CHAMBAL

The National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), spanning a 400 km stretch of the river and extending 1 to 6 km on either side, covers an area of 1235 square kilometres. Granted Protected Area Status in 1979 to help revive Gharial populations decimated by indiscriminate poaching, the NCS is an IUCN Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve) lying in the Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest belt.

The Sanctuary stretches from downstream of the Kota barrage in Rajasthan to its lower limit near Panchnada, around 5 km beyond the confluence of the Chambal and the Yamuna rivers at Bhareh in Uttar Pradesh.

The NCS is one of the last surviving habitats of the Gangetic River Dolphin.

Provides protection for 1700 Gharials & 400 Marsh Crocodiles.

Home to eight species of Turtles and the Smooth-coated Otters.

The Sanctuary boasts of a rapidly increasing and impressive bird list of over 330 species of resident and migratory birds, and is gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable places to see the Indian Skimmer.

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