Rampara Sanctuary
Marked with fringes of hillocks around the bordering periphery of the arid shrubby plain land district with wild grass is the Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary got the status of ‘Reserve Forest’ in the year 1983 before which it served as a shooting reserve that belonged to the former princely state of Wankaner also known as Central Saurastra. Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the year 1988 so as to protect the natural vegetation and the wildlife of the area. The sanctuary is about 47 kms from Rajkot and covers around 1501 hectares area of land. The place is quite woody and hilly, which makes it an adventurous place. The sanctuary is located near the river of Machchu, which is drained by two streams i.e. Pat a gala vanklo and vonkio. The sanctuary also has a watch tower, which offers a better view of the entire sanctuary.
The natural spread of the sanctuary is known and renowned for housing an entire troop of mammoth antelopes. These vivacious antelopes roaming around in flocks or solitarily hiding in the wooded landscape are gorgeous creatures known for their slender body and think coat of short fur. Galloping around the terrain with their delightful jumps and leaps, the antelopes add in zest and verve in the ambience.
Rampara Sanctuary Forest sub-types in Rampara Sanctuary Forest sub-types in Rampara Sanctuary are 5/DS1: Dry deciduous scrub, 5/DS2: Dry Savannah (Acaticanilotica forest); 5/DS2: Savannah; 6/E2: Acacia Senegal forests (Northern tropical thorn forests). The Sanctuary has a biological spectrum closer to that of a tropical deciduous forest than to a semiarid forest. The area had mixed forests of ‘Saledi’, ‘Kadaya’, ‘Sadad’, ‘Timru’, ‘Sisam’, ‘Babul’, ‘Khakhra’ and ‘Gorad’ in the past, but it destroyed two decades ago. About 9000 old trees were uprooted during the cyclone of 1976, which depleted the stock in original species in the area.
Flora
Presently, Acacia Senegal (Gorad), Acacia Nilotica (Babul), Acacia Leucophloea(Herma), Zyziphus sp. (Bor), Acacia Catechu (Khair), Boswellia serrate (Salad), WrightiaTinctoria (Kudi), Commiphorawightii(Gugal), Balanitesaegyaptica (Ingoriyo), Buteamonosperma (Khakhro), and SterculiaUrens (Kadaya) are the area, which is the result of plantation done in the past. Over 4 lakh trees of about 35 species have been recorded during a resource survey carried out in the past, but GEER foundation has estimated 5.58 lakh trees during a recent study. AristidaAdscensionis (42.2%), DodivaluLapdu (12.8%), TetrapogonTenellus (12.8%), EremopogonFoveolatus (12.8%) and EragrostrisTenella (7.6%) are the main grasses in the area.
Fauna
Important Animals: Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, Common Fox, Hare, Jungle Cat, Bluebulletc and 20 species of snakes are also found here.
Important Birds: 130 species of birds are found. Among the birds, partridge, common peafowl, sandgrouse, ring dove, large gray, babbler, purple sunbird, yellow-throated sparrow etc. are common.
Location
Rajkot district of Saurashtra
Coverage area 15 sq. Km
Habitat
Rampara SanctuaryHabitat diversity is not catchy for a lay-tourist. However, an eco-tourist with botanical insight would find 'something different' from habitat view-point. For him, this would be one of the little woodlands where 'Gorad' (Acacia senegal) thrives. In the middle of the Sanctuary, there is dense cover of 'Gorad' or mixed thorny forest. Peripheral zone of the Sanctuary has grassland and sparse bushes. On the whole woodlands, hillocks, undulating and plain areas, streams C nullah') and grasslands contribute to the habitat diversity of the area. Vegetation growth is better in foothills and low lying area, than on slopes and tops of the hill.
Forest Sub-Types
Rampara SanctuaryForest sub-types in Rampara Sanctuary are 5/DS1: Dry deciduous scrub, 5/DS2: Dry Savannah (Acacia nilotica forest); 5/DS2: Dry Savannah; 6/E2: Acacia senegal forests (Northern tropical thorn forests).
The Sanctuary has a biological spectrum closer to that of a tropical deciduous forest than to a semiarid forest. The area had mixed forests of 'Saledi', 'Kadaya', 'Sadad', 'Timru', 'Sisam', 'Babul', 'Khakhra', and 'Gorad' in the past, but it was destroyed two decades ago. About 9000 old trees were uprooted during the cyclone of 1976, which depleted the stock in original species in the area. Few scattered trees of 'Saledi', 'Sadad', 'Timru', 'Sisham' and 'Kadaya' still survive in the central part of the . Sanctuary, which are regularly lopped of by the local people.
Presently, Acacia senegal (Gorad), Acacia nilotica (Babul), Acacia leucophloea (Hermo), Zyziphus sp. (Bor), Acacia catechu (Khair), Boswellia serrata (Salad), Wrightia tinctoria (Kudi), Commiphora wightii (Gugal), Balanites aegyptica (Ingoriyo), Butea monosperma (Khakhro), and Sterculia urens (Kadaya) are the main plant species in the area. Scattered trees of Prosopis have been seen in the area, which is the result of plantation done in the past. Over 4 lakh trees of about 35 species have been recorded during a resource survey carried out in the past, but GEER Foundation has estimated 5.58 lakh trees during a recent study. Aristida adscensionis (42.2%), 'Dodivalu Lapdu' (12.8%), Tetrapogon tenellus (12.8%), Eremopogon foveolatus (12.8%) and Eragrostris tenella (7.6%) are the main grasses in the area.
Tourist Guide
Reach by air
The Nearest airport is Rajkot (47 kms).
Ahmedabad (270 kms.) approximately
Reach by bus
The Nearest bus station is Wankaner (15 kms).
Reach by train
The Nearest Railway station is:
Wankaner (15 kms)
Best time to visit
September-October to January
Nearest places to visit
Palaces at Wankaner and Morbi
Marine National Park and Khijadia Sanctuary - 100 km. away
Accomodation
Forest rest house, Rampara.