– A New Boost to Eco-Tourism in Chandrapur District
Chandrapur (Mohammad Suleman Baig):
The Lohara Jungle Safari Tourism Gate, located under the Chandrapur Forest Division in the Chandrapur Forest Range, was inaugurated with great enthusiasm by Dr. Ashok Uike, Hon’ble Minister for Tribal Development and Guardian Minister of Chandrapur District.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chief Conservator of Forests R. M. Ramanujam, District Collector Vinay Gauda G.C., Chief Executive Officer Pulkit Singh, Superintendent of Police Mummaka Sudarshan, Municipal Commissioner Akunuri Naresh, Field Director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Dr. Prabhunath Shukla, Deputy Director (Core) Anand Reddy, Deputy Conservator of Forests Yogesh Waghaye, Divisional Forest Officer Rajan Talmale, Lohara village Sarpanch Kiran Siddharth, along with forest officials, staff, and a large number of local residents.
A Project Balancing Eco-Tourism, Conservation, and Livelihoods
The Lohara Jungle Safari Tourism Gate has been developed with a focus on wildlife management, human–wildlife coexistence, and forest conservation.
The key objectives of this initiative include:
Sustainable conservation of forests
Reducing local dependency on forest resources
Creating employment opportunities for rural youth
Minimizing human–wildlife conflict through regulated tourism
This project aims to promote responsible tourism while strengthening conservation efforts.
35-Km. Jungle Safari Route
Under this tourism initiative, a 35-kilometre jungle safari route has been made available for visitors by utilizing existing forest roads and old access tracks.
The safari zone includes:
15 artificial water holes
The natural Lohara Lake
These water sources ensure year-round availability of water for wildlife and enhance habitat sustainability.
Rich Wildlife and Biodiversity
The Lohara Jungle Safari area is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including:
Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear
Jungle Cat, Jackal, Wild Dogs, Mongoose
Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope
Wild Boar and Otter
In addition, the region is rich in diverse forest vegetation, rare bird species, and colourful butterflies, making it an important biodiversity hotspot.
A New Attraction on Chandrapur’s Tourism Map
With the inauguration of the Lohara Jungle Safari Tourism Gate, Chandrapur district has gained a new eco-tourism destination. The initiative is expected to increase tourist footfall, strengthen conservation awareness, and provide a significant boost to the local economy and employment, officials said.
