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Deep within the subcontinent lies a land whose many secrets still lie hidden from the human eye in its largely unexplored terrain. A land that on one hand is synonymous with harsh terrains and on the other with breath taking beauty - Chambal. Glimpses of this enchanting land have made their way into countless books, songs and folklore.

 

Originating in the Vindhayan ranges in M.P. the Chambal River snakes its way through the states of M.P., Rajasthan and U.P. before finally meeting the Yamuna in the Etawah district of U.P. Its rich bio-diversity ensured that it was declared a National Sanctuary in 1979 with its total area spanning across the three states of M.P, Rajasthan and U.P. The last bastion for some of the country’s most endangered wildlife like the Gharial, Muggar, Turtles, Otters and the fresh water Dolphin, the Chambal region also boasts of a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial birds.


After rampant poaching and fishing almost wiped out the Gharial population from the country in the 1970’s, a captive breeding and reintroduction programme was started. Chambal was chosen as one of the main areas for reintroduction of the species back into the wild. Over the years 1338 Gharials and 20 Muggars have been successfully released within the park boundaries.

The Chambal Sanctuary in U.P. covers an area of 635 sq. kms spread over the Agra and Etawah districts and a total of 311 different species of migratory and resident birds have been identified in the region so far. Winter is the best time to visit the Sanctuary. A boat ride in its tranquil waters during this time is an exhilarating experience with spectacular sightings of the big reptiles basking in the morning sun along the 180 kms of sparkling sand stretches. .