Betla National Park is a national park located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Latehar and Palamu district of Jharkhand, India. The only national park in Jharkhand it hosts a wide variety of wildlife. Also called Palamu national park, the park includes the Palamau Tiger Reserve, one of the nine original tiger reserves when Project Tiger was started in 1973.
Located in in Jharkhand, India and the only one in this state, it also includes Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the tigers are now very rare in the reserve with the count at less than 50. The Palamau Tiger Reserve besides tigers in home to an entire caboodle of flora that is every botanists’ delight. Mahua, Sal, Palas and Bamboo are the trees that are primarily associated with the Palamau Tiger Reserve. Palamau Tiger Reserve is also in the vicinity of well-known hill stations like lMurhu, Huluk, Netarhat and Gulgul.
It is the worlds first forest where tiger census was conducted using pug marks. There are some breath-taking waterfalls, inside the reserve like Mirchaia waterfall as well as Garu, Suga Bandh Waterfalls and many more. The tourist can alsdo visit the Lodh Waterfalls, also called Buddha Ghagh Waterfalls, it is created by the inflows of the Burha River. The park is home to several elephants Apart from tigers and elephants, there are large number of leopards, gaurs, sambars and wild dogs live in the reserve.
The avian population of the park is huge with over 140 species of birds being sighted in the reserve including Pelicans, patridges, pea fowl, owl, grey heron, and rare Vultures. The park is also home to variety of retile like Cobra, King Cobra, Russel;’s Viper and more. Among the herbivores, nilgai, sambar, sloth bear, four horned antelope and mouse dear are found in the park. The park has more than 970 species of plants and shrubs, majority of them possessing medicinal properties. Increased pressure from human activities, including illegal settlement and poaching, however has resulted n reduction in prey base for carnivores like leopard and tigers.
However, flooding and the vexing problem of naxal activities have affected tourism in the park. Tourist still interested can enjoy hot springs. Tourist can also visit the two historical forts known as Palamu Forts, the Purana Qila and the Naya Qila one of them situated near the Betla.
It is believed that the Adivasi kings of the Chero dynasty have built these forts. It is said Raja Medhni Raj, the ruler of Chotanagpur started the construction of the new fort but its construction was completed by his son Pratap Raj while the father was busy fighting battles invaders. Those who are interested can also try elephant safari and jeep safari along with guides for venture inside the park. Tourist can go for a nature trail and bird watching in the park with a guide.
The park is open to tourist throughout the year but the best time to visit is from May to June and November to March. The tourist arriving at the park can avail accommodation at the tourist complex that includes a three star hotel, tourist lodges log huts and tree houses inside the forest with fully furnished suites. The best way to reach Palamu is from Dhanbad or Daltonganj by road. Both of which have ample hotel and restaurants for accommodation with air link provided by Ranchi. One of the least visited wildlife reserves in India, the park is worth a 2 day trip as part of extension to visit neighbouring hills stations.
