[ Edit ] Star Attraction

Large herds of Wild Indian Bison (also known as "Gaur").

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[ Edit ] Overview

The Dajipur Bison Sanctuary is a beautiful forest reserve perched atop Phonda Ghat on the border of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts in the state of Maharashtra. It is part of the Western Ghats and is located at a height of 3,940 ft between the Radhanagari and Kalamawadi dams.

The forest sustains several unique species of flora and fauna and is home to large herds of wild bison amongst various other animals. One of the main reasons for the success of the sanctuary is that the terrain here is quite inhospitable making it difficult for humans to enter safely and thereby reducing the risk of poaching etc. There are several villages on the outskirts of the forest land that are inhabited by tribal people.

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[ Edit ] History

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Quick Facts

[ Edit ] State

Maharashtra, India

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[ Edit ] Location

Dajipur Bison Sanctuary is spread over Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra.

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[ Edit ] Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Dajipur is September to March.

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[ Edit ] STD Code

02321

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Ecosystem

[ Edit ] Geography

Area: 350 sq kms

Altitude: 1,200 meters

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[ Edit ] Wildlife

Animals include Bison, Leopard, Wild Boar, Wild Dogs, Sambar, Antelope, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Chital, Sloth Bear, Giant Squirrel, Porcupine, etc. 

Birds in the forest include Eagles, Vultures, Owls, Quails, Hornbills, Plovers, Woodpeckers, Sand Pipers, Sunbirds, Nightjars, Bee-eater, and Kingfishers.

Indian Bison
The Gaur / Indian Bison is the largest and most powerful species of all wild cattle.  Males have a a very powerful appearance with a muscular body, distinctive dorsal ridge, and a large dewlap. They can be grow to as long as 12 feet, stand at 2 meters tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to 2000 kg (or 2.2 tonnes). In the wild, Gaurs typically live in herds of up to 40 individuals and graze on grasses, shoots and fruits. Unlike Water Buffaloes, Indian Bison do not seem to bathe or wallow in water.

Given their formidable size and strength, Indian Bison do not have many natural enemies.  Only Tigers are courageous enough to attach a fully grown adult Bison.  

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[ Edit ] Flora

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[ Edit ] Climate

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Planning Your Trip

[ Edit ] Operating Hours & Season

Dajipur Bison Sanctuary is open from November to June.

Timings:

• Summer

• Winter

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[ Edit ] Fees

Fees for Dajipur Bison Sanctuary

• Indians: Rs __
• Foreigners: Rs __
• Camera: Rs.__
• Video Camera: Rs.__
• Jungle Safari: Rs __ per person

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[ Edit ] Activities in Park

Safari, Trekking

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[ Edit ] Visiting the Park

The jungle safari at Dajipur are only available from November through June to go through the jungle and see the Indian Bison and other wild animals.

There are 3 watch towers in the jungle and the view from each is beautiful.

The backwaters of the Radhanagari dam are very popular with tourists. The dam was built from 1907 to 1935 by Sahu Maharaj, then the ruler of Kolhapur, to irrigate the fertile plains of the region.

Trekking camps are organized for adventure tourists.

Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
The Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary is 30 km away from Dajipur Sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated between the Shahu Sagar and Laxmi Sagar reservoirs. This sanctuary is spread over 351 sq km and is also known for Bison and other wild creatures. The dam at Randhanagari is a popular spot for tourists.

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[ Edit ] Lodging inside Park

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[ Edit ] Did You Know?

• Indian Bisons are not generally aggressive animals. However, they are fearless in terms of defending themselves versus predators such as Tigers.  When a herd is attacked, adult Gaurs form a circle around young calves and shield them from Tigers.  There have been numerous reported cases of Tigers being gored to death by Bisons.

• The range of countries in which Gaur are found include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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Getting There

[ Edit ] Air

The nearest airports are at Kolhapur and Belgaum.

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[ Edit ] Rail

The nearest railway station to Dajipur is Kolhapur.

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[ Edit ] Road

Dajipur is off NH 3 and is approximately 20 km from Phonda, 30 km from Radhanagari and 75 km from Kolhapur.

Driving Distances:

• Goa: 163 kms
• Kolhapur: 80 kms
• Kunkeshwar: 81 kms
• Mumbai: 484 kms
• Pune: 390 kms
• Tarkarli: 81 kms
• Vengurla: 88 kms

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[ Edit ] Nearby Destinations

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[ Edit ] Park Rules & Regulations

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[ Edit ] In the News

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Recent News

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