Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Solapur - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 22 km from Solapur, the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary situated at Nannaj near Solapur. Also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary, it is one of the famous wildlife places in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Solapur packages.

The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is one of those exclusive places in India which is the home to gigantic and enormously beautiful Indian Bustards (Ardeotis nigriceps). The sanctuary happened to be discovered by B.S. Kulkarni in the year 1972. The Government of Maharashtra declared the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary as a wildlife reserve with the sole objective of conserving the rarest species of Great Indian Bustard in 1979. Even the late Dr. Salim Ali, India's best-known ornithologist, paid a visit here for some research. Many efforts have been made by famous ornithologists and bird lovers for the protection of the sanctuary.

Maharashtra is one of the six states of India where great Indian Bustards are still seen. The other states are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. The sanctuary, spread across an original area of 8,469 sq. km, covers the area of North Solapur, Madha, Mohol and Karmala Talukas of Solapur district and Karjat, Shrigonda, Newasa Talukas of Ahmednagar district. The sanctuary headquarters are Nannaj and Rehekuri.

The sanctuary is barren, deserted yet extremely beautiful, and is now a tourist hotspot in Solapur. Besides the Great Indian Bustard, the sanctuary is home to other species of birds like the Indian Courser, Chestnust-bellied Sandgrouse, Southern gray Shrike, Eurasian Thick-knee, Bay-backed Shrike, Indian Bush Lark, Partridges, Bonneli's Eagle, etc. Also, the sanctuary has a good population of Blackbuck, Wolf, Indian Fox, Jackal, etc.

Entry permits to the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary are available from the forest office in Nannaj. There is no safari facility, but tourists can take their vehicle inside the park to enjoy the safari. However, tourists are not allowed to move around freely in the core area of Nannaj. Entry is possible only to the hut, which is 100 m from the gate. There is also a watch tower near the gate. The sanctuary also has a forest guest house with limited accommodation facilities.

The best time to explore the pristine beauty and to spot numerous birds here is between September and February.

Timings: 7 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Rs. 15 for Adults & Rs. 10 for Children