Kalesar National Park

The Kalesar Sanctuary is spread over 13,209 hectares along the Yamuna in Haryana YamunaNagar district. It is the state’s biggest sanctuary and is located inside the National Park. It is a renowned bird-watching spot in the Himalayan foothills of the Shiwalik peaks.

The park is 150 kilometres from Chandigarh and borders three states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Uttar Pradesh. The Yamuna River forms the eastern border with Uttar Pradesh, while the Shivalik mountain divides the state boundaries in the north between Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal.

The  Kalesar National park is named after the Kalesar Mahadev Temple on the Jagadhri Paonta Road, situated inside the National Park’s protected region. The whole area is rich in biodiversity, with dense Sal woodland, Khair forest, and grasslands supporting a distinct range of plants and wildlife. It is a famous attraction point among bird-watchers and wildlife lovers. It was designated a sanctuary on December 13, 1996, and was elevated to a national park on December 8, 2003.

About Kalesar National Park

This location is sprawled over 11,570 acres and is located in the lap of the lower hills of the Shivaliks in the eastern part of Yamunanagar. The forest mainly contains sal, khair, shisham, tun, sain, and amla trees. There are numerous wild creatures in the area as well.

The importance of Kalesar National Park in terms of biodiversity and environmental stability in this section of the nation is undeniable. It is a biodiversity hotspot with a plethora of medicinal plants. It is home to several endangered species such as the leopards, ghoral, hog deer, sambar deers, chital, snakes, king cobra, and monitor lizard. Tigers and elephants from Rajaji National Park in Uttranchal visit this park occasionally. This national park was created to safeguard the endangered Red Jungle Fowl species in Haryana and is crucial for the survival of other critically endangered species such as tigers and elephants. This environment might serve as an alternative home for these two species from Rajaji National Park.

The Shiwaliks, created by the debris from the previous Himalayan peaks, comprise sedimentary rock layers such as sandstone, clays, and conglomerates and are very vulnerable to n terms of formation. Rapid runoff with heavy rainfall causes extensive erosion. Crevasses and landslides are prevalent, and the valley floors are littered with rocks and pebbles. During the monsoon season, torrents bring rocks and murky water, causing flash floods throughout the lowlands. As a result, this protected region is critical in averting flash floods and sustaining ecological stability. It is Haryana’s only national park with a decent natural forest that supports such a diverse biodiversity. As a result, it is of particular importance for protecting wildlife species, education, tourism, and research prospects.

Kalesar National Park Flora

According to estimates, Kalesar has around 53% thick forest, 38% open forest, and 9% scrubs. Kalesar’s total forest cover is approximately 71%. Besides being surrounded by rich sal woodland, khair forest, and grasslands, the forest is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. These forests are part of the Doon Valley’s extensive age-old forest belt. Additional trees such as semul, amaltas, and bahera are also found in Kalesar. 

Kalesar National Park’s Fauna

The Wildlife Institute of India used installed cameras to perform an annual two-month wildlife counting study in 2016. This search uncovered around 19 species of vertebrates. About 42 Indian leopard population, jungle cats, Indian jackals, sambar deer, nilgai, goral, Asiatic elephants, Indian crested porcupines, little Indian civet, common palm civet, grey langur, rhesus macaque, Indian grey mongoose, wild pig, Indian hare, and other creatures were found inhabiting the Kalesar National Park.

Safari at Kalesar National Park

Jeep safaris are only allowed on the following three motorable tracks during the park’s approved operating months and hours: Route 1 is seven kilometres long, Route 2 is six and a half kilometres long, and Route 3 is six kilometres long. Except for those registered with the wildlife department for the objective of running safaris, private vehicles are not permitted on these roads. The park is closed from July to September, and visitation hours during the other months are 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the winter.

Conclusion

The Kalesar National Park is Haryana’s biggest sanctuary and is located inside the National Park. It is a renowned bird-watching spot in the Himalayan foothills of the Shiwalik peaks.

It was designated as a national park in 2003 and is significant in biodiversity since it is home to several medicinal plants and many vulnerable creatures such as leopards, gorals, barking deer, sambars, chitals, pythons, king cobras, monitor lizards, and so on.  It is Haryana’s only national park with a decent natural forest that supports such a diverse bio-diversity and is, therefore, critical for protecting wildlife species, education, tourism, and research prospects.