Read this Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary travelogue written by Pragati Bakshi. Get an insight into Jharkhand’s beautiful wildlife reserve.
Wrapped in a swaying fragrant breeze
Trees asked Who am I,
I sat there not wanting to answer or to leave,
And the Forest
Allowed me to breathe.
I corroborate the “enigma “of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in the aforementioned poem!
A lesser-known wildlife reserve situated in the forest-abundant state of Jharkhand, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the oldest wildlife reserves in India. The wildlife reserve encompasses natural elephant corridors and perhaps the largest and most prominent of passages of elephant movement in India.
The onslaught of human interference in the serene and peaceful patches of the forest reserve, which served as a home to Asiatic elephants, has caused severe, tangible, and indelible harm to the fragile ecosystem, thus depleting the population of vulnerable wildlife in all the forests adjoining the Dalma range. Subarnarekha irrigation canal passes through the corridor. It has restricted and obstructed the elephant movements inside the corridors, thus forcing the herds to encroach upon human settlements.
Location of the Dalma Wildlife Reserve
The Sanctuary covers a land mass with an abundance of thick vegetation and waterbodies, hillocks and hill ranges spreading to 192 square kilometres forest of East Simbhum and Saraikela and Kharsawa districts of Jharkhand. The highest hill is 915m above sea level. The forest can be categorised under Northern Mixed Deciduous forest with an abundance of Sal, Kusum, Bel, Arjun, Jamun, Mahua and other forest trees.
Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary was inaugurated in the year 1975. It is barely 10 KM from the Industrial City of Jamshedpur and approximately 100 KM from the Capital City of Ranchi. The location is well connected to the highways and railway routes. NH 22 and NH 33 Run parallel to the land mass of the Sanctuary. The entire Forest area falls in the catchment of the Subernrekha River and Dimna Lake of Jamshedpur.
Major Attraction of the Sanctuary
Besides being the natural abode of the wild elephants, the sanctuary is a home to rare wildlife species like pangolin, sloth bear, Indian grey wolf, wild dog and red giant squirrel etc, It also hosts rich, diversified avian species like paradise flycatchers, eagles and parrots, etc. Reptiles and snakes find their natural habitat in these forests, namely the bamboo pit viper and copper-headed trinket snakes. Endemic butterflies are easily spotted, and the wildlife sanctuary hosts annual butterfly festivals in March/April. Dalma Hills provide ample space for mountain trekking in particular seasons.
The wildlife safari at an affordable rate is available, which takes the wildlife enthusiasts and common tourists to the highest peak of Dalma Reserve through a less motorable serpentine road carved along the peripheries of hillocks. A local saying goes that the jungles, their inhabitants and hills are under the protection of the local deity, Dalma Mai, from whom the area has been named.
Where to stay
There are ample facilities of hotels and lodges nearby Dalma Reserves alongside National Highways, but it is advisable to stay inside the peripheries of the forest reserve to experience the essence of the Jungle. Cottages are available at a prescribed tariff inside the reserve, which are maintained by the Department of Jharkhand Tourism. Meals and tea/snacks are provided on demand in the cafeterias. However, the meals are simple with limited options of cuisines.
How to reach
Dalma Reserve is 10 KM from the industrial city of Jamshedpur and approximately 100 km from the capital city of Ranchi. The location is well connected to the highways and railway routes.
Dalma Sanctuary runs parallel to NH 33, hence easily reachable through the road network, either by hiring a cab or by your own vehicle.
Pictures Courtesy: Wikipedia