Kela Devi Wild Iife Sanctuary

Kela Devi Sanctuary is named after  the  locally  famous kela Devi temple  at  its  entrance.   As  you  enter  the Sanctuary, the hustle bustle of the temple complex gives way to tranquillity, merely few hundred meters inside. It is a world of nature, Spread around is a vast expanse of wilderness – undulating highland. Hills in the interior are still higher, extensive   and   rugged.  The   panorama comprises  dense forest to scrub – composition changing from   place   to   place   like    patterns   in kaleidoscope.

Another typical feature of the sanctuary is the numerous khos   or   deep  gorges  breaking   the  ground.  These  several hundred   feet   deep  khos  initially  fall steeply, forming   irregular,  lofty  walls  of  rocks, which further down, slope gently into  narrow   valleys.  The rich  and dense  forest   in  the   khos  virtually  make   them impenetrable and inaccessible - ideal place for animals to take shelter and rest.  Some  interesing  khos in the sanctuary  are  Chirmul,  Ghanteshwar,  Khadi  ( Keri Umar), Kudka and Nibhera.

Kela   devi    highland   forest   undergoes   unbelievable dynamic change with  the  season.   It's   all  lush    green during monsoon. The ground cover turns into a carpet of bright ststraw colour soon after the monsoon. The forest canopy    is  a     mixture   of  various hues coppery being predominant in winter. This turns to all ash grey in summer.

The   river   Banas  touches   the   western  tip  of    the sanctuary  while   the   Chambal  flows  along south-east, forming  its natural boundary at places.

Among mammals   Chinkara, Wild Boar and Jackal can be   seen   commonly   in   morning   and late afternoon. Leopard,  Sloth   Bear,  Hyena,  Wolf   and   Sambhar sightings are occasional at night. And of course the tiger continues its secretive existence.

Kela devi is a true wilderness - untouched by the pace of the   civilisation.  The  rugged  terrain   is    stunningly picturesque  in   monsoon  with  soothing  greenery and numerous beatiful waterfalls