourism in Madhya Pradesh

References

Indian Buddhist caves
Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramatheertham Caves Sankaram Undavalli caves
Bihar	Barabar Caves Lomas Rishi Cave Saptaparni Cave
Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Bava Pyara caves Uparkot Caves Kadia Dungar caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot caves Talaja Caves
Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava caves Mangalore
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Dharmrajeshwar Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Gandharpale Caves Ghorawadi Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Lenyadri Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Nadsur Caves Nenavali Caves Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Pitalkhora Shelarwadi Caves Shirwal Caves Shivneri Caves Thanale Caves Tulja Caves Wai Caves
Odisha	Udayagiri, Odisha
Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves
Tamil Nadu	Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram