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Betla National Park
Located in the district of Daltonganj, Palamau Sanctuary is spread over an area of 979sq km. The hub area of 232 sq. kms of the sanctuary was acknowledged as Betla National park in September 1989. The park occupies the western parts of the Chotanagpur plateau and was formed in the year 1960 as an extension of the Hazaribagh National park. Palamau has the merit of being the forest where the world's first tiger census was enumerated in 1932. The park became one of the first 9 tiger reserves in India under 'Project Tiger' in 1974.
The forests of the park have a huge variety of vegetation that consists of tropical
wet evergreen forests in the lower reaches, diverse (moist & dry) deciduous forests
in the middle and temperate alpine forests in the upper reaches including Sal and
bamboo as the majoringredientsalong with a number of medicinal plants. The river
Koel and its tributaries run through the northern portion of the park. There are
grasslands in the river flowing area. It has waterfalls and hot springs too. Once
the seat of Chero kings, there are two historical forts, one of them belongs to the 16th century. The main sentinel of the old fort is visible high up on the hill with defenses in three directions and three main gates.
The assortment of eco-system promotes a wide diversity of fauna that consists of elephant, panther, leopard, wild boar, tiger, gaur, sloth bear, sambar, chital, nuntjac, nilgai, langur, mouse deer, monkeys, small Indian civet, mongoose, jackals, porcupine, ant eating pangolin etc. Elephants in great numbers are seen mainly during the monsoons up to the time when water sources start drying up in March. Jackal and hyena are widespread scavengers. Bird-life is rich featuring the hornbill, peafowl, red jungle fowl, black partridge, white necked stork, black ibis, swamp grey, quail, the pied born bill, wagtails, the harial, doves, drongo, the crested serpent-eagle, forest owls, the papiha and other birds usually found in dry deciduous forests.
The well-known Kamaldah Lake attracts several varieties of water birds including the common whistling and cotton teal, the comb duck, snipe and geese. The rhesus monkey and the common languor offer appeal to children visiting the park.
Described as one of the best parks in the northeast for viewing a diversity of wild life from close up range, there are elephant rides and jeeps obtainable with guides and spotlight for venturing inside the park. Watch towers and ground hides have been constructed to view wild life.
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