Betla’s big cats are a hit with tourists

Daltonganj, Nov. 10: The velvet grassland cradling two steep hills and the gurgling Ketchki river was teeming with visitors, savouring the sights and sounds of the Betla National Park.

The sylvan tiger reserve in Palamau district has drawn a record number of tourists this year. The park was passing through a lean phase with militancy dealing a body blow to tourism for the past six years.

The sudden influx of tourists, especially from West Bengal, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, has perked up forest and tourism officials. “We are excited about the spurt in the flow of tourists. It was unexpected after the bad name that park earned due to the Naxalite problem. We had virtually ruled out arrival of tourists this year,’’ said a senior forest department official.

According to official statistics, in 2000, Betla had played host to 9,327 tourists. Between January to October in 2001, it went down to 9,121. But this year, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the flow with 12,456 visitors in October, forest officials said.

Earlier, the park was frequented not only by tourists from across the country, but also from abroad as well. Before 1995, Germans, Dutch and even the British thronged the sanctuary during winter for its mellow climate and pristine environs. But from 1996, the park witnessed a slide in tourism due to Naxalite activity. The MCC hit squads, active in Palamau, took over the park and used it as a corridor to smuggle arms and commute between Palamau and Ranchi through Mahuadnar and Netarhat. Enthused with the sudden response, the forest officials are busy sprucing up the lodges. The two government-run tourist lodges, the forest guest house and the tree houses are being given a facelift to cater to the crowd.

“In 1974, nine forests were selected for preservation of tiger under the Project Tiger. Palamau figured in the list. We received a good response from tourists till 1995 after which there was a lull. But things are improving,” deputy director, Project Tiger, A.T. Mishra told The Telegraph.

Of all the national parks in Jharkhand, Betla assumes significance for it houses a sanctuary while Palamau is known as the land of Palas and Mahua. It is known for its wide variety of wildlife like Cheetal, Gaur, Sambar, barking deer, langur, rhesus monkeys, wild pigs, elephants, porcupines, civet, jungle cats, wild dogs, hare, giant squirrels and a large variety of birds, such as peacocks, jungle fowls, quails, partridges, the great Indian hornbills, eagles and parakeets.

Mishra said the government is attaching more importance to providing security for visiting tourists and has posted a deputy superintendent of police at Betla. He said the department expects more than 15,000 tourists at Betla this year.