Kalesar National Park is a peaceful and green place filled with forests, wild animals and beautiful birds. It is located near the hills and rivers, making it a perfect home for many kinds of plants and animals. This park is also a great spot for nature lovers, tourists and wildlife photographers. People visit it to enjoy jungle safaris, fresh air and the calm beauty of nature.
Location of Kalesar National Park
Kalesar National Park is a protected forest area located in Yamunanagar district of Haryana, India. It covers 13,000 acres and is next to the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 13,209 acres. It is around 46 km from Yamunanagar city and 122 km from Chandigarh. The park is a rich cultural habitat with dense forests, rivers, hills and wildlife.
History of Kalesar National Park
Kalesar National Park was declared a national park in 2003, while the wildlife sanctuary was notified in 1996. The park is named after Kalesar Mahadev Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the past, this area was popular among hunters during the British rule, but hunting was later banned to protect wildlife.
Geography of Kalesar National Park
The park lies in the Shivalik foothills and is close to Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand) and Simbalbaar National Park (Himachal Pradesh). It is surrounded by rivers, hills and farms, making it a peaceful and green area.
Flora and Fauna of Kalesar National Park
Kalesar is the only Sal tree forest in Haryana. Other trees like Semul, Amaltas, Bahera, Khair and Shisham are also found here. There are also medicinal plants and a nearby Herbal Nature Park with many types of herbs and trees.
The park is home to many wild animals like leopards, elephants, deer, monkeys, wild boars and jungle cats. Birds like the red jungle fowl are also seen. It is a great place for bird-watching and wildlife photography.
Conservation and Safety
To protect animals, waterholes and small dams have been built so that wildlife does not enter villages in search of water. A wildlife force with weapons is appointed to protect animals from poachers. Special courts handle cases related to illegal hunting and tree cutting.