Going Wild: Long Weekend Getaways From Pune

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If you’re an animal lover, then there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing them in their natural habitat. When you have a couple of days off next, we suggest taking one of these long weekend getaways from Pune to nearby wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

​Vansda National Park

Vansda National Park is a protected area of 24 square kilometres along the Amibika River in Gujarat. The dense forest foliage comprises bamboo, teak and shisham among other varieties of trees. There are over 400 varieties of flowering plants to be found here with the most prolific being orchids. The wildlife to be spotted at Vansda National Park include the four-horned antelope, Indian civet, wild boar and barking deer, to name a few. Leopards also roam the forest here and you’d be lucky to spot one.

Distance from Pune: 419 kilometres

​Silvassa Vasona Lion Safari
 

Part of the 92 square kilometre expanse of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Wildlife Sanctuary,  Silvassa Vasona Lion Safari was built in an effort to protect and preserve the Asiatic lion population. Covering about 25 acres, you can see lions that have been resettled at Vasona Lion Safari Park from the larger National Park. While here, also visit the adjacent Satmaliya Deer Park with plenty of deer and birds to sight.

Distance from Pune: 303 kilometres

Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary

Also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra, Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary was established in 1979 as a refuge for the great Indian bustard. With its ostrich like appearance, bustards are typically grassland birds making them easy to spot. With a relatively scarce population, the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is where bustards along with other avian species like the red-necked falcon, barron buttonquail and white-eyed buzzard come to nest between July and October.

Distance from Pune: 253 kilometres

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the Satara district and spread across over 420 square kilometres, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary forms the northern portion of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve while Chandoli Park is the southern portion. Three rivers, the Koyna, Kandati and Solashi flow through the sanctuary. The vegetation in the forests encompasses medical herbs along with varieties of deciduous trees. The wildlife within Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary includes the Bengal tiger, leopards, Indian bison, sloth bear and mouse deer.

Distance from Pune: 180 kilometres 

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

In the northern region of the Western Ghats, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary spans an area of over 130 square kilometres of forests. Originally demarcated to protect the Indian giant squirrel, several species of animal life can be found here including wild boars, hyenas, langurs and barking deer. Leopards, though elusive and hard to spot, have also made Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary their habitat. Malabar whistling thrush, rhesus macaque and Malabar grey hornbill among the avian species found here. Aside from wildlife, nestled in the forests is the sixth jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Distance from Pune: 135 kilometres