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Melghat Tiger Reserve National Park | Satpura Forests

Gugamal National Park

Dry Forest Core of the Melghat Hills

Maharashtra

Image: Dr. Raju Kasambe / CC BY-SA 3.0
Hot-Dry Summer Conditions
Pre-monsoon temperatures rise sharply and water planning is essential.
Tiger Reserve Access
Visitor access is controlled through Melghat Tiger Reserve rules and local forest guidance.

Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Gugamal National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.

Reservations

Confirm current Melghat tourism and permit procedures through Maharashtra forest channels before planning Gugamal access.

Lodging

Chikhaldara
A practical hill-station base with hotels, viewpoints, and road access into Melghat.
Melghat Nature Camps
Check current forest and eco-tourism stays around the reserve before planning a wildlife-focused trip.

Book your stay

Browse stays in Amravati Booking.com

This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.

Visitor Centers

Melghat Tiger Reserve Visitor Contacts
Melghat access zone • Office hours
Current tourism, permit, and route guidance for Gugamal and nearby sectors.

Rules & Regulations

  • Confirm gate and route rules before arrival
  • Carry water and basic supplies in summer
  • Do not leave designated tourism routes
  • Keep noise low around wildlife habitat
  • Follow reserve staff instructions

Accessibility

Expect long road transfers and reserve conditions that are not barrier-free; this park suits travelers comfortable with rural forest travel.

Basic Information

About This Park

Gugamal National Park lies in the Satpura extension of Maharashtra's Melghat landscape, where ridges, ravines, teak forest, bamboo, and seasonal streams create one of central India's classic tiger-reserve environments. It is important both for large mammals and for the rediscovery and protection of the critically endangered forest owlet in the greater Melghat region.

Operating Hours & Seasons

SeasonMorning SafariEvening Safari
Winter (Nov - Feb)Morning entry as notifiedAfternoon drive where permitted
Summer (Mar - Jun)Early start recommendedLate return before dusk

Tourism is lighter than in major central-India parks; routes and facilities depend on the current Melghat system.

Closure PeriodMonsoon closures and route restrictions usually affect access from July through September.

Fees & Passes

CategoryAmount
Entry/PermitAs notified by Maharashtra Forest Department
Guide/VehicleVaries by gate, route, and current reserve rules

Confirm Melghat booking and gate procedures in advance because tourism infrastructure is more dispersed than at mainstream safari parks.

Weather

☀️ Summer
March - June
24°C - 42°C
Hot and dry, with stronger wildlife concentration around water.
🌧️ Monsoon
July - September
21°C - 30°C
Rain-fed forest revival with heavy route limits.
❄️ Winter
October - February
10°C - 28°C
Cooler and more comfortable for forest drives and birding.

Contact Information

Authority
Maharashtra Forest Department / Melghat Tiger Reserve

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address

Gugamal National Park, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Amravati district, Maharashtra

21.4056° N, 77.1486° E

✈️

By Air

Nagpur is the main airport for reaching Melghat by road.

🚂

By Train

Amravati, Badnera, and Akola are practical railheads for onward travel.

🚗

By Road

The park is approached through Melghat hill roads from the Amravati side, especially via Chikhaldara and Dharni sectors.

🚐

Local Transport

Use private vehicles, local drivers, or forest-arranged tourism transport familiar with Melghat routes.

Things to Do

🚙
Melghat Forest Drive
Explore teak forest, ravines, and reserve roads within the wider Melghat landscape.
🦉
Bird Watching
Look for dry-forest birds associated with Melghat, including the forest owlet landscape.
🌄
Scenic Hill Routes
Travel through Satpura escarpments and forested valleys around Chikhaldara and adjoining sectors.
🧭
Wildlife Interpretation
Understand the ecology of a less commercial but historically important tiger reserve.

Nature & Wildlife

Key Wildlife

Bengal TigerLeopardSloth BearGaurSambarChitalWild DogForest Owlet

Flora

Dry deciduous teak forest, bamboo, grassy openings, riverine strips, and Satpura hill vegetation.

Fauna

Gugamal and the wider Melghat landscape support large carnivores, ungulates, bears, birds, and reptiles across a rugged central Indian forest system.

Learn About the Park

History

Gugamal was notified in 1974 and later became a key component of Melghat Tiger Reserve, one of India's early and important tiger landscapes.

Quick Facts

Established
1974
Area
361.28 sq km
State
Maharashtra
Designation
Melghat Tiger Reserve National Park

References

  1. Gugamal National Park official visitor information Maharashtra Forest Department / Melghat Tiger Reserve
  2. Gugamal National Park overview Wikipedia
  3. Check MTDC properties in Maharashtra Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
  4. Check Maharashtra safari booking guidance Maharashtra Forest Department
  5. Gugamal National Park location map OpenStreetMap contributors
  6. Gugamal National Park thumbnail image source Wikimedia Commons