Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Name: Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Rating: 0.0

Odisha India

Get Directions

Get PDF Guide

Weather :

Best Time to Visit : November to March

Timings : 6am to 5pm

Entry Fee : For Day Visitors - Rs. 40/- per person; For Guests - The entry fee is added to your lodging fees.

Parking : Available

Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha Overview

The picturesque town of Satkosia, 160 km from Bhubaneswar, boasts of a wildlife sanctuary popularly known as the Satkosia Tiger Reserve since 1976. The sanctuary is home to tigers in the moist, deciduous forests of the Eastern Ghats. It is also home to elephants, birds and other animals that can be spotted in the wild.

When boating, one can spot the river-inhabitants being the Gharials or the Indian fish-eating crocodile. The Mahanadi River passes through a 14 mile long gorge, being the reason why the town was named Satkosia from Saat Kros, Kros being an old local measurement.

There are various lodging options operated by the Odisha Forest Development Corporation in Satkosia. You can also visit the neighbouring Kuanria Deer Park & Dam and the Kantilo Neelamadhav Temple.

Flora

Satkosia has a riverine forest terrain consisting of Hinjala, Dhauranja, Kochila , Arjuna and Phasi trees on the banks of Mahanadi. It is also home to the Spiny Bamboo (Bambusa arundinaceae) and the Calcutta Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus). Sal flowers bloom from February to April on Sal or Shorea robusta trees, famous for hardwood timber in India. It is also home to Karmal which bares fruit that can be eaten both raw, or cooked. Other flowers include Bridelia squamosa, Terminalia alata, Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cuminii, Adina cordifolia (Haldinia cordifolia), Mitragyna parviflora, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Mangifera indica, Bursera serrata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Terminalia bellerica, Anthocephalus cadamba, Bombax ceiba, Gmelina arborea, Garuga piñnata, Suzygium cuminii, Miliusa velutina, Polyalthia cerasioides, Lannea coromandelica, Pterospermum xylocarpum, Macaranga peltata, Diospyrus Montana, Derris indica, Mallotus philippensis, Careya arborea, Glochidion lanceolarium.

Fauna

The fauna includes Elephant, Tiger, Wild Dog, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Chousingha, Barking Deer, Mouse deer, Sloth bear, Indian gaur, Leopard, Jackal, Giant Squirrel, Indian porcupine, Indian hare, Ratel etc. The Satkosia Gorge is known for 4 species of endangered turtles. Terrapins, carps, molluscs besides other aquatic life forms and amphibians are also found here.

332 species of birds - both resident and migratory - have been spotted here. The resident birds include the Malabar Pied Hornbills, Pea fowls, Kingfishers, Egrets, Cormorants, River terns, Owls, Pigeons, Hill myna, Parakeets, Drongo, Doves, Wood pecker, Golden oriole, Babblers, Barbets, Minivets, Sun birds, Eagle, Crow pheasants, Shaheen Falcon, Yellow legged bottom quail, Malabar trogon, Great stone plover, Black-bellied tern, River lapwing, blue tail bee-eater etc. The migratory birds include Brahminy ducks, Bar-headed geese, Pintails, Indian skimmer etc.