December 08, 2023

Friday, 11:30 PM

Forest Escapes Koyna Resort,

Koynanagar, District Satara,

Maharashtra,

India

Today’s entire day was spent traveling from Aurangabad to Koyna after we saw off Papa Khurana, who left to see the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad before he left for Delhi the same day in the evening. 

It took us a ten-hour drive to reach Koyna. We are staying over at Koyna in order to visit Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, which is spread over four districts of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and  Ratnagiri of Maharashtra and has a total area of 1165.56 sq. kms, including 565.45 sq. kms. of buffer area and 600.12 sq. kms. of core. 

In 1985, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary was established to protect the biodiversity of the Sahyadri mountain range and in 2004, Chandoli National Park was notified, and in 2008, both Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and the Chandoli National Park were combined to make Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.

While it is as much a tiger reserve as any other, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is not particularly known for tiger sightings even though there are some tigers there. They are probably too shy to come out to be sighted. So I am keeping my hopes under check, but one can always be pleasantly surprised. There is always that chance. 

Today’s Vlog features the tribal dance of the Korku people I talked about the other day. Do watch.