10 Exciting Facts About Melghat You Never Knew

Melghat essentially means ‘meeting of the Ghats’ as it is a large tract of unending hills, ravines & cliffs. Melghat is among the first nine tiger reserves under the Project Tiger, notified in 1973–74.

2. The Melghat Reserve is a catchment area (i.e. an area from which rainfall flows into rivers, lakes) for five major rivers namely the Sipna, Khandu, Gadga, Dolar and Khapra.

3. The rich vegetation of Melghat is a home to over 650 species of animals like Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Sloth Bear, Ussuri Dhole, Sambar, Barking Deer, Pangolin, Flying Squirrel, Chital, Nilgai and many more.

4. There are about 61 villages in the reserve and the inhabitants are mostly tribal, largely of the Korku tribe (about 80%) and also others like Gond, Nihal, Gaolan, Gawali, Halbi, Wanjari, and Balai.

5. Forest Owlet, long thought to be extinct was rediscovered 113 years later in 1997 in the forests of Central India. The population of Forest Owlet is estimated to be less than 250 & a survey in non-protected areas of Maharashtra confirmed its presence in the dense forests in that region. Melghat forest is also a home to the rare Forest Owlet.

6. Melghat Tiger Reserve is located in Amravati District of Maharashtra & currently, its total area is around 1677 sq.km. But with the restructuring of Melghat Tiger Reserve, it will soon be country’s fourth biggest reserve with a total area of 2,768 sq.km.

7. Melghat is also a paradise to enthusiastic Bird Watchers as one can find over 300 species of rare & common birds including Coppersmith Barbet, Red Munia, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Coucal, Crested Serpent Eagle and the list goes on.

8. Flying Squirrel is not capable of flight in the same way as birds or bats but it is able to glide from one tree to another with records of flights even up to 300 ft. and they are very similar to squirrels as their name suggests. They can be often found in Melghat during Jungle Safari.

9. Nephila pilipes (giant wood spider or golden orb weaver) found in Melghat forests is the largest of the orb-weaving spiders and also one of the biggest spiders in the world.

10. Chikhaldara (colonial era hill station) near Melghat has great historic significance in Mahabharata and is known for its scenic view from Gawilgarh fort, Vairat (highest point of Melghat [1188m]) and is the only coffee-growing region in Maharashtra.The Bir lake was built in Basalt during the time of British colonialism. The water was initially used for Chikhaldara tow. There is a road from the Bir Lake towards this valley from the north side. You can spot coffee plantations on the way while you go towards the point.