Navegaon National Park Travel Guide

1. Topography, Elevation & The Historic Lake Basin

Navegaon National Park (20.9167°N, 80.1667°E), commonly known as **Navegaon Bandh**, spans an area of 134 square kilometres in the southern Arjuni Morgaon taluka of Gondia district in eastern Maharashtra. Situated approximately 140 kilometres east of Nagpur and 65 kilometres south of Gondia, it is nestled within the rugged forested hills of the southern Satpuras.

The visual and ecological centerpiece of the park is **Navegaon Lake**, a vast, pristine freshwater reservoir spanning over 11 square kilometres. Surrounded on all sides by seven rolling forested hills known locally as the *Satbahini* ("Seven Sisters"), the lake is cradled in an amphitheater of dense tropical dry deciduous forest.

The lake and surrounding forest were declared a National Park in 1975 and subsequently incorporated into the **Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR)** in 2013, creating a vital protected sanctuary in the central Indian wildlife corridor.

2. The 300-Year-Old Legend of Kolu Patel Kohli

Unlike modern concrete dams built by state governments, the massive earthen embankment holding Navegaon Lake was constructed in the early 18th century (circa 1710 CE) by an indigenous agrarian visionary named **Kolu Patel Kohli**.

Belonging to the traditional water-harvesting Kohli community, Kolu Patel mobilized hundreds of local farmers to construct an enormous 2-kilometre earthen dam between the hills, capturing the runoff of mountain streams. According to enduring Gond and Kohli folklore, when the dam walls breached during a catastrophic storm, Kolu Patel’s daughter and son-in-law sacrificed their lives to hold the embankment, ensuring water security for generations.

A revered stone memorial and shrine dedicated to Kolu Patel stands on an island promontory inside the lake, where local farming communities offer prayers before sowing their annual paddy crops.

3. Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: 209+ Avian Species

The extraordinary avian richness of Navegaon attracted the legendary ornithologist **Dr. Salim Ali**, who spent weeks surveying the lake in the mid-20th century. Ali famously proclaimed Navegaon as one of the most important wetland habitats for wintering waterbirds in western India, leading to the establishment of the **Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary** within the park.

The lake and its forested margins support over **209 recorded species of birds**, representing roughly 60 percent of all avian species found in Maharashtra. Every winter from November to February, thousands of migratory waterfowl arrive from Siberia, Tibet, and central Asia.

Iconic winter visitors include the majestic **Bar-headed Goose**, **Greylag Goose**, Northern pintails, common teals, pochards, and painted storks. Resident wetland species include purple swamphens, bronze-winged jacanas, black-winged stilts, and six species of kingfishers.

4. Forest Fauna: Tigers, Leopards & Sambar Herds

The deciduous forests surrounding Navegaon Lake shelter a rich diversity of mammals. As an integral component of the tiger reserve, the forest hosts resident and dispersing **Royal Bengal tigers**, which use the corridor to travel northward toward Nagzira and Kanha.

Indian leopards are well-established in the rocky ravines of the *Satbahini* hills. Large herds of **Sambar deer**—the preferred prey of tigers—feed along the marshy lake shores during twilight hours, accompanied by spotted deer (chital), barking deer, and wild boars.

Other notable wildlife includes the sloth bear, Indian wild dog (*dhole*), small Indian civet, palm civet, and the marsh crocodile (*Crocodylus palustris*) living in the quiet bays of the reservoir.

5. Tree-Top Watchtowers, Boating & Nature Trails

Navegaon offers visitors a uniquely serene eco-tourism experience. Situated along the lake shore is a famous **Tree-Top Rest House**, constructed on the high branches of an ancient tree, offering visitors an elevated bird’s-eye perspective over the water and surrounding canopy.

Several forest watchtowers are positioned along the water’s edge, equipped with high-powered spotting scopes for birdwatchers. Visitors can hire pedal boats or rowboats to explore the quiet shoreline coves, keeping a respectful distance from bird nesting islands.

The park features several designated nature walking trails, including the 4-kilometre **Kolu Patel Trail**, which winds through bamboo thickets, ancient teak stands, and medicinal plant gardens.

6. The Gondia "Lake District" & Wetland Culture

Navegaon is the crowning jewel of Gondia district, affectionately known as the **"Lake District of Maharashtra"** due to its network of over 1,000 traditional water-harvesting tanks (*talaos*) constructed by the historic Kohli rulers over centuries.

The region is celebrated as the "Rice Bowl of Maharashtra," producing premium fragrant rice varieties such as Chinnor and Dubraj, irrigated by the ancient water tanks. Travelers can experience authentic rural Vidarbha hospitality, dining on fresh river fish curry, steaming hot Chinnor rice, and jowar bhakris.

The local markets in nearby Arjuni Morgaon offer traditional bamboo handicrafts, handwoven mats, and pure forest honey harvested by local tribal self-help groups.

7. How to Reach Navegaon National Park: Routes & Railheads

Navegaon is reached via well-paved state highways. From Nagpur (140 km, approx. 3 hours drive), travelers drive east along NH 53 to Sakoli, turning south onto the state highway through Kohmara and Arjuni Morgaon directly to Navegaon Bandh.

From Gondia city (65 km, approx. 1.5 hours), the route heads south through Goregaon and Sadak Arjuni. The nearest railway station is **Devalgaon** (1.5 km, passenger trains) or **Gondia Junction** (65 km, nationwide express network).

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur (145 km) provides comprehensive domestic flight connections across India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Connecting Sahyadri & Konkan Routes