A Trip to Navegaon

 

 

A TRIP TO NAVEGAON

 

 

In November 2016 with the plan to visiting Pench and Tadoba National Parks, I went to Nagpur with my family. I visited Pench as per our programme, and also paid a visit to Ramtek Fort Temple. But owing to some accommodation problem we had to cancel our Tadoba trip. As our travel plan was for one week, we were forced to stay at Nagpur for 3 more days. However, as per advice of a friend at Nagpur we did have an enjoyable trip to Navegaon National Park during that stay. He gave the contact number of a reliable travel agency and I hired a car accordingly for visiting Navegaon, situated in Gondia district of Maharashtra. My friend also introduced me over phone with the Secretary, Forest Guard Association, Gondia district.

One has to perform almost a 3 hours journey from Nagpur to reach Navegaon, covering a distance of about 140 km along the Mumbai – Kolkata highway (towards Chhattisgarh), and a small portion by PWD roads.

On the particular day, we reached Navegaon entry point at about 10 am and cordially received by the said Secretary with some of his fellow members. I need not had to hire any guide. The concerned person himself accompanied us. After some refreshment he took us to the off-side of Navegaon dam to make us acquainted with the migratory birds better. As we climbed up the embankment we found rows of Arjun trees. Within a minute we saw 10 -12 young men to climb atop the Arjun trees like the blink of eyes. We were bit scared, but the man said they do not disturb any tourist. He did not disclose anything about their identity – we also kept mum. In the mean time a cobra snake hurriedly passed close to my left leg to hide in the bush. During this phase of our tour he told us a lot of unknown things about the migratory birds. His knowledge highly impressed me. After bird watching we came back to the entry point on foot and took our lunch there.

In the second half we started our safari at about 2-30 pm. The gentleman accompanied us this time also. Gradually we entered deep into the forest. When we reached the core area, it occurred that we had entered into some African jungle seen in English movie. In course of our journey we came across different types of plants and animals. He gave us vivid description of every interesting thing came to our sight. His well acquaintance with the scientific names of different plants and animals, their habits and habitat greatly surprised me. How could a forest guard know all such things?

While moving along the forest road we saw number of bisons, gaurs (wild cows), beers etc. Though the sight of any tiger eluded us, but the trip deep inside Navegaon forest highly impressed us. In course of conversation we also came to know that every year a team of students of Calcutta university visit Navegaon in study tour and he accompanied them through years. He is not a professional guide, but he indicated preference for accompanying people who were fond of knowing wild flora and fauna.

Our jungle safari ended at about 6 pm. After having evening tea and snacks we bade good bye to Navegaon and that gentleman in particular.

Though Navegaon appeared to be a thrilling destination for the forest lovers, but presence of tourist in megre number during the peak season surprised me a bit.

I wrote the above note from my memory, but I also like to give here some information about this place as available in the literature:

A Glimpse of Navegaon

This area is also known as Navegaon Bandh (dam) locally, because of the presence of a beautiful water body. The buffer zone of this area is mainly inhabited by the tribal people.

From the historical point of view, we can find traces of the existence of the Kohali Community as far back to 1300 AD. Even during those times the regime of the Kohali community, was recognized as geologists in a broader sense. This community had acquired skills by inheritance, in excavation and stone works. Archives shows, that the grandiose temples at Jagannath-puri and Bhubneshwar, the picturesque lakes of Kashmir and Rajasthan, were constructed by the Kohali community. Since the period 1800 AD the region was under the rule of Gond tribal king Dalpatshah, who along with his queen was instrumental in creating several water bodies in the region. These water bodies not only helped in agriculture but also attracted numerous animals and birds (local and migratory) to the region. Navegaon National Park was declared a national park in 1975.

 

 

NB

It’s worth mentioning that a National Park is declared by the Government in exercise of the power conferred under the specific law, having more strict regulations restricting human activities. The size of a National Park may be larger than a Reserve Forest. It has great importance from the ‘conservation of nature’ point of view. It is indeed nature’s priceless asset and beckons one and all to enjoy its picturesque landscape, its pure and fresh air. It has got immense potentials from 'biodiversity conservation' point of view as well. One can also join the jungle safari in a National Park and stroll through the beautiful forest, crossing paths with leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, sambars, chitals and langurs.

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