Palamau Tiger Reserve, Wildlife reserve in Latehar District, India
Palamau Tiger Reserve spreads across the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, covering more than 1,000 square kilometers of dense forest broken by river valleys and grassland patches. Sal trees form the canopy over open meadows, bamboo thickets, and rocky hillsides that shelter tigers, leopards, elephants, and a wide range of bird species.
Authorities designated this area in 1974 as one of the first nine tiger reserves under Project Tiger, following decades of unregulated hunting pressure. Earlier Chero rulers used these forests as retreat grounds and built fortresses among the hills.
Villages around the boundary continue to practice rain rituals and forest ceremonies that reflect deep familiarity with the movement of animals and the shifting seasons. Local names for streams, trees, and clearings often carry echoes of encounters with tigers or stories about forest spirits.
Visitors should plan for early morning or late afternoon safaris when animals move toward water sources and shade becomes less thick. The access points near Betla serve as main entry gates where guides help navigate trails and read animal signs in the dry months from November onward.
Two ruined fortresses from the Chero dynasty stand inside the boundaries, blending crumbling stone walls with wildlife corridors. Elephants sometimes pass through the remains of the ramparts, and langur monkeys gather on old watchtowers.
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