Ratan Mahal Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife refuge in Dahod district, India.
Ratan Mahal Wildlife Sanctuary is a 55.65 km² protected area of dry teak stands in the foothills and mixed deciduous woodland with dry bamboo brakes along its edges, within the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. It lies near Devgadh Baria in Dahod district, on Gujarat's border with Madhya Pradesh, close to the Panam River.
These forests were once ruled as property by the Devgadh Baria State before being declared a protected sanctuary in 1982. This transition established the area as a conservation zone managed by authorities.
Local tribal communities living around this sanctuary have deep ties to the forests and continue their traditional practices in the surrounding villages. Visitors can observe how these communities live alongside the protected land.
The best time to visit is during the dry season from October through May when conditions are more comfortable for exploring. Access is available through the nearby towns of Sagtala and Bariya, or by reaching the railway stations at Dahod and Godhra.
The sanctuary is also called Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary because it holds Gujarat's largest population of sloth bears. These bears feed heavily on mahuda trees, which grow in high volume here and provide food across seasons. A tiger was recently spotted in the sanctuary, after the reserve had recorded local bird extinctions similar to those at Purna Wildlife Sanctuary.
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