Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary at Mollem covers an area of 240 square kilometers and is the largest wildlife preserve in Goa. This sanctuary lies on the eastern border of the state, close to the village of Mollem at the foot of the Western Ghats. The Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is 53 kilometres away from the state capital, Panaji. The sanctuary primarily consists of evergreen forests and deciduous trees.

Within the Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is the Molem National Park. Herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), clusters of monkeys, Malayan giant squirrels, cobras and pythons are housed in the sanctuary. There are also elephants and tigers, but spotting them could be a tough job. The sanctuary is also home to a few black panthers; and spotting them is not an easy task either.

The best time to visit the sanctuary is either early in the morning or late in the evening. The forest department has jeeps that conduct a safari tour. To avail of this facility, the Range Forest Officer must be contacted.

It is not possible to cover it all in a day, so your best bet will be to stay there. The nearest accommodation is available at the Tourist Complex that is run by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation. Moreover, while you are at it, a visit to the Dudhsagar waterfalls close by wouldn’t hurt. The13th century Mahadev Temple at Tambdi, Surla (12 kilometres away) is also worth a see.

Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary covers 240 sq km of which forest-clad sloes of Western ghats and its valleys and is the biggest of the three sanctuaries of Goa. The sanctuary is rich in wildlife. It is a paradise for bird watchers. Besides flora and fauna there are many important geological and historical features in this sanctuary.