•  Gugamal National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Amravati district of the state of Maharashtra. The park is a part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve.
• Melghat was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973-74 under the Project Tiger. It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1975. Total area of the park is about 361.28 Km2.
• The Park area lies within the Satpura hill ranges also known as the Gavilgarh Hills. This is the only park in Maharashtra where tigers are still in existence and is one of the well-known ones in the state.
• The Rivers that flow within the Park are the Gadga River and Dolar River. The Tapi River flows on the northern borders of the Park.
• The park is home to a wide variety of rare animals and birds, including the Tiger, Bison, Panther, Sloth bear, Wild dog, Jackal, hyena, Chausingha, Sambar, Barking deer, Ratel, Flying squirrel, Cheetal, Nilgai, Wild boar, Langur, Rhesus monkey and a host of migratory birds. Many species of reptiles, birds, fishes and butterflies are also found in the park.
• There are 90 tree species, 66 shrub species, 316 herb species, 56 climbers, 23 sedge species and about 99 grass species. The area is rich in medicinal plants.
• The Park provides visitors an opportunity to sight different type of snakes, monkeys, ,squirrels ,bears, deer’s ,antelopes ,fishes , butterflies, crocodiles ,cat family, variant plants, trees and shrubs.
• The park offers visitors a wonderful place for sightseeing, great photography amidst nature and its creations.

History

• Gugamal National Park creates the central portion of The Melghat Tiger Reserve. Melghat was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973-74 under the Project Tiger. On 5th Sep 1975, the Melghat Tiger Reserve was designated a sanctuary.
• It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1975. Total area of the park is about 361.28 Km2. Crocodiles were re-introduced in a systematic manner in March 1990 and February 1991 in Siddu Kund in Gadga River near Dhakna and Hathikund in the Dolar River in the Gugamal National Park.

Geography

• Gugamal National Park is located in the Amravati district of the state of Maharashtra. The park is a part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. Melghat Tiger Reserve is situated in Chikhaldara & Dharni tehsils of District Amaravati in Hills of Satpura series.
• The Park area lies within the Satpura hill ranges also known as the Gavilgarh Hills. The forest is rugged and hilly and quite suitable for the Park’s most important inhabitant. The main ridges rise over 1000 metres.
• The Rivers that flow within the Park are the Gadga River and Dolar River. The Tapi River flows on the northern borders of the Park.
• The forest in rough & hilly region of Melghat is usual Southern arid deciduous jungle. There are 75 classes of plants found here.
• Significant tree species include Tectona grandis, Ain, Tiwas, Aola, Lendia, Dhawada and Kusum. Bamboo & Teak is extensively extended in the jungles.

Temperature – Maximum – 43o C

Minimum – 6o C

Altitude: 350 – 1,178 m

Rainfall: 1,850.00 mm

Dominant flora

• Teak, Kusum, Ain, Tiwas, Aola, Lendia, Dhawada, Bamboo, Moyan, Mahua, Lanzin, Aonla, Bhaman, Ghont etc.
• There are more than 750 species of plants in the forest which includes 90 species of trees, 316 species of herbs, 56 species of climbers, 66 species of shrubs, 23 sedge species and 99 grass species .There are a number of medicinal plants.

Dominant fauna

• Mammals – Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Jackal, Hyena, Chausingha, Gaur, Barking Deer, Ratel, Flying squirrel, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Macaque etc.
• Reptiles – Indian Cobra, Dwarf Gecko, Common Indian Monitor, Skink Snake, Bark Gecko, Indian Python, Dhamen etc.
• Birds – Jungle & Common Babblers, Yellow-billed Babbler, White-checked Barbet, Green Bee-eater, Crested Bunting, White-eyed Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Common Stonechat, Laughing Dove, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Black-throated Munia, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Rock Pigeon, Indian Peafowl etc.