National Parks in Chhattisgarh, Map, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Ramsar Sites

A National Park in Chhattisgarh is a protected natural area where forests, wildlife, rivers, and landscapes are conserved by law to prevent damage and ensure long term ecological balance within the State. Other protected areas include Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, and Biosphere Reserves, which allow varying degrees of human activity. Together, these areas safeguard forests, rivers, flora-fauna, and endangered species while supporting scientific research, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.

Protected Areas in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has an extensive protected area network conserving Central India’s forests, rivers, wildlife corridors, and endangered species.

1. National Parks: Legally protected core conservation zones with strict ecological safeguards.
2. Tiger Reserves: Landscapes managed for tiger conservation and prey population recovery.
3. Wildlife Sanctuaries: Areas allowing limited human use while protecting wildlife habitats.
4. Biosphere Reserves: Large ecological regions balancing conservation, research, and livelihoods.
5. Ramsar Wetlands: Internationally recognized wetlands important for biodiversity and water security.

National Parks in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has three National Parks in India that represent diverse forest types, river systems, and wildlife assemblages of Central India. These parks protect dry and moist deciduous forests dominated by sal, teak, and bamboo. They are ecologically significant for conserving endangered species like wild water buffalo and tigers while maintaining wildlife corridors connecting Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Rivers flowing through these parks support regional hydrology and biodiversity. Together, these national parks form the ecological backbone of Chhattisgarh’s conservation landscape.

Sanjay (Guru Ghasidas) National Park

Sanjay National Park, officially known as Guru Ghasidas National Park, lies across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh within the Narmada Valley ecosystem.

1. Location: Situated near Ambikapur, Manendragarh, and Chirimiri in northern Chhattisgarh.
2. Establishment: Notified as a national park in 1981 for large-scale forest conservation.
3. Landscape: Part of the Narmada Valley with undulating terrain and dry deciduous forests.
4. Vegetation: Dominated by sal and bamboo forests supporting diverse herbivore populations.
5. Fauna: Home to tigers, leopards, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, monitor lizards.
6. Rivers: Drained by Banas, Gopad, Mawai, Mahan, Kodmar, and Umrari rivers.
7. Historical Significance: Last known Indian habitat of the Asiatic cheetah.
8. Connectivity: Forms a vital corridor linking Bandhavgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserves.

Indravati National Park

Indravati National Park is located in southern Chhattisgarh and is one of the most biodiversity-rich forest landscapes in India.

1. Location: Situated in Bijapur district, bordering Odisha and Telangana forest regions.
2. River Boundary: Named after the Indravati River forming its northern boundary.
3. Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests with bamboo, sal, and teak.
4. Flagship Species: Supports one of India’s last wild water buffalo populations.
5. Mammals: Tigers, gaur, blackbuck, chausingha, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac.
6. Birdlife: Habitat of Bastar hill myna, the state bird of Chhattisgarh.
7. Reptiles: Presence of freshwater crocodiles in riverine ecosystems.

Kanger Valley National Park

Kanger Valley National Park, also called Kanger Ghati National Park, represents unique limestone landscapes and dense forests.

1. Location: Located in the Bastar region near Jagdalpur town.
2. River System: Named after the Kanger River flowing through the park.
3. Geology: Known for limestone caves such as Kotumsar Caves.
4. Extent: Stretches from Tirathgarh Waterfalls to the Kolab River near Odisha border.
5. Vegetation: Rich sal, teak, and bamboo forests.
6. Mammals: Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, mouse deer, sambar, barking deer.
7. Birdlife: Hill myna, spotted owlet, and steppe eagles recorded.
8. Reptiles: Freshwater crocodiles inhabit perennial river stretches.

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Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has four notified tiger reserves forming a critical part of the Central Indian tiger landscape, ensuring habitat connectivity and genetic flow. There are total 4 Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh as of 2025:

• Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

• Indravati Tiger Reserve

• Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

• Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve

Indravati Tiger Reserve

Indravati Tiger Reserve protects dense forests and riverine habitats crucial for endangered wildlife.

1. Location: Situated in Bijapur district of southern Chhattisgarh.
2. River System: Indravati River defines its northern ecological boundary.
3. Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
4. Key Species: Tigers, wild water buffalo, gaur, chital, sambar.
5. Avifauna: Bastar hill myna widely recorded across forest tracts.

Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve represents a unique merged conservation landscape in central Chhattisgarh.

1. Formation: Created during 2008-09 by combining Udanti and Sitanadi sanctuaries.
2. Location: Lies in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh.
3. River Systems: Sitanadi and Udanti rivers feed forest ecosystems.
4. Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous mixed forests dominated by sal.
5. Wildlife: Tigers, wild water buffalo, chital, sambar, chausingha.

Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve Tiger Reserve

Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve forms a transboundary conservation corridor in Central India.

1. Composition: Includes Sanjay National Park and Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary.
2. Location: Spreads across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
3. Connectivity: Links Bandhavgarh and Palamau tiger landscapes.
4. Vegetation: Dry deciduous forests with sal and bamboo dominance.
5. Fauna: Tigers, leopards, nilgai, sambar, chinkara.

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is a biologically rich forested plateau supporting multiple river systems. 

1. Location: Lies across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Biosphere Status: Part of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
3. Topography: Bauxite-rich soils of the Amarkantak plateau.
4. Hydrology: Maniyari River flows centrally, sustaining forest life.
5. Rivers Origin: Source of Narmada, Son, and Johilla rivers.
6. Vegetation: Dry deciduous forests with sal and bamboo.
7. Fauna: Tigers, leopards, gaur, chital, blackbuck, chinkara.
8. Connectivity: Linked to Kanha Tiger Reserve via Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh hosts a wide network of wildlife sanctuaries conserving forests, grasslands, riverine ecosystems, and wildlife corridors. These sanctuaries play a vital role in protecting endangered species, supporting elephant and tiger movements, and preserving ecological connectivity across Central India. Many sanctuaries safeguard important rivers, originate tributaries, and maintain forest-based livelihoods. They complement national parks and tiger reserves by acting as buffer zones and stepping-stone habitats crucial for long-term biodiversity conservation.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh List

Chhattisgarh’s major wildlife sanctuaries protect varied landscapes from hills to river valleys.

• Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary: Part of biosphere reserve with sal forests and tiger movement corridors.
• Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Ramgarh Hills, acting as tiger corridor to Palamau.
• Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary: Bounded by Mahanadi and Jonk rivers with dry deciduous forests.
• Bhairamgarh Wildlife Sanctuary: Separated from Indravati National Park by the Indravati River.
• Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary: Maikal Hills corridor between Kanha and Achanakmar reserves.
• Gomardha Wildlife Sanctuary: Located near Sarangarh, conserving regional forest biodiversity.
• Pamed Wildlife Sanctuary: Established to protect wild buffalo in Dantewada district.
• Semarsot Wildlife Sanctuary: Ramgarh Hills sanctuary sharing border with Bihar.
• Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary: Named after Sitanadi River, supporting tiger habitats.
• Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary: Part of Surguja-Jashpur elephant reserve landscape.
• Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary: Critical habitat for endangered wild water buffalo.

Ramsar Site in Chhattisgarh

Kopra Reservoir is Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar-recognized wetland, highlighting its international ecological importance.

• Location: Situated in Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara and Bilaspur region.
• Wetland Type: Freshwater reservoir developed from irrigation infrastructure.
• Bird Diversity: Recorded 161 bird species including 58 migratory species.
• Threatened Birds: Egyptian vulture endangered; woolly-necked stork vulnerable.
• Vegetation: Aquatic plants like Ipomea and Cyperaceae support food chains.
• Ecological Role: Enhances water security, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.