Karnala Bird Sanctuary

The sanctuary lies among the ranges of Western Ghats in the district of Raigad. The sanctuary is also reckoned as a paradise for trekkers due to the presence of various hills in the area. The sanctuary is also famous for the Karnala fort, which is situated within the sanctuary.

The fort has a very rich historical past and thus is turning out to be a favorite place of tourists. The sanctuary is an ideal place for bird watching as well as for trekking.

Flora-The place is very rich in natural vegetation cover that includes various species of trees and plants. The most part of the sanctuary is covered with various deciduous trees like mango, kalam, koshimb, teak, asana, nana, umbar, kulu etc.

Fauna-The sanctuary is a home to various animals like African monkeys, common langur, barking deer, wild boar, four horned antelope and in some cases leopards are also seen here.

Avifauna-The sanctuary provides shelter to about 147species of domestic birds and around 37 species of various migratory birds. The sanctuary is a dwelling place of two rare birds i.e. spotted heart woodpecker and ashy minimet. The other types of birds that are seen here include peregrine falcon, crested serpent eagle, king vulture etc.

Other Activities Barring bird-watching, the sanctuary also serves a good place for trekking. There are two trekking routes i.e. one is an easy route while the other one is a hard route. One should avoid trekking during the monsoons as it may be dangerous.