Kela
Devi Wild Iife Sanctuary
Kela Devi Sanctuary is named after the
locally famous kela Devi temple at its entrance.
As you enter the Sanctuary, the hustle bustle of the temple complex
gives way to tranquillity, merely few hundred meters inside. It is a world of nature,
Spread around is a vast expanse of wilderness – undulating highland. Hills in the
interior are still higher, extensive and rugged. The
panorama comprises dense forest to scrub – composition changing
from place to place like
patterns in kaleidoscope.
Another
typical feature of the sanctuary is the numerous khos or
deep gorges breaking the ground. These
several hundred feet deep khos initially fall
steeply, forming irregular, lofty walls of rocks, which
further down, slope gently into narrow valleys. The rich and
dense forest in the khos virtually
make them impenetrable and inaccessible - ideal place for animals
to take shelter and rest. Some interesing khos in the sanctuary
are Chirmul, Ghanteshwar, Khadi ( Keri Umar), Kudka and Nibhera.
Kela
devi highland forest undergoes
unbelievable dynamic change with the season. It's
all lush green during monsoon. The ground cover turns into a carpet of
bright ststraw colour soon after the monsoon. The forest canopy is
a mixture of various hues coppery being predominant
in winter. This turns to all ash grey in summer.
The
river Banas touches the western tip of
the sanctuary while the Chambal flows
along south-east, forming its natural boundary at places.
Among
mammals Chinkara, Wild Boar and Jackal can be seen commonly
in morning and late afternoon. Leopard, Sloth
Bear, Hyena, Wolf and Sambhar sightings
are occasional at night. And of course the tiger continues its secretive existence.
Kela devi is a true wilderness - untouched by the pace of the civilisation. The rugged terrain is stunningly picturesque in monsoon with soothing greenery and numerous beatiful waterfalls
