Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the heart of Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Tourism, is a sight to behold. Jammu and Kashmir has been immortalized numerous times on canvas or the poet's page. The great poet Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has, like many a savant, called Jammu and Kashmir-the heaven on Earth.

The beauty of Kashmir not only lies in its mountains, meadows and brooks, but also in the harmonious existence of its flora and fauna. The Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural enclosure of around thirty three square kilometers. The nomenclature of this place is based on its namesake hamlet, located around twenty eight kilometers from the city of Jammu.

The sanctuary is a haven for animals co-existing in this paradise. Several species of animals populate this region. The species which deserve special importance are Wildboar, Leopard, Garal, Rhesus monkey, Grey Langur etc. Among the plethora of birds, Blue Rock Pigeon, Indian Mynah, Red Jungle Fowl, Peafowl, Chakor, Chir Pheasant etc. warrant special mention. To add the fauna, there are different kinds of trees here as well. The Pine, Fir, Birch etc. trees form a dense canopy with a thick undergrowth.

This sanctuary is quite accessible by all kinds of transport. The snows don't impede the patrons from visiting this place over and over again. The nearest airport (Jammu) is only twenty six kilometers away. Similarly, the nearest major rail junction is at Jammu too.

The pristine beauty of these woods of fir and pine and the peaceful coexistence of these animals takes one's breath away. For the uninitiated, a trip to this utopia will be well worth the effort.