Professional Documents
Culture Documents
To
Narnala Wild Life Sanctuary
Where History and Nature mingle
in Harmony
Burhanuddin, some times called "the dogs' temple," and beyond it is the
Shakkar talao, a tank of some little size. The tomb is a common place stone
platform with a few tombstones upon it and a dilapidated building beside it. It has
long been known as a place where the bite of a mad dog, jackal, or rat may be
cured, people come from Shegaon, Balapur, Mahan and even Basim, 90 miles
away, to the number of 100 or 150 in a year. They offer gur, channa, ud, and
phul-- country sugar, parched gram, incense, and flowers-- walk five times
around the stone platform, place in their mouths five grains of gram and a very
little of the other food offered, and walk away with their eyes fixed on the ground
till they have passed the first gateway of the fort (a few hundred yards away).
One of the jaglias of Narnala directs the proceedings and adds to his income by
the gifts of patients. Intelligent people of the neighborhood are convinced that the
cure is effective if performed before hydrophobia has appeared in the patient,
and jaglia says it even takes effect later, but every year there are one or two
cases of visitors who die of hydrophobia either just before or just after visiting the
tomb. The local experts hold the common belief that hydrophobia is very apt to
remain latent during the dry seasons and manifest itself at the first fall of rain.
The number of visitors to the tomb does not increase just at that time, but the
difficulty of travelling would explain this; people vow to make the pilgrimage at a
more convenient time.
said to have been used for storing, oil and ghi for the large garrison. The fort
covers 392, acres, and the walls, which only approximately keep at the same
level, wind about so much in following the shape of the hill that people say the
full circuit measures 24 miles. It would certainly take very many hours to trace
out all the buildings, especially as the walls, through generally in excellent
condition, have crumbled in places and the enclosure is much overgrown with
long grass and bushes. It is said that there were 22 tanks, six of which still hold
water all the year, 22 gates, and 360 Buruj towers or bastions. The first
fortifications, according to tradition, were made by Narayendrepuri, a descendant
of the Pandavas and at the time emperor of Hastinapur (Delhi). Later
Muhammad Bahmani of Bijapur got possession and nearly all the present
buildings seem to be of Mohammedan origin. The fort passed afterwards to the
Maratha, Dakhani, followers of Shivaji and his descendants, then to the Peshwa,
the Nizam, the Bhonsalas, the Nizam again, and finally to the British, but people
say that throughout all this history no great fight ever took place over it. At the
same time they tell some warlike stories about the fort. Muhammadans say that
when men of their religion first came to this part of India Narnala and Gawilgrah
were held by deotas, spirits, who seized and ate any of them who approached
the forts, presently the Fourteen Hundred Champions came with supernatural
powers. Narnala was in the hands of three great deotas, Raja II, Naranalswami,
and Raja Bairat, and its conquest was undertaken by two great awalyas, Ambi
Awalya and Dulash Rahman. The former is buried at Dharud, 4 miles away, and
the latter seems to be the traditional conqueror of Ellichpur, the city of Raja II.
The deotas were at first contemptuous of 'these atoms of men,' but were soon
obliged to take refuge in some vaults in the fort and were there captured. They
were asked what they would have done had they won, and replied that they
would have skinned their opponents and hung the skins, filled with Bhusa, chaff,
at the gates. The awalyas then turned the deotas into stones, the figures of Raja
II and Narnalswami being still shown above a precipice not far from the ordinary
entrance road. Ambi awalya struck the former with his fist and split the stones in
two. Raja Bairat asked that his fate might take place at Ellichpur and that
Muhammadans might worship on one side of him and Hindus on the other, and
this was granted. A legend also connects a hill a little to the south west of the
fort with its capture in the time of Aurangzeb. On the top of the hill is the Daragad
of Saiduliboa or Saidulilwali; it is said that a gun was taken up there unknown to
the Dakhanis and delivered by night so effective a fire that the garrison fled.
Again the name Sati Maidan is sometime applied to the whole sweep of hill- side
between Shahanur and the fort, and the explanation is given that a vast number
of men were killed here in the time of Aurangazeb, the tombs of the
Muhammadans alone remaining; the name would then have the general
meaning of plain of Death. The vaults, Bhuyar, mentioned lie a short distance to
the west of the Ambar Bangala; they are a series of small chambers connected
by low archways and are sometimes called zanan khana on the supposition that
they were meant for the residence of gosha women, women who must not be
seen in the public. Their purpose is however not certain, and their extent is not
known. An attempt to explore them, inspired by the hope of finding treasure, was
defeated by great number of bats coming upon the intruders, who were also
afraid of snakes. A late jaglia of Narnala, Gafur Ahmad, is said to have driven a
score of sheep in to the vaults to see where they would come out. One emerged
at Gawilgarh, more than 20 miles away, but no trace was ever found of the
others. A cross stands on a high point on the eastern side of the fort and marks
the grave of a European officer who was left in charge and died here after the
battle of Argaum, but no trace of his name is left. Among the buildings on the
east side is a Nagar-khana where prisoners used to be kept in a pit, with a big
stone over their heads, to await execution. A few hundred yards off is the khuni
buruj, where a platform was built on the edge of a sheer precipice over which
criminals were sometimes hurled. The nau-gaj top nine yard gun, lies between
these two. A ball from it is said once to have carried off the golden spike set on
the domed building at a Dharud in the plain below and to have continued its flight
till it fell in to the tank at Kutasa, 20 miles away. (It is also said at Narnala that the
Hemadadpanthi temple at Kutasa contains enough buried treasure to restore the
fort, the repeated mention of Kutasa perhaps showing its former importance).
removed in 1858. Tantia Tope and Mugutrao were then at Jalgaon, the
headquarters of the taluka on the west, and it was thought that they might seize
these stores, though the fortress was in the hands of the Nizam. The guns were
therefore taken off to Akot, the Tahsildar gathering 1000 or 1200 people together
for the task of bringing them down the hills, and the guns being hauled across
the plain by long teams of oxen in one confused procession. The powder and
sulphur were brought out of the magazine and watered and burnt, but a spark
got in to the last cask before it was removed; such an explosion followed that
one still hears how peoples ears rang, and men were knocked down by the
hundred, while two rockets went sailing across the fort in to the hills; but the
magazine, a strong building, withstood the shock and is still to be seen.
The Dhobi Talao, though in ruins, is still a favorite waterhole for wildlife
The Dhobi Talao is a pretty tank which holds water all the year. It has a
series of arches at one side, with summer houses, if one may use the word,
consisting of two stone chambers one above the other and covered by a flat roof.
Water was taken thence to a garden, and one stone is grooved in allmost a score
of places by the rope which ran on it. The garden is ascribed to the Bhonsalas
and is still marked by some champa trees, while two lofty stands for tulsi, basil,
plants also reveal Hindu influences. Moreover a shrine of Mahatoba, or Mhatoba,
on the south of the tank, is famed for the cure of snakebite. The victim must utter
the name of the god and place a stone or piece of earth on his head. Upon this
he has invariably strength to reach the shrine, the power of the poison being
checked. Arriving there he burns a little ghi in a lamp, or ral, ud, gugul, resin or
incense, or some things of the sort. Presently he shivers and sweats-- or
according to the report of some eye witnesses the god sweats-- and straightway
the man is cured; cattle are also healed. A Mahar of Warud who was cured in this
way comes on a yearly pilgrimage and puts the shrine in order. Now it consists
simply of a rough reddened stone on a rough platform, and its importance must
be diminished by the snake god at Shivpur below the ghat, 5 miles distant. Quite
close to the stone of Mhatoba is an image of Mahabir or Bajrangbali, holding its
hand upraised and supported by a much smaller figure. The dalabadal,
containing the old mint, is quite near, and a Mohammedan graveyard is at no
great distance. It is said that the Bhonsalas had 2000 or 2500 men here, and the
number and variety of buildings show clearly that there must have been a large
population, but now the place is generally empty save when Hindu pilgrims visit
the tomb of Saiduliboa and Burhanuddin in the rains, or Muhammadans come in
Ramzan, or the dog -bitten come for healing. Evil spirits, bhuts and shaitans, are
said to haunt it; wherever the walls are broken are the tracks of wild beasts,
morning and evening peacock come to the tank, and at night sambar also come
thither, following well- worn tracks through the ancient gateways.
12.35
205.86
127.11
District
Akola District
Amravati district
Buldana District
The area is well known for its richness of flora and fauna. The Sanctuary area has
special historical, biological, mythological, archaeological, scenic and recreational values
and is a point of attraction for the tourists and the people of Maharashtra. The rich and
varied miscellaneous forests of the area provide natural habitat to birds and wild
animals.
APPROACH AND ACCESS
10
The serpentine Tar Road winds its way right up to the Fort
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.
Ms Imtienla Ao IFS. Deputy Conservator of Forest. Akot WildLife Division, Akot.Maharashtra.
11
12
11/4/1925 under the Ancient Monument Preservation Act 1904, attached as Appendix
III. The various structures declared as protected monuments are Narnala Fort, Amber
Mahal, Shahanur gateway, Mahakali gateway, Mehandi gateway, Akot gateway, Delhi
gateway, Shirpur gateway, Small mosque, the large and two smaller guns and the tank
built to contain oil and ghee.
The tank built to store oil and Ghee silhouetted against the clear blue winter sky
The ancient Narnala Fort encompassing the entire plateau adds historical value and
enhances the natural scenic beauty of the Sanctuary. With Mahals, massive canons and
intricately carved Gates dotting the landscape, the Sanctuary attracts a host of visitors
and pilgrims every year. A Mosque and a Hanuman Temple situated at the top add to the
religious diversity. However, the most remarkable feature of the Sanctuary is the
remnants of a well-planned, highly efficient Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system,
which even to this day offers a permanent refuge for the wild animals and birds of the
Sanctuary. More than 20 of such talaos are believed to have been in existence, with
many downhill talaos being fed with water from the topmost Shakkar talao through an
elaborate network of drainage channels. Now most of the lakes have been covered by
Ms Imtienla Ao IFS. Deputy Conservator of Forest. Akot WildLife Division, Akot.Maharashtra.
13
silt but only 6 large talaos still holds water throughout the year, while the department in
phases desilts 5-6 talaos annually and provides artificial water holes in strategic
locations. With Akola and other adjoining districts reeling under acute scarcity of water,
this ancient wisdom of harvesting rain water needs to be highlighted, the system
revitalized and restored to its former glory and projected to our modern day
populace as a practicable and efficient water conservation technique.
The 'Dog Temple' survives till today and is a place in the area where it is believed that
the bites of mad dog, jackals etc are supposed to be cured if the affected person takes a
dip in Shakkar Talao and visits the dog temple. Many people still visit the area on this
belief to take a dip in the holy tank and offer flowers at the temple. Both Hindus and
Muslims visit the area.
The valuable endemic species like Sandal (Santalum album) are reported to be
occurring in one of the fragile valleys in the area aptly named Chandan Khora.
The existence of a large number of medicinal plants like Safed Musli (Chlorophytom
tuberosum), Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus) etc and the proximity to the MPCA at
Gullarghat in MTR add to the ecological significance of the Sanctuary.
14
Eco-tourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and
improves the welfare of local people. Eco-tourism emphasizes on local resources and
local participation, it is about exploiting tourisms potential for conservation and
development and about averting its negative impact on ecology, culture and
aesthetics. The enormous opportunities and awesome risks of nature tourism lie at the
heart of the eco-tourism mission.
Tourism is the worlds largest employers accounting for 10% of jobs worldwide (WTO
1999). With over 30,000 protected areas around the world covering about 10% of the
land surface (IUCN 2002), it is imperative that management of Protected Areas (PAs)
move toward a more integrated form of management that focuses on the interface
between the Government and the local stakeholders and the role that external
agencies like NGOs can play in brokering appropriate institutional arrangements. An
arrangement, which recognizes the conservation needs as well as the social and
economic needs of the communities living in and around protected areas while
bringing in more aware and responsible travelers to these natural areas. The
ecological significance & fragility of these PAs coupled with the poor economic
status of the people necessitates an integrated approach to tourism in order to address
both these drawbacks.
Keeping the above realities in mind, the Akot Wild Life Division proposes to take up a
Community based Ecotourism project for Nature Conservation in all the three
Wild Life Sanctuaries under the Division. This project envisages that the local community
would reap the economic benefits that tourism could bring while at the same time
arousing their concern & pride in their rich natural and cultural heritage, which in
turn will motivate them towards preservation & conservation of these resources.
Objectives of the Project.
This scheme expects to achieve the following objectives:
15
beauty.
Revive the pride and interest of local communities in their rich natural and
nature
environment
friendly
by
carrying
out
campaigns
through
Our Checklist records about 150 species of birds and the animals commonly sighted
include Fox, Jackal, Wild pig, hare, Sloth bear etc. with occasional sightings of Tiger and
Leopard. The old forts also provide refuge for several colonies of bats.
The small Korku tribal hamlet called Shahanur hails the visitors at the gate of the
Sanctuary. This village of amicable Korku tribals offers a window to the traditions and
culture of this tribe. In the face of rapid globalization, there is however a great need to
restore the pride of these people in their cultural and natural heritage and channelized it
towards meeting conservation objectives at the same time enhancing their capacity for
cash generation to meet the challenges of this globalized market economy. With sincere
efforts and minimum funding, the sanctuary can be developed as an ideal eco-tourism
16
destination providing income generation opportunities for the local villagers and
enhancing visitors satisfaction.
Existing infrastructure
17
The excellent rainwater harvesting and drainage system built on the fort plateau
epitomizes the ancient wisdom of water conservation through rainwater
harvesting. A total of 22 large tanks and numerous smaller tanks were connected
in a well-planned intricate manner that the overflow of water from tanks situated
at a higher elevation flows into tanks at lower elevation. Thus ensuring that not a
single drop of rain is allowed to go waste.
Taking a dip in the Shakkar Talao & Offering flowers at the Dog Temple in the
sanctuary is believed prevent and cure rabies from the bites of mad dogs, jackals
etc. People from as far as MP visits the sanctuary for this purpose.
Major mammals including Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Chital etc.
Several large colonies of bats inhabit the dark ruins of the fort.
18
The bird life is also very rich with a large number of resident as well as migratory.
Migratory waterfowls can be seen in the perennial water bodies situated on the
Narnala plateau. The Kham talao (Cover Photo) is a mini paradise for bird lovers.
A glimpse into the culture of the local korku tribe through interaction with the
people of Shahanur village, right at the entrance of the Sanctuary.
19
20
For those leisurely visitors, they can then walk down the circular forest road that runs
through the nine yard canon, forest watchtower, Mot Talao, Dhobi Talao, Imli Talao and
the Delhi Gate and come out near the Forest Hut. For those with more time on their
hands, the downhill trek of 40 minute to 1 hour will take them to Gullarghat village where
an Interpretation Center and camping huts are available. From Gullarghat village the
Dhargad Temple is just a few kilometers away. Dhargad also has a two room Forest Rest
House.
21
All these features make Narnala a hotspot from the Ecotourism point of view. The
Sanctuary caters to the varied needs of people with diverse interests.
Thousands of untold stories for historians
Nature in all its varied seasonal glory for naturalists
Shanti for those in search of peace & spiritual solace.
Raw adventure for action buffs.
Continuity with Wan and Melghat for leisurely people with more time.
Well-trodden trek routes from Shahanur to the Fort, Fort to Dhargad, Gullarghat
etc.
Proposed components of the scheme indicating a tentative percentage cost of
each component (Subject to need based site specific deviations)
(a) Forest & tourism activities (Within sanctuary area)
(b) Tourism related income-generating activities
25%
25%
10%
05%
15%
Name of Activities
Remarks/ Justification
No
1
22
roads
Machangs/
Watchtowers/
wildlife viewing
Arboretum garden based on
Korku traditions
10
the village
Nature &
11
souvenir items
Establishment of
ethnicity
based
Souvenir items like local handicraft items, postcards, TShirts, Caps etc would be procured.
educational
Childrens Park
13
Tribal
canteen
with
ethnic
cuisines
14
Information Center
15
Training
of
local
people
in
for
18
children
Publicity
19
Packaging of destination
20
21
22
23
of visitors
Establishment
of
Ethnic
&
23
24
Cultural programs
25
24
The dam over the river Wan that supplies drinking water to Akot and Akola cities
25
26
The
Mahakali Gate also known as Naksha Gate, Narnala Wildlife Sanctuary
27
28