Jungle safari to start in Mandu forest areas

INDORE: The eco-tourism department of Madhya Pradesh forest department will soon come up with a jungle safari in forest areas of Mandu. Mandu is noted for its historical sites and picturesque landscape. However, movement of tourist was restricted only to certain sites. With development of the jungle safari, tourist will have access to nearly 10,000 hectare of forest area.

The forest department will pump in around Rs 1.5 crore in the project. The work is expected to start after the monsoon season is over and is expected to be completed within a year.

Under the project, a rest house for tourists deep inside the jungle, a trekking path, sight seeing facilities and tree houses that will offer a bird-eye view of the jungle, will be developed. Modern facilities including tents, sheds, 10 watch towers, a cycle track and forest trail will be set up.

Tourists will also get a chance to see leopards, jackals, neelgais, deers, sambhars, hornbills and other species from close quarters. They will also get a chance to camp inside the deep forest.

Elaborating on the project, the forest official said that water bodies inside the forest will be deepened further. The idea is to make it perennial and ensure that wild animals keep visiting it all through the year, along with landscape development and plantation. Moreover, there will be 10 access points to enter inside the forest area.

Official said that the proposed jungle safari will be similar to those in Panna, Delawadi and other wildlife tourist spots.

The department is hopeful that with this project, the number of tourist inflow will increase significantly and will also help preserve forest and create awareness about environment.

The project also aims to generate employment for the local population. The project will be implemented through van samities and locals will be trained as guides to help the tourists in sightseeing. The department has identified few villages which will be included in the project.