Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state in Central India and its outline shape is like a seahorse. It is the ninth largest state by area covering 135,192 km² (52,198 square miles), and with a population of roughly 30 million, the seventeenth most populous. It borders seven states – Uttar Pradesh to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the northwest, Maharashtra to the southwest, Jharkhand to the northeast, Odisha to the east, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to the south. Formerly a part of Madhya Pradesh, its state capital is Raipur. A resource-rich state, it has the third largest coal reserves in the country and provides electricity, coal, and steel to the rest of the nation. It also has the third largest forest cover in the country at over 40%. Agriculture is counted as the chief economic occupation of the state. According to a government estimate, the net sown area of the state is 4.828 million hectares. Horticulture and animal husbandry also engage a major share of the total population of the state. About 80% of the population of the state is rural and the main livelihood of the villagers is agriculture and agriculture-based small industry. The majority of the farmers are still practicing the traditional methods of cultivation, resulting in low growth rates and productivity, but environmental protection.

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

The northern and southern parts of the state are hilly, while the central part is a fertile plain. The highest point in the state is the Gaurlata near Samri, Balrampur-Ramanujganj district. Deciduous forests of the Eastern Highlands Forests cover about 44% of the state. In the north lies the edge of the great Indo-Gangetic plain. The Rihand River, a tributary of the Ganges, drains this area. The eastern end of the Satpura Range and the western edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau form an east-west belt of hills that divide the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo-Gangetic plain.

Mahanadi River – ©VishuN CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The central part of the state lies in the fertile upper basin of the Mahanadi and its tributaries, of which Shivnath River is a major one running around 300 km long. This area has extensive rice cultivation. The upper Mahanadi basin is separated from the upper Narmada basin to the west by the Maikal Hills (part of the Satpuras) and from the plains of Odisha to the east by ranges of hills. The southern part of the state lies on the Deccan plateau, in the watershed of the Godavari River and its tributary, the Indravati River. The Mahanadi is the chief river of the state. The other main rivers are Hasdeo (a tributary of Mahanadi), Rihand, Indravati, Jonk, Arpa and Shivnath.

The state has the third largest forest by area in India and is surrounded by the forests in Madhya Pradesh (1st), Odisha (4th), Maharashtra (5th), Jharkhand and Telangana making it India’s largest forested area across state boundaries. There are multiple National Parks and Tiger Reserves across the state. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO Biosphere with total area of 383,551 hectares (3,835.51 km² or 1,480.90 square miles). The state animal is the van bhainsa, or wild Asian buffalo. The state bird is the pahari myna, or hill myna. The state tree is the Sal (Sarai) found in Bastar division.

Greater Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Chhattisgarh has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid in the summer because of its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and its dependence on the monsoons for rains. Summer temperatures in Chhattisgarh can reach up to 49 °C. The monsoon season is from late June to October and is a welcome respite from the heat. Chhattisgarh receives an average of over 50 inches of rain. Winter is from November to January. Winters are pleasant with low temperatures and less humidity. Ambikapur, Mainpat, Pendra Road, Samri and Jashpur are some of the coldest places in the state.

Birding Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is a great location for bird watching, boasting diverse habitats and numerous bird species. The great extent of forest cover and areas under conservation for big mammals of course favours birds too. The extent of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve means geographical level conservation with areas barely touched by humankind. But even in the capital places like the Bhatagaon Bird Watching Point encourages visitors to connect with nature and some good birding.

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve – ©Paromita1.8 CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the best birding locations include Kanger Valley National Park, Patan, and the areas around IIT Bhilai, Guru Ghasidas University Campus, and Kopra Dam. Over 70% of the state is under a flyway route of migratory birds, making it a critical stopover for birds traversing long distances from northern Asia and Europe. Winter is a particularly good time for birding, as it’s when many migratory birds arrive.

Kanger Valley National Park is renowned for its biodiversity and is home to the Bastar Hill Myna sub-species (the state bird). Other notable species there include Spotted Owlets, Red Junglefowl, Peafowl and many other birds – more than 200 bird species were recorded on a recent survey including nine species of owls, such as the Spot-bellied Eagle-owl and eleven species of woodpecker. IIt even has some Western Ghats endemics, such as Malabar Trogon and White-Bellied Woodpecker. The park’s unique location – close to the Eastern Ghats, Himalayas and north-eastern tracts – means that it is a sort of a melting pot, home to fauna that are found in all these different biodiversity hotspots.

Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Patan is another terrific area for bird watchers, especially during the winter months when migratory birds arrive. The area is developing into a mega wetland complex, attracting a wide variety of species. Bhilai and Guru Ghasidas University Campus are also significant birding hotspots, offering a variety of species and opportunities for bird watching. Notable species include the Bar-headed Goose and River Tern among others. Kopra Dam is another area known for its bird diversity and is a good place to observe water birds in particular.