Purna Wildlife Sanctuary

Purna has the thickest forest cover in the state, and the highest average rainfall, at 2500 mm. At sunset, the 160 square km of lush rolling hills, teak, and bamboo, fill with the music and drums of the Dangi tribes that also populate Vansda. The main village of Mahal is at the center of the sanctuary on the banks of the Purna river, with a forest rest house. Purna and Vansda together are the only protected forest areas in South Gujarat.

Purna is a Sanctuary, where luxuriant dense forests with thick bamboo brakes enchant visitors. People get surprised to see such pristine forests in the area, which happens to be an extension of the Western Ghats. For an eco-tourist wanting to enjoy birds of moist deciduous forest mixed with bamboo, this is the best place to visit. The Sanctuary is a part of forests in northern part of the Dangs district in South Gujarat. The area covering 160.8 sq. km is a reserved forest, which has been notified as Sanctuary in July 1990.

Purna Sanctuary is a part of dense moist deciduous forests in Western Ghat of Gujarat and supports gamut of flora and fauna of very high evolutionary value. The Sanctuary, along with Vansda National Park, is the only Protected Area in South Gujarat for conserving diverse biological resources. Wildbulls, elephants Sloth bear and rhinoceros also roamed in this forest-tract during historic past (Mugal Period). Forests of this region satisfy material and cultural needs of local tribals and maintain ecological stability of the area. About 700 identified plant species with dominance of grasses and broad-leaved plants in high density and diversity are found in the Sanctuary.

Different types of forests that constitute varied habitats are moist mixed deciduous forest, moist teak forest and bamboo brakes. Bamboo forms thick middle storey in large area with tree cover having moderately dense canopy. 'Mahal' forest in the Protected Area is one of the best forests in the State.

For more information contact Deputy Conservator of Forests, Dang (South), Ahwa, Tel: 02631220203